FAITH

It was nearly nine o’clock when I opened my eyes. Dreamy and lucid, for a moment I wasn’t sure where I was. Then the smell of his sheets brought me to, and thoughts of the night before flashed through my mind.

The way he’d touched me. The words he’d said. How he looked above me.

I’d never have guessed, not in my wildest dreams, that sex could be like that. That there could be this connection, this bond. A partnership of wants and needs met with passion and desire.

I’d felt beautiful and special, and the fact that it had been with Aaron was ... well, I couldn’t even describe it. He wasn’t a stranger, and we hadn’t just met and hooked up. It was more.

I could also feel how my body wasn’t familiar with being worked over that way. I rolled to my side and my thighs were tender. My stomach muscles were too, but the aching was good. I felt alive.

I was alone in the room but not the house. Feet and paws thumped across the hardwood somewhere. I couldn’t wait to see him, and probably should have used his en-suite bathroom to check myself first, but instead I pulled a T-shirt I found at the end of the bed over myself and left the room.

The front door was wide open, and since I didn’t have any underwear or shorts on, I stood at the screen on the inside. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, just basketball shorts and an old pair of trainers. Seeing him shirtless so many times while he worked over the years had always felt like torture. Like God had been teasing me, rubbing my nose in a mistake I’d made by not holding out for what I really wanted. Life had been like an antique store where I was allowed to look but not touch.

Now, seeing him work like that only felt like a gift. My perspective was changing for the better with each passing day.

“Hi,” I said through the screen.

He was bent over, putting his back into moving a large square urn on the left side of his concrete stoop. Glancing behind himself, he grinned.

“Good morning.”

“What are you doing?” I wiped sleep from the corners of my eyes.

He gave the large urn another twist, lining up the base with the edge of the concrete. “Well yesterday, my lovely mother informed me that the porch didn’t look right without these planters on it.” He walked back under the porch but stood opposite the door. “I believe her exact words were: Son, the inside of this house is like its heart, and it’s beautiful. But the front porch is the face, and it looks like a divorcee who needs night cream.” He chuckled after quoting his mom, and then waved his hand. “I see her point. When I moved in I put all of the furniture and flowerpots in the garage so I could power wash and paint. Then I never got around to putting them back.”

His mom had been right. Although the home looked great, it didn’t have much personality in the front. Not like it did inside and out back. I’d missed the flowers she had in planters and the rockers that sat on both ends of the stone entranceway.

“She thinks if it’s ever going to sell, it needs to look more inviting.”

Why would he ever sell? Their family home was straight out of a Norman Rockwell postcard.

“Are you putting it on the market?” It would be so weird going past the Craftsman style house knowing a family other than the Goodmans were living in it.

“We’ve talked about it for years. That’s why I did all the work to it. The plan was to fix it up and sell it, or for me to fix it up and buy it from them.” He leaned closer and peeked through the screen at me in his shirt and his mouth curved on one side.

I gazed down at myself. “I found this on the bed.”

“I put it there for you. Want some coffee? When I rode over to the hardware store this morning, I swung by Willard’s and picked up some donuts.”

Donuts were not on my diet, but after the vigorous activity of the night before, I didn’t mind treating myself. I was starving.

“That sounds good.”

I stepped back as he pulled the handle on the door. “Smokie, you coming in?” he called down the porch to his left where the Dalmatian was napping in the morning sun. After waiting a second, Aaron said, “Guess not,” and came inside.

The shirt was long enough to hide my lady bits, but my legs were bare up to mid-thigh.

It was the morning after and kind of awkward, but even as disheveled and unkempt as I was sure I looked, I felt pretty when he placed a warm kiss on my neck as he passed me, headed to his kitchen.

I followed him there, noticing my tote bag was still sitting on a chair at the breakfast table where I’d put it the day before. While he brewed a fresh pot of coffee, I tiptoed to my things.

I hadn’t even looked at my phone since early afternoon the day before, so I dug it out of the inside pocket.

“Oh. My. God,” I exclaimed when I saw all the notifications.

“Everything okay?” He looked toward me, concern on his face.

I scrolled through over a hundred missed messages in my group chat, then tapped onto my texts, which were just as plentiful.

“Yeah, but you’d think the world was ending by how many messages I have.” Aside from the crazy thread that would take me forever to catch up on, each of my three closest friends had sent me texts. My mom sent me one that morning too, and that’s the one I opened.

Mom: Delaney was tired. We didn’t get on the road until 8:30. Lol I hope you had fun last night. I’ll message you when we’re on our way back. Love you.

Quickly, I replied.

Me: Best night in a long, long time. Love you too. Thanks for letting her stay. Don’t pump her full of sugar today. We’re going to bed early tonight.

Aaron brought our cups and the box of donuts to the table, and I took a seat on the bench that lined the back of the built-in nook.

“This smells like heaven.” It was funny when I hadn’t had donuts in a while, how strongly I could smell them. Even through the box.

“Do you want cream or sugar?”

At home, I had sugar-free Coffee-Mate in a variety of different flavors, but I wasn’t trying to be picky when I could just as easily drink it black. Plus, without those extra calories in my coffee, I could probably swing two donuts.

“Black is fine,” I answered. He moved my bag from the chair closest to me, setting it on the counter and then he sat beside me. It wasn’t a big thing, but I liked how he wanted to be as close as possible. I felt that way too.

He opened the box, and had it been filled with jewels and treasure, I would have reacted the same way. He’d handpicked a magnificent selection.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I grabbed just about one of everything. Whatever we don’t eat, I’ll take to the station later. They’ll be gone in two minutes flat.”

He pushed the open box my way and let me have first pick as he reached across the rectangle table for napkins. I saw just the one. A chocolate Long John.

Come to Momma.

Straight from the box to my mouth, I sank my teeth into the sweet dough. It was a big bite too; all etiquette and modesty had flown out the big bay window behind me. With a mouthful, I took a sip of coffee to wash it down.

He chose a bear claw and ate two of its toes in one bite.

“Aaron, I think you’re spoiling me.”

He wiped his mouth and replied, “Good.”

“I could get used to this.”

“I hope you do.” He set the donut on a white napkin and lifted the WFD mug to his lips, but before he took a drink he added, “I could get used to waking up with you in my bed.”

Everything was so right, so perfect, but were we rushing things? Would we trip over our own feet and mess it up?

To quell the seedling of doubt that sprung to mind, I asked, “Do you think we’re moving too fast?”

My question didn’t seem to faze him, and he chomped two more toes off his breakfast.

“Nah,” he answered and finished chewing. “Doesn’t seem too fast for me, but I’ve thought about this for years. So I guess whatever pace you’re comfortable with is what I want. As long as it keeps going, I don’t care. How’s that donut?”

It was almost gone already. I had no shame.

“It’s delicious, but I haven’t had one in a long time. So that’s probably why.” Maybe that explained why sex the night before had been amazing too. A thirsty person doesn’t complain about drinking tap water, but Aaron wasn’t lukewarm water from the faucet. He was Himalayan spring water in a golden challis.

“Some things are just good.”

I wanted to believe him, but the vixen in me wanted to test my theory.

There weren’t many things sexier than a shirtless man eating donuts in the morning. A spark of desire flashed in my stomach, or it could have been the celebration going on inside me from the sugar I’d been deprived of.

However, I didn’t feel like scrutinizing it.

We both picked another donut from the box and chowed down, then we shared a cinnamon twist and warmed up his sheets again.

#

ME: ...AND NOW I’M home.

After recounting the last twenty-four hours for my girlfriends, not leaving out a single detail, I sat on the washing machine waiting for the dryer’s cycle to end so I could swap out the laundry.

Aaron had a shift that Monday evening, and I had all of Sunday’s chores to catch up on before Delaney got back. The linens needed washing, my junky old refrigerator needed a good cleaning, floors needed to be done, and Delaney’s room could have used a quick once through, but I didn’t even care. I’d been buzzing from room to room since I’d come home.

It was cooler outside than it had been the day before, and I opened the windows, enjoying the smell of the rain that was headed our way.

Emma: OMG. You have a boyfriend.

Noel: Does he have a single brother? Fuck it. I’ll take a sister too.

I read their replies, which were coming in slower since they had the scoop.

Then my phone rang and I didn’t recognize the number. I hated getting unknown callers, but it was local so I answered.

“Hello.”

“Faith? It’s Howie at the bank. How are you doing?” Howie’s voice matched his physique, thin and drawn out.

“Oh, hi. I’m great. How are you? How was your vacation?” My heart pounded. I’d left my application with him a week ago and hadn’t heard anything. I knew they were desperate for help and feared they’d hired someone else. Maybe he was calling to let me know.

“It was great, too short as usual, but all-in-all a fine getaway. Anyway, that’s why I’m calling. I was bogged down last week catching up on things here, but I wanted to see if you could come in for an interview sometime this week. How about Friday morning? Connie is gone for the next few days to a funeral out of town, so I’ll be busy helping out up front, but she should be back by then. Sound good?”

I hopped down off the machine and slapped the dryer’s buzzer the second it went off. “Of course. Friday is fine.” I wasn’t sure if that was true, but I’d make it fine if I had to.

“Great. Say eight that morning?”

My hands were shaking. “Eight is great.” I cringed hearing myself rhyme. “Eight is perfect,” I recounted, sounding less like Dr. Seuss.

He laughed. “I’ve got you down. I look forward to talking to you.”

“Thank you.”

“All right then. Bye, Faith.”

“Goodbye.”

He hung up and I spun in my hallway. It was crazy how things were changing all at once. It was sort of scary, but my heart felt so full.

I breezed through the house, and just as I was putting the cleaning supplies back into the cupboard, I heard car doors close next door.

“Mom,” Delaney called, busting through the front door. “Mom?”

I popped out of the kitchen doorway and she jumped right into my arms.

“Mom, have you ever ate frogs?” Her legs locked together on my hip as she waited for me to answer.

“Not whole frogs, but I’ve had frog legs.”

“They’re called saddles. Not like horse saddles—frog saddles. Darrell let me try one. Gramma ate one too.”

Mom came through the door beaming when I caught her eye.

“She did? Did you like them?” I quizzed.

Delaney was usually a chicken strip and fries kind of gal, but the older she got the more daring she was getting.

“They’re not green. Are they, Gramma?”

Mom sat on the couch and placed a half-eaten bag of kettle corn on the coffee table. “Nope. They weren’t green. I told you.”

Delaney leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Frogs are crunchy, not slimy. I thought they were going to be gross.”

I whispered back. “Were they?”

Her eyes were huge when she pulled back and said, “No, and I can’t believe it.”

I kissed her over and over until she squirmed. “Hey, I cleaned your room.”

When I put her down, she cocked her hip at me. “It was already cleaned, Mom.”

“I found two cups in there, one in your toy box and another under your bed.” Neither had milk in them—praise Jesus—and her room wasn’t in the worst shape I’d seen it in before, but the cup thing had to stop. “If you can’t remember to bring them to the kitchen, maybe we shouldn’t take them in there.”

“I bring ‘em to the kitchen all the time.”

I cocked my head to the side.

“Okay, sometimes.”

“Tell Gramma thank you and go check it out.”

I didn’t have to tell her twice. She flung her arms around my mom and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks for taking me. Tell Papa D too,” she said and then ran off.

I sat on the other end of the sofa. “Papa D?” I asked my mother.

“I think she heard Sawyer call him Papa yesterday. She’s been calling him that all day.” She smiled and the lines at the edges of her eyes wrinkled up. “I think it’s sweet and he likes it.”

“Okay,” I said, not seeing the harm. It was just different, but kids didn’t have rules for that kind of thing and it could be confusing. If she thought of Darrell like a grandfather, then who was I to say otherwise?

My mom rocked side to side and patted the back of the couch. “How did last night go?”

Now my mother and I were close, really close, but there was nothing about the night before that I wanted to tell her.

“Mom.”

“What?” She winked at me. “He’s so handsome, Faith. And sweet. And he’s good with the baby girl.” Her brows bunched, and she confessed, “I really like this.”

I couldn’t deny it. “I like it too.”

“So you’re dating or what? What do you kids call it these days?”

“Hell, I don’t know.” I thought back to my chat group and how they’d said he was my boyfriend. I loved the sound of it, but it also felt juvenile in a way. Childish. Yet, I didn’t know how else to label us.

Was I his girlfriend?

“We’re still figuring it out, I think.” It was a guarded answer, but it was the only one I was sure of.

“I tell you what. I don’t care what you’re calling it, sweetie. As long as he keeps putting that gorgeous smile on your face. I love seeing you happy.” I believed her because my favorite thing in the world was seeing Delaney’s smile. I guessed it was a mom thing.

And since she was my mom, and not just some employer, I needed to talk to her. I didn’t want to jinx myself since I hadn’t even had an interview yet, but I didn’t want to leave her high and dry either.

“Anyway, there is something I need to talk to you about.”

Her smile fell by half, and she patiently waited for me to go on.

“I have a job interview at the bank on Friday.”

I wasn’t sure how she’d react but also wasn’t too worried. I simply didn’t want to add stress to her or put the diner in a pinch.

“Really?” she asked and sat back.

“I was in there a few weeks ago and Connie told me they were short staffed and gave me an application. Mom, it’s got benefits. Regular hours. I think it would be a pay increase, so maybe I wouldn’t have to pull so many shifts at the bar.”

Sympathetically, she nodded. “Yeah, I can see that. Are you excited?”

“Trying not to get my hopes up, but yeah. With everything going on with Aaron, and Delaney starting school in the fall, I want her to be able to do stuff in the evenings. She loved karate through the winter, and I’m sure a lot of the other girls do dance. This job will give more time in the evenings with her to do that stuff. Cheaper insurance. I think it’s only smart to see if I’m a good fit for them.” I ran my hand through my hair and gripped the strands through my fingers. “Will you be upset if I leave?”

She slapped my leg. “Oh, Faith. You know better than that. I want what’s best for you and Delaney. I know how hard it is to juggle work and a kid by yourself.” She tossed a pillow at me. “You’d be stupid to pass up an opportunity like that. Hell, if I’d had the chance I would’ve done it myself.”

“What will you do at the diner?”

“Well, we’ll see what happens, but Naydeen is always asking for more shifts, and I can find someone else to cover what’s needed. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

I felt relieved but not all that surprised. My mom had never failed to support me, even after I’d made some terrible decisions.

With that out of the way, I moved on to the next situation at hand.

“Is that my kettle corn?” 

She chuckled and kicked me. “Your daughter bought it for you, but then ate half of it on the way home.”

I rolled my eyes playfully, thankful there was still some left. “Motherhood.”

“Tell me about it.”