Curtis didn’t give Jorgen time to answer the question. “There is a mountain of snow behind my car. And by mountain, I mean a pile bigger than Aunt Sunny’s rock pile.”
Pam gasped. Their Aunt Sunny believed in discipline. Whenever the kids were unruly, she made them relocate a pile of rocks she used for decoration. The pile was taller than a ten-year-old child and about the size of one of those kiddy plastic pools. Pam and Curtis got in trouble for fighting when they were younger. It took the both of them working together two days to move the rocks. When the pile was moved, Aunt Sunny added snippets of silk flowers. She said, “Beauty stems from hardship. Watch. You two will get along better because of what you’ve done.”
It only took moving the pile once for the kids to know to settle down when she said, “It looks like I’m going to have to get new flowers for the pile.”
Pam gasped at Jorgen. First in horror for her brother. Then in confusion. How did he manage to move that much snow in such a short amount of time? He was gone for less than a half hour.
Jorgen held his hands in the air the way a child shows a parent that they are clean. “Technically, I didn’t do it.” The sparkle in his eyes said otherwise.
At the time, Pam only focused Amanda’s advice to avoid Jorgen. But there was a second admonition. Amanda also said, “You’ll find yourself regretting it the first time he has to help you with something. And, that definitely will happen at some point in time.”
The rule was to be nice. Because of the way the relationships are woven, everyone in the small community was connected one way or another. Pam thought the familiar tone Jorgen used with Rachel was flirty when in fact he was conspiring with her to win Pam’s favor. The nurse was his cousin, not a potential relationship.
Pam arched her brow in accusation, “Are you related to anyone else at the hospital?”
He gave her the answer she didn’t want to hear. “Of course.”
Pam cringed at the complication. Her brother hadn’t had time to be acquainted with a small community. They came from a larger city. He had no idea of the connections in rural towns.
“What does that mean?” Curtis’s face said it all. The angry wrinkle in his brow straightened as he tried to connect the pieces of the puzzle. His eyes darted back and forth in search of the one piece he knew he was missing. He had stepped into a situation far more complicated than he imagined.
“It means he is worse than Mark.” Pam pressed her palm against her forehead. “Jorgen knows what he’s doing. Mark was just playing games.”
Jorgen’s brow wrinkled, “I don’t know if that is a compliment or an insult.”
Pam ignored the request for an explanation. She cut to the chase, “Why did you do it?”
“I didn’t…”
“Okay, let me rephrase the question. Why is my brother’s vehicle barricaded into one parking space?” Pam hadn’t stood for a couple of days. Exhausted from the excitement, she leaned against the bed.
Jorgen rushed to her side to help her get seated. “I figured we needed some time for your brother to hear you out. This bought you some.”
“We?” The part of her that was defending her brother struggled against the part of her that took notice of how hard Jorgen fought for her. Two days ago, he was satisfied with her just being friends. What changed?
“Yes, we.” He said. “I told you I wanted to be more than just friends and you agreed.”
“But, we haven’t dated,” she objected. “What makes you think I want to be part of a we?”
“I can explain.” Jorgen held out his hands to calm her. When she settled, he began his explanation. “Right before I met you at the brewery, I was in the bathroom.”
Pam motioned to object, and Jorgen cut her off, “Don’t worry. This story isn’t going to be obscene. Anyway, this other guy was in there, which is no big deal. He does his thing I do mine. When out of nowhere, a woman’s voice comes in through the door.”
He changed the voice to sound like a woman. “Greg? Are you in there?”
“Now I’m thinking to myself this guy’s got it bad. He can’t have a minute to take care of his business.”
Nancy walked into the room ready to talk. “You’re not going to believe what happened in the park...” She stopped speaking when she saw Jorgen and Curtis standing on opposite sides of Pam. She back stepped out of the room, “I’ll come talk to Pam a little later.” When she had cleared the door, she made a pained face and hustled to the left
“Greg,” Jorgen continued, “I’m on a first name basis with this guy, thanks to his wife. Anyway, Greg says yeah, I’m in here. But, he isn’t bothered. Now me. I’m wondering if Greg’s wife is going to see a little more of me than she expected.”
Jorgen was such an easy storyteller; Pam forgot that she was supposed to be upset with him for what he did to her brother.
“This woman says, ‘there’s no toilet paper in the woman’s bathroom. Can you bring some out with you when you’re done?’”
Jorgen’s eyes were wide, and he shook his head. “I was like wow! But Greg is smiling like a fox that caught a chicken. He says, ‘That’s my wife for you.’ He washed his hands, unrolled a wad of toilet paper, and stuffed it in his jacket pocket. I can hear his wife through the door thanking him. And Greg. Greg is laughing with her over the whole thing. Anyway, I left that bathroom thinking, that’s the kind of relationship I want.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I want to be the guy who has a wife bugging him in the bathroom for toilet paper. Well, right after I thought it, you sat beside me and started answering the questions. It was like you were the answer to my request. Then I asked you out, and you said that you just wanted to be friends. If you think about it that’s what Greg had with his wife. I’m sure there’s more to what they have. But I could tell in the bit of time I spent with them that they were good friends too. I knew it was only a matter of time before you and I were going to be close.”
Jorgen turned to Curtis. “When you live in a small town, you’re never really alone.”
“Yeah,” Nancy’s face peeked in from her post beside the door where she had been hiding. “We’re more than friends. We’re a family.”
“That only happens in books and cheesy romance movies,” Pam objected.
“Really?” Jorgen argued, “Who was out there like Dale Earnhardt Jr. when she heard that Claire was in the hospital?” He tucked his finger under her chin, “It’s time for you to wake up and see that you are right where you belong.”
“For the first time in my life, I’m going to have to say he’s right,” Nancy agreed.
Happily Ever After
“Pam, the family has spoken, and you need to come home.” Curtis insisted.
Nancy cleared her throat. “I think I hear a cup of coffee calling your name.” She hooked her elbow with Curtis’s and guided him toward the door.
Pam was the disappointment, Curtis was the one who got it right. Her family had spoken, and they wanted her home. She imagined the digs they’d throw in conversations for the years to come.
Then again, there was one problem with Jorgen’s plan. They didn’t know each other well enough for Pam to feel comfortable staying at his house. For an overnight sure, but not for any amount of time longer than that. What if it was only the stress of the situation that made them get along so well? How would they react in the day to day pick up your socks and wash your dishes situations?
“Look I know this is sudden,” Jorgen took both of her hands in his. “But I know this is right. We are supposed to be together.”
His eyes implored her to agree with him. Pam opened her mouth to answer his request. Moments prior, she had a list of reasons why it wouldn’t work. She searched her mind for one of them. Nothing came to mind. With the absence of anything to say she closed her mouth.
“I promise we’ll take it slow. I want to do this right. Court you, so you know my intentions are sincere.”
Pam had to say something. What it was eluded
her? He was saying all the right things. The only thing she had to offer in the way of a rebuttal was they hadn’t known each other long enough. Her family would think her a fool.
Jorgen tilted her chin, so they had direct eye contact. He leaned in shortening the distance between the two of them. His lips were mere inches away from hers. His voice was husky and daring. “What do you say?”
“I know what you’re doing.” She managed to speak barely above a whisper. His charm. He turned it on to disengage her resistance. Every fiber of her being wanted him to kiss her. Yet he had made his intention clear. Until she said what he wanted to hear, he was hands off.
He lowered his voice to match hers. Where hers issued an accusation, his offered an invitation. “Is it working?”
Pam swallowed. “Maybe.”
“Maybe what?”
His grin. He knew she was caving.
Jorgen pulled away. “I was hoping for a yes.”
Pam missed the closeness and whimpered inside. The man was using sexual tension as a weapon against her. It impressed and offended her that it was working.
Curtis burst into the room. “You can stay if you want!”
Pam startled. Jorgen lowered his hands to his side. Nothing had happened between them, yet Pam felt like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Nancy told me everything.” He rushed to stand in front of Jorgen and held out his hand for a handshake. “I had it all wrong.”
Jorgen cautiously held out his hand. Curtis grabbed it and pumped his arm. “Welcome to the family.”
“I didn’t say I was staying.” What did Nancy say to change her brother’s mind?
“Don’t listen to what I said earlier.” Curtis sat in the chair beside the bed. “I was playing the part of the overprotective older brother.” He spoke to Jorgen, “You’d be amazed at how many guys I had to chase away when she was younger.”
“When are you planning on getting married? Once I have some facts mom and dad will be okay with everything.”
Pam found her words. “Get married! We haven’t gone on a date yet.” A minute ago, she wished Jorgen was her happily ever after. Now she just wanted to be left alone.
“Curt, can I have a couple more minutes alone with Pam. We hadn’t got all the details worked out yet.”
“I hope I didn’t cause a disagreement between you two.” The troubled look on her brother’s face said he knew he had. Curtis turned to leave. “I’ll be in the cafeteria. Come get me when you’re done.” He closed the door behind him and opened it quickly. He held his hand to his mouth and used the back of it as a shield. With the other hand, he pointed in Jorgen’s direction, he whispered to Pam, “Nancy told me he is loaded. You never told me that he owns close to three thousand acres of land.” Curtis backed out of the room and quietly shut the door behind him.
“Look, I like you…” That was all Pam had the chance to say. The next thing she knew was the sensation of Jorgen’s lips pressed up against hers. Her chest expanded in acceptance, and he pulled her toward him. A world of fireworks went off inside her chest. At the same time, she was a participant; she was an observer of all that was going on. She saw sweet smiles and passionate moments. There were some arguments and moments of reconciliation thrown in. She saw an older version of Jorgen and her playing with a baby. As the kiss softened the film reel of moments flickered until she was fully present. Pam blinked to test her reality. She had heard of people’s lives flashing before their eyes before they died. Nobody told her it was possible to see the future in a kiss.
“I am in love with you. Tell me what I have to say. What do I have to do to convince you that we belong together? I will do it.” The pleading from his eyes extended to his voice.
“You’re in love with me?” Pam spoke barely above a whisper.
“I fell in love with you the moment you sat down beside me.”
She grinned and recalled her thoughts before going to the bathroom. She was in love with a perfect stranger, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. And they had tried. Beginning with Nancy and Amanda telling her to forget about him, and nature creating all kinds of discord, to her brother insisting she go home to Oklahoma. Yet, there they were together—in love.
Pam smiled sweetly, “I’m in love with you too.”
Jorgen threw his head back and exhaled in relief. He wrapped his arms around Pam and hugged her. “I feel like I just won the lottery.”
Where It All Began
“This is where it all began,” Jorgen wrapped his arm around Pam’s shoulder and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Three months ago, I was minding my own business. You appeared in the seat beside me, and my life has never been the same.”
He opened the door to the brewery and stepped back to make room for her to walk through. The popcorn machine was to the left, the corridor to the general area was straight ahead. It all looked the same. The only difference was she was in love. While she remembered what life was like before Jorgen, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like without him. Being with him was a joy.
Jorgen took Pam’s hand in his and headed straight for the general area. She stopped short of the corridor. “Can we get some popcorn?”
Her request seemed to fluster Jorgen. He scanned the general area and turned back to answer her question. “Sure, but we have to hurry.”
“The beer doesn’t start to get warm until they pour it into the mug.” Pam rubbed the back of Jorgen’s arm to sooth him. He had been on edge for the past couple days.
“No,” he corrected, “It doesn’t get warm until it passes through my lips.” He nodded a hello to someone at the back of the room. “Nancy and Clark are here. They’re sitting with Claire, Sam, and William.”
Pam held out the two bowls of popcorn and motioned to step in the direction Jorgen headed. “Let me get that for you.” Jorgen took the bowls and stepped away to make room for her to walk with the brace around her ankle. She limped in the direction he pointed.
Claire moved to make room for Jorgen and Pam to sit together at the table. The two had been roommates since the Claire was released from the hospital. After weeks of talking about it, Claire had finally agreed to venture out and visit the brewery. “You’re right. This place is fun. I’ll have to bring Darius here the next time he visits.
Stephanie, the waitress, placed the coaster on the table. “Are you going to have your usual?”
Familiar music from the sound system signaled the start of the next trivia game. “Yes, that’ll be fine.” Jorgen pulled out his phone in preparation to play.
The gesture caught Pam by surprise. Usually, he talked more. “I’ll have a Blond Sunrise.” Pam picked up his role of chatting with everyone they encountered. “How are you doing this week?”
“I’m doing well,” Stephanie replied. “My son got first place in the track meet last week.”
Pam was about to ask what event he ran when Jorgen broke into the conversation. “You’re going to want to pay attention the game.”
Stephanie smiled in amusement. Usually, Jorgen talked to everyone. Pam was taken back by his aloofness but didn’t have time to question it. The first question came up. He read it aloud. “How many men did Elizabeth Taylor marry?”
“If she’d have married me, the answer’d be one,” William joked.
“I know there were eight weddings,” Claire answered.
“Seven!” Nancy exclaimed, “She married Richard Burton twice.” When the answer was correct, Nancy elbowed Clark. “I know a thing or two about marriage.” Clark who had been quiet just grinned.
Stephanie set the beers on the table. Pam decided to pick up Jorgen’s social skills. She turned away from the game to give Stephanie her attention. “Thank you,” The room fell silent, but Pam was committed to being friendly. Planning to pick up the conversation where they left off, Pam asked, “What event does your son run?”
“I think you want to pay attention to this question.” Stephanie grinned.
P
am looked up at the screen. The silence made sense. The question read, “Pam, will you marry Jorgen?” The available answers were: A. yes, B. definitely yes, C. of course, and D. yes, yes, yes.
A collective aww from the people around them pulled her attention from the screen to find Jorgen bent on one knee beside her chair. He held out a diamond engagement ring that glistened so bright she had to blink to make sure it was real.
“Pam, you are the best friend I have been searching for, for my entire life. Talking to you is the highlight of my day. I wake in the morning wondering what we’re going to do. When I rest my head on my pillow, my last thought is something you said, or we did together. The only way my life will be better is with you beside me for the rest of my life. Please say you’ll marry me.”
She gasped in response and covered her mouth with her hands. The swell of emotions stole her words. Her mind wandered back to the first day she met him, and his crooked grin caught her attention. Back then she mistook what she felt for him as the beginnings of a crush. Hindsight showed her it was love at first sight. The feelings hadn’t changed, they only deepened. Like him, her only vision of the future included him. Still, at a loss for words, she nodded her answer.
A familiar voice from across the bar called out, “What was that? We didn’t hear you from over here?”
Pam’s eyes followed the sound. Her ears hadn’t deceived her. It was Curtis. Her parents, who stood beside him, beamed with pride. Her mouth fell open, and she turned to regard Jorgen. She wondered why he was so intent on getting her to the table. He was keeping her focus away from the area where her family sat.
His smile widened. “What do you say?”
“I said, Yes.” She opened her arms to pull him into a hug. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Another collective “awww” came from the brewery. This one had a happy note at the end of it.
Jorgen stood and held Pam’s hands to help her rise. He gently slid the ring onto her finger. When it was in place, Pam set her hands on his chest and stood a little taller to kiss him. Right before their lips met, he said, “You have made me the happiest man in the world.”
Just A Friend: Small Town Stories Novella #3 Page 7
