by Natalie Ann
“Come on, Livi. It’s time to learn about flowers and herbs. Then we’ll get to the vegetable garden.”
“Yay. Can we eat the vegetables?”
“We sure can,” she said, smiling, and pushing away the twist in her heart that this may never be her life.
Chapter Six
The Same Heat
Philip couldn’t believe how nice it was to have a few hours to himself to get his office set up and walk around campus.
Knock, knock, knock.
He looked up at the open door to see a woman standing there. “Hi, can I help you?”
She walked forward with her hand out. “I’m Chelsea Rockland. I’m a biology professor. You must be Dr. Aire. The new head of the department we’ve been hearing about.”
“I am,” he said. He’d planned on calling a meeting of everyone soon enough but wanted to get the lay of the land. Besides, not everyone worked over the summer so he wasn’t going to make them come in. He needed the time to get his own life settled first.
It’d been hard for him to make this move, but he knew he needed to start his life over. Neither Mandy’s nor his parents lived in Oneonta where they moved from. Mandy’s parents lived out west and his parents were retired and living in Florida.
His parents had come up for several months after Mandy’s death, so did Mandy’s parents, but then went back to their lives once they realized he had it covered.
He wasn’t so sure he did, but he wasn’t going to impose on the grandparents either. They called once a week and spent time talking to Livi on the tablet, but they were all happy with their lives.
The move was more for him than Livi. He’d been struggling to go back to his home every day that he’d shared with Mandy. With his wife. With the woman he’d planned on spending the rest of his life with.
But that all changed and the longer he stayed there the more he couldn’t move past what had happened.
It wasn’t just coming home to a house empty of Mandy’s smile and laughter. The two of them cooking in the kitchen after work, or lying on the couch watching TV at night before they snuggled into bed.
It was driving by her place of employment on his way to work. By the place where tragedy struck. He was reminded daily just living in that town.
He’d finally decided it was time for a change and started looking for jobs all over the state. He was even willing to move out of New York.
The biggest problem he had right now was finding someone he could trust with Livi though. That thought hadn’t occurred to him when he decided to move and he wondered if it was selfish of him. That maybe he was putting Livi in harm’s way by not knowing a soul here.
He supposed he was lucky to have a neighbor like Blair. One that offered to watch Livi for him, though he wouldn’t take advantage of it by any means.
Even if he wanted to find any excuse to seek Blair out and talk with her. See her smile. Hear her laugh. The way she looked at Livi. And at him, making him feel like a man again.
He hadn’t felt like a man in a long time.
A father. A caretaker. A provider. Yes.
But a man? No. Not in three years.
And wasn’t that the point of moving away? So that he could start fresh. So that he could start his life over. So that maybe he could find a woman that would accept his daughter and have a chance at another family someday.
“If there is anything I can do or answer for you, you’ll let me know, won’t you?”
He caught Chelsea’s eyes looking down at his left hand but brushed it off. He didn’t think she was flirting with him. He wasn’t sure if he’d even recognize it if it was happening.
Which of course wasn’t true because he’d noticed that Blair had been flirting. Or was that just wishful thinking on his part?
“Thanks,” he said back to Chelsea. She stood there staring at him like she wanted to keep talking or spend time with him. He wasn’t interested, though he didn’t want to be rude by any means. “I should be set.”
“I’m here if you need me,” she said, the look in her eyes sending more his way than he wanted to acknowledge. He’d have to be dumb and blind to not see what she was doing or what might be going through her mind. He was neither of those things.
“That’s good,” he said. “Thanks again, but I really need to finish up and get back home.”
He could tell she wanted to ask more, maybe what he had planned, but he moved away and started to gather stuff on his desk until he heard her walk out of the room.
He finished up what he had planned, pleased with everything he accomplished, and then pulled out of campus and made his way to 787 to get to Central Avenue to pick up Livi. He was still learning his way around the Capital Region, but it really wasn’t that hard.
The parking lot was full next to Blair’s shop so he drove around to another one, parked and walked down to get his daughter.
The pictures online didn’t do Blair’s shop justice. When he walked in it had an aroma to it he couldn’t quite place. Herbs and flowers, citrus. Lots of different scents and all very pleasant. Welcoming even.
It wasn’t haphazard, but it was packed full of items. Plants on one side, lotions and candles, plus soaps that he guessed she’d made too by the looks of it.
He walked further back down an aisle and saw diffusers and essential oils and books on alternative healing. He still felt the way he did. Modern medicine did the trick, but it looked like she had a good business here and if people believed in the things she was selling, more power to her.
As he got closer to the back, he noticed several rocks and jewelry, the kind he’d seen on Blair. Guess he knew where she got them and he wondered if she made those too, and if so, how she found time.
“Can I help you?” an employee asked.
“I’m looking for Blair.”
“She’s out back right now. Can I tell her who is asking for her?”
“Philip,” he said. “She’s watching my daughter.”
“Oh, you’re the neighbor. What do you think of Paradise?” she asked and then giggled. “Never mind. So nice to meet you. I’m Nikki,” she said, sticking her hand out and grinning like she knew some secret that Philip wasn’t being clued in on. “Livi has been such a joy to have here today. What a little worker bee.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Yes. She helped me rearrange the jewelry and stones over there. Don’t they look lovely?”
He turned his head to look at them again. They didn’t look like a seven-year-old had any part in them. “They do,” he agreed.
“I’ll just go get Blair and Livi for you. Hang on.”
He stood there and watched the action around the store. There were no less than ten people walking around while another employee rang two people out.
“Daddy,” Livi shouted and came running to him, her arms out wide and jumping up. He picked her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She hadn’t done that in months and it made him realize this time apart might have been just what they both needed.
“Have you been behaving for Blair?”
“She has been a wonderful addition to my staff today,” Blair said, walking toward him.
“I’ve had so much fun,” Livi said. “And I’ve got a basket of vegetables that I helped Blair pick. She said they are for us to eat.”
“That was very nice of you,” he said, looking at Blair. As odd as it might sound, he could almost feel his eyes softening as he gazed at her.
“You’ve seen how big my garden is so you know I could never eat it all. I didn’t realize how much Livi likes vegetables. It’s rare in a child.”
“It is. She eats anything I put in front of her, thankfully.” He fingered a necklace she was wearing. Another leather one, this one black with a large yellow stone on the end. “What’s this?”
“Payment for work,” Livi said. “I got to pick it out myself.”
“I think that’s too much,” he said. His eyes had caught the price of some of the jewelry.
“Livi has b
een quite the little helper today. She earned it. I told her to pick out her favorite. She said yellow is her favorite color.”
“This week it must be,” he said, laughing.
“That stone is citrine and very appropriate for her.”
“How’s that?” he asked, not sure he wanted to know. He didn’t believe in those things. That stones had meanings or healing powers, but he’d humor Blair just the same. She’d been nothing but helpful. Even providing some exciting dreams, not that he’d share that.
“Citrine is as bright as its energy. It emanates positivity and joy.”
“I’d say that does sum up Livi pretty well then,” he said, agreeing. “Thank you again for watching her. We’ll get out of your hair now.”
“I don’t want to go though,” Livi said. “Can’t we stay?”
“You’ve spent enough time with Blair today. I’m sure she’s got things to do that would be much easier if you were not underfoot.”
“She’s been fine. But I’m done for the day myself. I was actually about to call you and say we were heading home.”
He’d given Blair his number before he’d left his daughter with her in case there were any problems. “Sorry. I guess I was gone longer than I thought.” It was almost five, now that he realized it. He’d left home a little after noon but got sidetracked when Chelsea came in to introduce herself then wanted to chat. He’d politely pushed her along as best as he could.
And he wondered if he worked faster than he might have been able to avoid her altogether. Then he told himself to get a grip and man up. He was single and had a good job. He’d had this problem at his last job in the past year.
Many were looking at him as if he was a great catch but just as many stopped flirting and talking when they found out he was a single dad.
When he ventured out there again—if he did—then any woman he was interested in had to know and accept his daughter.
“You were gone exactly the amount of time you needed. Livi and I played in the gardens for a few hours and then I came in to check on a few things, pick up paperwork to do later tonight, and walk around the shop to see if it was ready to be rearranged.”
“Rearranged?” he asked, not imagining that. He was thrilled to just get the house unpacked. The thought of moving anything in the next five years gave him chills.
“We keep things fresh here and move stuff around. Livi helped with the jewelry today.”
“So I heard,” he said. “Again, thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“I’ll walk out with you, then if you don’t mind, Livi can run to the backyard when you get home and get her basket of vegetables. Well, I think you might have to carry it for her,” she said, grinning.
“What do you say, Livi? Ready to go home and figure out what to have for dinner? Maybe we can eat some of those vegetables you picked today.”
“Yay! Can Blair come? She said she’d show you how to cook them because I didn’t know what some of them were. I said you might not know how to make them.”
He looked over and caught Blair’s grin, then figured, what the hell. Since he walked into this place there was a humming in the air that was drawing him toward her. That was making him want to spend as much time with her as possible. She knew and accepted his daughter. That was one obstacle down.
“If Blair isn’t too sick of spending time with you, then I’d love to have her come to dinner.” Maybe explore these unfamiliar feelings he was having and see if he was alone in his thoughts or not.
“Will you, Blair?” Livi asked.
“I’d love to,” she said, holding his stare. There was something more behind her eyes, he was positive. The question was—was she feeling the same heat he was? Could he actually be on the same page with someone?
Chapter Seven
Double Meaning
Blair drove back to her house, pulled in her garage, and walked into the house to drop her purse on the counter. Then she grabbed the basket and went out back to meet Philip and Livi.
She’d like to consider this a second date, even if it was stretching it, but since she had no social life at all, this was a step up.
Besides, she read the invitation in his eyes this time. That maybe he was looking for something a bit more than being neighbors.
What could it hurt to explore things a little?
The backdoor was being held open by the time she made it to the deck stairs of Philip’s house. He had a grin on his face that she matched, then sent him a little wink to go along with it. Did his grin turn into a bright smile? It sure did!
“That looks like a lot of food,” he said, reaching for the basket.
“Not as much as you might think. Livi was all excited and wanted a little bit of everything. We can cook through it fast though. Maybe tonight depending on what you have planned for dinner.”
“I’ve got a few steaks I can throw on the grill and it looks like the sides can be taken care of right here.”
“That sounds perfect. I washed and rinsed the lettuce and Livi said she loved tomatoes and cucumbers, so I’ll put together a salad if you’ve got a bowl for me. I can dice some of the carrots into it too. I thought I’d show you how to roast some vegetables. The zucchini and yellow squash roast well and taste delicious with just a little butter, salt, and pepper.”
He nodded his head. “If it’s easy enough then I should be able to handle it going forward too. What’s this striped purple one?”
“That’s a graffiti eggplant. Livi said she never had it, but she loved the shape and color. It also roasts well and I can add it to the rest of these and it could be a big medley. You’ll have lots leftover, but you can easily toss them in pasta with some olive oil for another meal. Add some diced up chicken if you wanted meat with it and you’ll be done.”
“I like how you think. I have a hard time coming up with new ideas for dinner. I’m lucky that Livi eats anything I put in front of her, but I don’t always try new things. Maybe it’s time I do.”
She saw the double meaning in his eyes.
No time to explore it though with Livi running into the room. “Blair, you’re here.” She reached and grabbed her hand. “Come see my room now that it’s all set up.”
“Go ahead,” Philip said. “I’ll get everything ready so you can show me what I need to do with the vegetables. The steaks won’t take long, so I think these will have to be done first.”
“We can roast them right on the grill. Do you have any skewers? If not we can put them in foil with the seasonings and they will cook that way too.”
“No skewers, but I’ve got foil.”
“Okay, I’ll show you when I get back down,” she said, laughing as Livi pulled her to the stairs.
Blair was turning her head left and right as Livi tugged her along through the house. Not one box in sight and everything was nice and neat. She liked that in a man. Of course he did just unpack everything and it’d only been a little over a week so she was guessing it was easy to keep things neat in that short of a time.
“This is my room,” Livi said. It was a pretty pink color and she wondered if it was like that when they moved in or if Philip painted it.
“It suits you.”
“I picked it because of the color. The other rooms are blue and green. I’m a girl. I like pink better.”
“I think pink was the best bet then.”
There were shelves on the wall filled with dolls and books and other toys. A nice little desk that had a chair pushed into it. Livi’s bedspread had puppies and kittens playing all over it. It was definitely a little girl’s room. She started to notice a lot of animals around the room. Not just dogs and cats, but stuffed pigs and elephants, tigers and lions.
“You like animals I see.”
“I do. I want a pet, but Daddy said no. Not until we get settled. I told him all the boxes are unpacked and that means we’re settled, right? He just laughed at me so I think that means no.”
“I think it might mean no too,” she agreed.
“We can go back down now,” Livi said. “I’m hungry and you have to show Daddy how to cook those vegetables.”
“Maybe you can help us. Would you like that?”
“Yes,” Livi said, jumping up and down. “What can I do? I can’t use a knife.”
“We’ll figure it out. It can be a joint effort.”
And it was. Instead of neatly cutting the lettuce, Livi was tearing it into nice even pieces while Blair cut the tomatoes and sliced the cucumbers. Then she had Philip lay out a long sheet of foil and she told him to slice the yellow squash and zucchini while she cubed the eggplant and cut the carrots. Once they were all done, she tossed them in a bowl with a little bit of olive oil, onion powder, salt and pepper.
“Do you have any cooking spray?” she asked. He walked over and grabbed it out of the cabinet. “I lightly spray it on the foil for an extra layer so it doesn’t stick. Then we just lay out the vegetables. Now spray the other sheet that will go on top. Roll up all four sides so it’s sealed well and place it on the grill. Easy as that.”
“How long should they cook?” he asked.
“I usually do ten to fifteen minutes on one side, then flip them and do the other. The longer they cook, the softer they are. Shorter, they have a crunch factor.”
“I like crunch,” Livi said.
“Then ten minutes or so on each side.”
“I’ve got the grill ready to go so I’ll put these on first. The steak won’t take long. How do you like it cooked?”
“Medium rare is good for me.”
“The same as us. Grab a drink and have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
So she did and then she let him cook the rest of the dinner while she and Livi set the table. When the food was all done, they ate their meal like a family she always dreamed she’d have one day.
They talked and they laughed and they cleaned up together. By seven Livi was yawning and rubbing her eyes.
“Are you tired, sweetie?” Blair asked her.
“No.” But it was obvious she was.
“Livi goes to bed at eight, but she had an exciting day today. Why don’t we let you go play in the tub for a bit and get you into bed early?”
