Chapter 14
Brenden
Jasper was irritated by how easy it was to find Faith's apartment building. Her block held two trendy boutique office buildings, one art gallery, and one butcher shop. There were two apartment buildings and the other one was a twelve-plex that added a letter to every floor. Faith was five, not five-a.
I only allowed myself to lean on the buzzer three times. I wanted to ring her apartment again. I even raised my finger up and counted to over to the correct buzzer, but I didn't let myself push it. Faith hadn't answered my calls that morning and now she wasn't answering her buzzer.
She didn't want to see me.
My head hurt as I followed Jasper's impatient grunts back to the sports car. I wished I could follow through on my coffee shop idea of ringing her neighbors until someone let me in, but I just didn't have it in me to be that rude.
Plus, Faith deserved her privacy. She clearly had a lot going on in her life and I didn't need to complicate anything for her.
"Just wait a few minutes," I told Jasper.
He climbed into the car and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Then he stopped. "She's just come out, sir."
"What?" I fumbled for the door handle. "Was she in the lobby that whole time?"
Jasper rolled down my window for me. I leaned into the fresh air and called her name. I heard light footsteps stop and then turn slowly around. She shuffled up to the car.
"Hello," Faith said.
I could tell from her quiet voice that she was suppressing her smile. "I know I shouldn't be here. I just wanted to make sure everything was all right with you."
"I'm sorry." Faith apologized and stepped away from the car. "You didn't need to come all the way here. I'm fine. Really. Last night was fine."
"Fine?" I couldn't help but dislike the descriptor she'd chosen. "I would have gone with surprising."
Faith let a giggle slip. "It was surprising. Some good and some not so good."
"And you're not going to relieve me by telling me which parts were which?" I opened my car door. "How about we drive you?"
"You're sweet, but, no thank you. I've gotta go. It's just I'm really busy with school. . ." Faith's voice took two more steps away.
"So, why walk?" I asked.
Faith sighed. "I'm sorry, Brenden. I don't want to cause any drama for you. I like you, but it's bad timing."
"Timing we can work with. And I'm not afraid of drama. Last night wasn't your fault and it wasn't that bad. I'd be jealous too, if I were him." I hoped I could hear her hesitating on the sidewalk.
I waited with one foot in and one foot out of the car and hoped she'd explain.
"She's walking away, sir," Jasper said.
I swung the door open but forgot about the weight. The four-seater sports car only had two doors and they swung wide. I lost my balance but caught myself on the seat. More cautious now, I braced my foot firmly on the ground and then stood up.
I could hear Faith's footsteps on the sidewalk. She wasn't hurrying. I knew if I called out, she would hesitate but probably return. It just didn't seem fair. If I was interested, I needed to show her.
"I've got this, Jasper."
I unfolded my cane with a snap and started after her. I stubbed my toe on a crack in the sidewalk and stumbled forward. It took a few pinwheeling steps to right myself. I stood up and listened keenly as I tugged down my shirt cuffs and straightened my suit coat.
Faith had stopped walking. She had likely seen my near disaster. She was probably torn between laughing at the slapstick and pitying me.
"Faith? Faith!" I cried out in utmost distress as I folded up my cane and leaned nonchalantly on a lamp post. "Where are you?"
She was only a few steps away. I smelled lilacs as she inched closer. I could have reached out and caught her hand but instead I tipped my chin up and gave a few more distressed calls over her head.
Faith finally laughed. "Enough, already. You caught me."
"Whew. I thought I might actually have to try that again," I said.
She smacked me on the shoulder. "You could have. What? Couldn't stand to scuff your fancy shoes?"
I loved that she teased me. Like I was normal and fair game. It felt good.
I reached out and caught her hand. "Yeah, but where's the fun in that? Don't you have nosy neighbors that enjoyed that scene?"
Faith laughed and squeezed my hand. "You have no idea!"
I reached for her other hand and felt her shift her weight. I felt along her arm and touched the heavy bag. "Are you going somewhere?"
"If I can ever get down the block," she joked. But she evaded the question.
I assumed the worst and bristled. "The man I met last night? Is he the reason you're taking off?"
"No, not like that," Faith said. "Jake and I are not getting back together."
I grabbed her shoulder. "No. Is he some kind of threat to you?"
"No, what? Why does everybody say that? So he was a little unhinged last night. Like you've never had a crazy ex?"
I thought about Rachel crashing the charity ball and making a scene. And that was when we were still supposedly together! My laugh surprised us both.
"What, are you trying to jinx me?" I asked.
With my hands still on her shoulders, I could feel her shaking her head. "No, it's that I have a lot going on. And not only the ex drama. That's really just a fluke."
"Then can I ask where you're going? Are you sure we can't drive you?" I asked.
She dipped out of my grasp. "No, thanks. I'm just going to find a cheap motel or somewhere that I can hole up and get some school work done. I really need to concentrate and this just isn't the best place for me right now."
"And it's not me?" I asked.
Finally I felt her hands brush my arms. She shyly pressed her palms to my chest and stepped closer. I breathed in her heavenly scent but didn't move a muscle. If showing up at her apartment building unannounced hadn't spooked her, I wasn't about to mess things up now.
"No, I'm not leaving town to escape or evade you," she said. "I just want to make sure I don't screw things up before you and I even have a chance."
I covered her hands with my own and pressed them to my heart. "So you're really just looking for a quiet weekend getaway?"
"Yes, really. Just a few days to clear my head and get some of my schoolwork done."
I leaned over her shoulder and called to Jasper. "How long until the Cottage can be ready?"
Jasper chuckled. He loved giving the Cottage housekeeper, Maria, a hard time. "Let's tell her forty minutes. I can get there in thirty."
"I'm sorry, the Cottage? What?" Faith tugged her hands free.
I tried to reassure her with a smile. "No strings attached. It's just that you're looking for a quiet getaway and I just happen to have this place at my disposal."
"No, I can't." Faith backed away again. "That's very generous of you but I can't ask you to host me for the weekend."
"It's no trouble. Trust me, Maria is dying to open the place up. And she's a fabulous cook. It'll be like your own private retreat," I promised.
Jasper joined us with an approving grunt. "Maria's cobbler will cure all your stress."
Faith clutched her bag even as Jasper gallantly eased it off her shoulder. "But I really can't afford to return such a favor. It's too much to ask."
"Trust me, you're doing me a favor. My doctors keep telling me I'm pushing myself too hard. They'll be overjoyed that someone finally got me to slow down and rest for a weekend," I said.
She softened. "But how am I supposed to concentrate with you relaxing around a little cottage?"
With Jasper's subtle steering, I turned Faith toward the car. "It's the best place for a quiet retreat and I don't take advantage of it nearly enough. Trust me, you won't even know I'm there. Though maybe we could share a meal or two."
"I hear Maria's a good cook," Faith joked.
"She's also fiercer than a mama bear. If you want privacy, Maria will make sure you have it," Jasper said.
Faith was charmed by Jasper's gruff admiration. "I might have to meet this Maria," she said.
"Then it's settled. We'll head to the Cottage for the weekend. You can be guarded by my fierce housekeeper and I will be forced to listen to my doctors and rest a little. Deal?" I reached out my hand.
Her smooth fingers slid into mine. "You know this isn't one of those romantic getaways, right?"
"Romantic? That doesn't sound very restful." I scoffed at her prim snort. "If we happen to curl up in front of the same fire and get to know each other, so be it. If we don't see each other the entire weekend, then so be it! You can hole up in your suite and spend the weekend there if that's what you need."
She shook my hand on that. "I'm only doing this for you and your health. Doctor’s orders, right?"
I laughed. "You know, there is something so soothing about you. A mix of rosy reds and deep sapphire blues."
"Really?"
I shrugged as I held the door open for her. "Just impressions probably tied to my memory and imagination, but I seem to feel you in color."
Faith stopped in the open car door and turned around. Space was tight as I stood on the curb and her hair brushed my chin before she looked up.
"Thank you for this. I'm really not imposing?" she asked.
"And I really have no other motives." I offered my hand to help her into the car. "Now how about we get out of here?"
"What a wonderful idea." She settled into the backseat of the sports car.
I sat down beside her and just enjoyed the feeling of having her nearby. Then, at the end of the block, her smooth fingers slipped into mine. I squeezed her hand lightly and held it as we drove away together.