Irresistible: A Salvation Society Novel

by R. C. Stephens

  I pass Jess the keys and we head outside to the car. She starts the car and it all feels very surreal. She backs out of the driveway and stops abruptly when we reach the driveway’s end.

  “Good,” I say.

  “Are there cars coming?” she asks me.

  “I don’t see any,” I say.

  “Me either,” she says.

  She proceeds to back out but she hits the gas a little too hard and we fly back. Then she slams the brakes right before we are about to hit the curb. My stomach falls. What did I just get myself into?

  “Okay, so where should we go?” she asks.

  “Well, for starters let’s move to the right side of the road in case a car comes,” I say. Our street is quiet and a dead-end, but you never know.

  Jess begins to drive toward the stop sign. She slowly comes to a stop.

  “Good.” I hold onto the handlebar.

  “Are you nervous, Mom? You look nervous,” she says.

  Am I supposed to lie?

  “Maybe just a little,” I admit. “You’re my baby and you’re driving.”

  She merges onto the main street. “Where should we go?”

  “You can take a right onto Cullen,” I say. We almost reach Cullen and she hasn’t signaled. “You need to use your right signal when turning,” I remind her.

  “Right, I forgot.” She signals.

  We get to a main street. “Are you going to be comfortable making a left?” I ask.

  “Oh Mom.” She rolls her eyes at me.

  She signals and takes the left, only she cuts across a lane. Sweat pops on my forehead. It reminds me of when Liam taught me how to drive. My parents were too busy to teach me. I got my license when I was pregnant with Jess. Liam was kind and patient. I liked the attention.

  “You’ll need to get back in the left lane,” I say. “Don’t forget to check your blind spot.”

  By the time we get back home I’m completely drained. My body is tense and I feel drained. How will I get into a car with her again? She needs more lessons with an instructor but I don’t want to insult her either.

  “So, how did I do?” she asks.

  “You’re getting there. I think you can use more lessons,” I say.

  “Yeah, but for only a couple in-car lessons I’m really good, right?” she asks, beaming.

  “For two lessons, yes but you still have a long way to go,” I say.

  “You hated driving with me, didn’t you?” she says.

  I can’t lie. “I didn’t love it. I’m sorry, honey.”

  “It’s fine.” She waves me off. We head back in the house and take off our jackets and boots.

  “’Kay. I’ll go get started on dinner,” I say. I press a kiss to the top of her head and walk to the kitchen. This is the part of being a single parent that isn’t so easy. Liam was so good when he took me driving. He was calm and cool. Teaching your daughter to drive is something a father should do. And now I feel even worse for not trying to find myself a partner earlier.

  At ten to seven, Jess comes down with her hair blown out wearing a black body suit and a pair of loose jeans and converse. I take a breath. At least she knows she doesn’t have to dress half-naked to get a boy’s attention.

  “You look amazing.” I grin.

  “Do you think I look too simple?” she asks, turning herself around. Her golden hair shines and sways as she moves.

  “You look perfect,” I answer.

  “You’re my mom; you have to say that,” she says.

  “Dude, I love you, but I tell you when I don’t like something, and I’m telling you, you look beautiful.” I nod.

  “He’s going to be here in like ten minutes. I’ll go up to my room. Call me when he comes. I really hope Aunt Bee and Uncle Jim won’t come home soon. Did they tell you where they are?” she asks, and I don’t blame her. They aren’t very friendly.

  “No.” I frown. They don’t tell me where they are, which sucks, because sometimes I make dinner and they are a no show. If I serve it the next day, they’ll complain about eating leftovers.

  “Hopefully they’ll stay out,” I agree with my daughter.

  “I feel like I’m burning up,” Jess says waving her hands in front of her face.

  “Aw! You’re just excited sweetheart. I’m happy for you,” I say.

  I give her a kiss and she gives me a wide-eyed look with her doe eyes, and then she turns and charges up the stairs. I was thinking of slipping on a pair of scrubs for heading back to the hospital just so people know I work there and to make that divide between me and Bennett more transparent. He did ask for my relationship status and sometimes it feels like he’s flirting with me but maybe he’s just bored out of his mind and needs a friend. I’m sure that’s all that’s going on. I really need to get out of my head. Maybe a date with Colin would do me good. He is cute even if he doesn’t cause a chemical reaction to go off inside my body.

  The doorbell rings and I head to open the door. A six-foot-two teenager wearing a leather jacket with long floppy brown hair and dark eyes smiles at me at the door. “I’m here for Jess,” he says.

  “Yes, hi. I’m Avery, her mom.” I shake his hand. He looks a little surprised and gives me a once-over. Given that I had her so young some people mistake us for sisters.

  “Pleasure to meet you.” His Aussie accent is thick. I can see what my daughter sees in this boy. I just worry that he has heartbreak written all over him. Let her live her life. She has a good head on her shoulders. She isn’t you. She will be fine. I can’t exactly leave her locked up in her room for eternity.

  “Come in please.” I take a step back and let him in. Then I walk over to the staircase. “Jess, your friend is here.” Is that what I am supposed to call him? Maybe using his name would have been better.

  The door to her room creaks open and then she walks toward the stairs, taking the steps slowly. I suddenly feel like I’m living out every teenage movie I’ve seen when a girl gets picked up for a date.

  Jess’s blond hair sways as she walks calmly, a light smile brightening her face. She reaches the front door and says, “Hi Dylan.”

  She isn’t flushing or awkward. Not that I would expect her to be. I really don’t know what I was expecting.

  “You ready to head out?” he asks.

  “Yeah,” she answers, grabbing a coat from the closet. “Bye Mom.” She kisses my cheek and she walks out the door.

  Emotions crash through me like a wave threatening my balance. My baby is growing up. When I was her age, my parents didn’t care to learn where I went or who I went out with. They had me late in life. I’m pretty sure I was a mistake, and then they died. I didn’t have boys come to our door. I didn’t kiss my mom goodbye. I’m overwhelmed to feel this way now—to have with Jess what I never had before. Tears slip down my cheeks, cold and bittersweet.

  I grab my coat and scoot out the door before my aunt and uncle arrive home and ask me to serve their dinner. I head out to my car and drive back to the hospital. The drive is short, and I head up to the fourth floor, going to Sutton’s room first. The lights are dimmed this time of night. Everything is quiet except for the night-shift staff making their rounds.

  “Oh hey there, Avery.” Monica, one of the night nurses stops me just as I am about to enter Suttons room. “You here for Sutton?”

  “Yeah, we’re going to watch a movie in the media room,” I say, just in case she looks for him. “Mr. Sheridan will also be joining us too.”

  Her brows knit together and her head tilts to the side. “Really? Mr. Sheridan? I didn’t peg him as the social type.”

  Her words irk me. Bennett has been in a lot of pain. It isn’t fair to judge his character under the circumstances. “He’s my patient.”

  “Nice.” She tilts her head a little more to the side. I don’t know what she means by the word nice. She sounds condescending but I am not going to call her out.

  I usually get along with most of my co-workers. Monica does the night shift, so I don’t see
her all that much. I know she has a little boy at home. She lives with her mom, who watches him at night while Monica works.

  “Okay, well you have a good night,” I say.

  “You too.” She presses her lips together and gives me an odd smirk. Then she walks away.

  I knock on Sutton’s door.

  “Yeah?” he calls out.

  “Hey there.” I smile, walking into his room. He’s sitting in his chair, playing a video game on the TV.

  “Hi Avery, just give me a minute. I’m winning,” he says. He’s playing some sort of NBA game.

  “Sure take your time. I was going to suggest we watch the movie in the media room. I’ve asked the patient in 4B to join us and he is still bedridden.” I explain why we need more space.

  My comment gets Sutton’s attention and he snaps his gaze to mine. His lower lip is dropped, and his eyes are round. “You got to be kidding me. He sounds so mean. Seriously, nurses go running out of that room like it’s on fire.”

  Hmm. I definitely don’t feel that way. “He’s been through a lot. When people are in pain, they aren’t the best version of themselves,” I say. I don’t feel comfortable divulging any information about Bennett to another patient, but I add, “He doesn’t have many visitors’.”

  Sutton’s lips press together and he frowns. “Okay. Do you think he’ll want to watch The Irishman?”

  “Can’t we watch something easy for once? Like something that will make us laugh?” I ask playfully.

  Sutton considers my words looking pensive for a brief moment. “What does it feel like to laugh?” he asks, jokingly.

  “Funny. I don’t know about you but I’m tense tonight. Jess is out with a guy that wears a leather jacket and looks like a heartbreaker. I’m freaking out and need a distraction,” I say.

  “Good for Jess. She needs to get out more and enjoy life,” Sutton says. He knows my daughter spends a lot of time studying in her room.

  “I know. I’m trying to be cool about it,” I say, rolling my eyes.

  Sutton says he will head to the media room while I get Bennett.

  I knock on Bennett’s door before entering.

  “Come in,” he says.

  I open the door and walk in. The lights are dimmed, “Sorry to bother you,” I say taking him in. His dark hair looks like it’s at that between stage when someone grows out their hair and it isn’t long enough to form a style or short enough to look neat. His beard is wild but his sculpted cheekbones aren’t fully covered and his lips are full and pouty. He’s a beautiful disheveled mess. My heart stutters.

  “You’re never a bother, Avery,” he says, his timbre deep and smooth. His voice does something to my insides.

  “Did you still want to join me and Sutton for a movie? I just convinced him we need comedy,” I say.

  Bennett dark eyes are rimmed in darkness. What would he look like without the beard? “I can do comedy,” he says. He isn’t very talkative, but I get that he may be feeling solemn sitting here all alone in this room for hours on end.

  “Great. I’ll wheel you out there. We’re going to watch in the media room,” I explain. “It’s kind of a central social area for patients but it isn’t really in use this time of night.”

  “It’s good to be able to leave the room. Thanks for doing this,” he says. I don’t know why everyone seems to think he’s a villain. He’s been polite to me.

  We get settled into the room. Sutton stays in his wheelchair. Bennett is facing the large-screen TV from his bed and I take a seat on one of the La-Z-Boy chairs with my back leaned back and my feet resting on the footrest.

  I yawn. I access my Netflix account. “What are we watching?” I scroll through the list.

  “She always has chick stuff on her list,” Sutton says to Bennett.

  “I can see,” he says dryly. He doesn’t sound necessarily rude, just indifferent.

  Sutton eyes me. I shrug slightly. He blinks and I blink back. There is an understanding between us. Many of the injured veterans feel low about life and themselves. Bennett’s situation is familiar to Sutton who experienced it himself and to me since I work with the veterans.

  “I was injured during a training exercise. Jumped off a plane and the chute didn’t deploy properly. I’ll never be able to walk again. I’m confined to this chair for life,” Sutton says, looking at Bennett.

  My heart lurches Sutton’s words freeze me in my spot. I know the story but his bravery in sharing it with a complete stranger has me floored. He is truly an inspiration.

  “I’m sorry. That’s really rough,” Bennett sighs and looks Sutton in the eyes.

  “Yeah, it’s rough. I don’t think I’ll ever get married. What kind of woman would want a man that can’t walk?” Sutton says.

  My heart clenches some more. It squeezes so tight I feel like I don’t have air.

  “I’m sorry, man. That’s really awful and messed up.” He takes a large gulp of air. “I was in the Middle East. I was a SEAL. My jeep was hit by an IED. Lost one of my best friends in the accident. I was injured but . . .” Bennett pauses. I don’t know what I was expecting by bringing these two together but not this. I didn’t think Bennett would open up to Sutton this way.

  “You can say it, man. It’s okay you aren’t as bad off as I am. That’s okay. I’m happy for you. I took the news hard at first, and then I said to myself there is a reason the Lord made me this way. My life isn’t over. Just taken a turn I didn’t see coming. I leave here in a couple of weeks and then I plan on going back to school. I want to get my degree in social work. I plan on working with injured vets. It’s my way of still serving my country,” he says. He looks over to me. “Geez, Avery, I didn’t mean to get you all teary-eyed,” he says in faux complaint.

  I giggle. “You really are something special.”

  Bennett eyes me and eyes Sutton. “That’s honorable,” he says to Sutton. He doesn’t say much else though.

  “Let’s pick a movie,” Sutton says. “I swear she takes forever to decide what she wants to watch.”

  Bennett smiles. It’s subtle and hidden behind his wild beard, but it’s there nonetheless.

  Chapter Eight

  Bennett

  Talking to this kid who must be in his early twenties has me floored. I don’t know if Avery’s invitation to watch a movie tonight was meant as a therapy session or not but hell, I feel like a fucking idiot. This kid has barely had a chance to live. I’ve got to at least have a decade or more on him age wise and he has his shit together. He knows what he wants. He’s made new goals for himself. I’m just a loser treading water until I figure out which direction the wind will take me.

  “How about 6 Underground?” Sutton asks.

  “I told you I need funny tonight,” she says. They are clearly close. She must be a special lady to take such care of her patients. She turns to me. “My daughter took me driving tonight for the first time and then went on a date and I’m freaking out,” she says with a wince. She picks up her phone to text. “I’ve been accused of being too overprotective, but Jessy is all I have.” My heartbeat stutters. Her openness and caring is getting under my skin. I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s so real it’s unsettling.

  “That sounds rough. I never thought of having kids,” I say. I’m used to keeping things short and superficial with women. It’s a habit I suddenly want to break.

  She doesn’t call me on my comment. I’m not sure if I am happy about it or not. Eh! Keeping a lid on things is for the best. She’s beautiful, sweet and smart, but she isn’t going to want a man like me. Why bother even trying?

  “Jess is driving,” Sutton sounds pleased. “That’s awesome. I taught my sister Caroline to drive because Maw was too freaked out.”

  “Well, since it’s only me, I don’t have a choice, but between me and you, my heart was in my stomach,” she says.

  Sutton winces.

  “Now, no more talk about driving or dating. I need a movie to clear my head,” Avery says, flipping through t
he Netflix options. “Oh! Oh!” She stops on a movie. It looks like a chick flick.

  “I thought you didn’t do romantic movies?” Sutton says, giving her a quizzical look.

  “I don’t,” she says, and I want her to say more, to explain herself, but she doesn’t.

  “Well, it’s fine by me. I grew up with three sisters. I’ve watched enough romantic movies to last me a lifetime, but hey, another one won’t kill me,” he says.

  “Thanks Sutton.” She smiles at him and he shrugs. “What about you, Bennett?”

  Yeah! Bennett, what about you?

  I cough to clear my throat. “We can watch whatever. I’m not picky,” I say. I actually find romance movies to be a bore but if it means spending time with you then I’ll take it. I am clearly developing a crush on my physical therapist, which is problematic on a lot of levels.

  She starts the movie. Avery turns on her side and curls into a ball. I wonder what it would be like if we were a couple and we were at home watching a movie together, snuggled on the couch. The thought comes way out of left field. I’ve never thought about settling down or quiet nights in.

  I watch Avery and her reactions more than I watch the movie. I think she said it was called The Holiday.

  Sutton crosses his arms in front of him. “They are so going to hook up.”

  Apparently, the actors in the movie are well-known. I don’t have a clue who they are. When I was home, I worked out and went out to bars. I didn’t sit home and watch movies.

  “That’s the point of the movie,” Avery says.

  The male character shows up to his sister’s house but it turns out his sister isn’t there and he’s too drunk to drive. Instead, he finds this hot woman. When the actors begin to kiss, Avery’s cheek flush. I wonder what type of relationships she’s had. Where the father of her kid is and why a beautiful woman like herself chooses to spend her free time at a veterans hospital instead of going out and living it up.

  After an hour, the couple separates, and Avery’s looks crestfallen. Her brown eyes are filled with tears that don’t fall. What is it about you, lady, that gets under my skin?