by MK Harkins
But my mother was inconvenienced by our defective car, so she hadn’t noticed. She spent two hours on the phone, threatening the rental company, while I sat on a carved bench and took in the salty smells, the banter between store owners, the warmth of the sun, and the beauty around me. She had no time for such things. She’d rather spend her time angry with incompetents, as she liked to call them.
To my mother, that beautiful, small village was Godforsaken.
She hadn’t seen Rau Sadelui, Romania. Or more specifically, the orphanage, Orphan’s Rescue Home. The name was ironic, because it was a place I needed to be rescued from.
It took a total of forty-seven hours to travel to Bucharest. I’d started from SeaTac International Airport, landing in London for a twenty-hour layover at Heathrow. Because I’d visited London several times before, I didn’t bother to leave my hotel. Instead, I scheduled all my favorite activities within the walls of 45 Park Lane, a hotel worth every one of their five stars. Throwing my father’s name around, I made sure to receive the red carpet treatment. At least he was good for something. First up was a manicure and pedicure. Following that, a facial and massage. Not wanting a moment unoccupied, I ordered room service and watched television until sleep caught me. I didn’t want to think about what came next. How could they do this to me?
The small commuter plane landed on the short runway with a thud. Bucharest was the closest city to Rau Sadelui, so I’d be driven the rest of the way by one of the employees from the orphanage. I hoped they weren’t late; I didn’t want to hang around the airport for too long. It wasn’t a horrible airport, I’d seen worse traveling in Africa, but, still, a few locals stared at me. They’d probably didn’t even know about Kate Spade fashion. I would be spending time with barbarians until I could figure a way out of this.
I exited the main terminal and looked for my ride. Where were all the trees? And mountains? The landscape looked flat and sparse, almost desolate. It had rained and the resulting scent of wet concrete was a welcome surprise. The smell bonded me with home, and the realization made my stomach drop.
A year. They wanted me to stay here a year.
It wouldn’t happen. I’d stashed some of my “allowance” for emergencies. It was simple; I’d just buy my way out. Or do whatever was necessary. If they disinherit you, you’ll run out of money. I wouldn’t think about it yet. First, I needed to see how pathetic the orphanage was and how long I could tolerate a bunch of sniveling brats. An escape plan had already started to form.
Standing to my right a man held a sign that read “Angel.” Good grief, they couldn’t even spell my name correctly. He wore jeans, a white shirt, and a bored expression. Oh, you’re bored, Handsome Man? Well, you’ve met your match. I could beat you at indifferent and bored anytime, anywhere.
I approached him and asked, “You here to take me to my cell?”
He kept the bland expression, turned, and walked toward a beat up, red Range Rover Discovery. Great, no English, and obviously uneducated.
Apparently, they’d sent the hired help, one of the workers who didn’t want the chore to fetch me at the airport. Pick up a book and learn English. If a person wanted to live and work in the civilized world, they needed to speak English.
Such a shame, too, because he was unbelievably good-looking. High cheekbones with a rugged jaw—all man, standing around six-foot-three. Straight black hair cut to his shoulders framed a lightly tanned face with the bluest of blue eyes. The color made me think of the idyllic two hours I’d spent in the little Greek town so many years ago. Crystal blue. But those hostile eyes held contempt, not beauty.
Strong shoulders and a trim waist rounded out what to some could be considered male perfection. I didn’t like him though, so it didn’t matter. He wasn’t in my class, and I never made a habit of being friendly with people who were below me. And clearly, he was.
But I couldn’t help staring at him, and that needed to stop. It was too bad, though, he could’ve been the distraction I needed while I served out my prison term. Because that’s what this was. Even if a judge hadn’t ordered it, they might have as well placed handcuffs on me and physically dragged me here. You will be disinherited if you don’t do this. I’m smarter than my parents, though. They may have won round one, but I’d be delivering the knockout punch.
I walked behind and waited for him to put my luggage in the back deck of his truck. He stood, staring at me. I pointed to my bags. That’s when the slightest emotion broke through his stony façade, where I detected a slight twitch to his lips. I shouldn’t have looked there. His lips were perfectly formed, like the rest of him. Unlike his body, which was tight and hard, his lips were full and soft-looking. The insanity of my situation must be messing with my brain. Don’t lower yourself. Stop looking.
He pointed to my bags and brought his finger to the back of the truck. No way! He wanted me to load my own luggage? What kind of country was this? I stood still and glared at him, but he held his ground. His face remained impassive, but I could swear a hint of laughter danced in his eyes.
I huffed and grabbed my bags. The director of the orphanage would hear about this. This was no way to treat a woman, especially a woman who came from my background. And, I’d be working for free. Ugh! I placed each bag in the back carefully. They held all my favorite belongings. All my beloved designer clothes, perfume, jewelry, and some money. Money solved most every problem. I’d use it to bribe people to get what I needed. Or wanted. Whatever.
I wondered if all men in Romania were pigs like this man. A handsome, insolent pig, but a pig nonetheless.
I stomped around the back of the truck and opened the passenger door. I was a smart girl, unlike this simpleton. I learned quickly. He wasn’t a gentlemen, and I could’ve stood for hours waiting for him to open the door.
We spent the next three hours in silence driving to the orphanage, my new home.
Home. What a laugh.
I glanced over at the handsome pig and his expression remained the same. His eyes still held derision. Maybe it was because I was out of his league and he couldn’t have me. Or perhaps he was frustrated by his lack of education and didn’t know my language. His irritation showed as white knuckles gripped the steering wheel. He obviously hated me.
Welcome to the club.
Chapter Nine
Tiffany
I GROANED BEFORE my eyes opened. The alarm made the most obnoxious buzzing sound, penetrating the fog of sleep. I wanted the fog back. I needed the fog back. My hand felt like a hundred pounds as I slammed it down on the clock, missing the snooze button.
I’d slept for only two hours, fifteen minutes. Today would not be fun. Coffee, coffee, repeated in my head. I could do this.
It was a bit chilly for the middle of February, the forecast a high of thirty-eight, but it wouldn’t slow the progress for the Habitat Homes project Jain and I were working on. The house, for an ALS patient, was almost complete, a yearlong charitable venture born from love.
Love. Oh my goodness, Jain’s baby! I sat up straight and rubbed my eyes.
I’d almost forgotten about her with the annoying alarm still ringing in my head. A beautiful girl, six pounds, ten ounces. Colin and I waited through the night to make sure mother and child were doing okay. When we entered her hospital room, Colin teared up—which set off Jain, which in turn started my waterworks. We were hugging and crying when Braydon came in with one of the nurses. He smiled and shook his head. We were a trio, the three of us. We may not have the same blood running through our veins, but we were still family. A close one.
Knowing mother and child were safely taken care of, my other job needed my attention. While Jain recovered in the hospital, I needed to pick up the slack and make sure everyone stayed on task. The cute little home in the Rainier District would stay on schedule. I’d make sure of it.
Jain usually took care of the administrative role, and I was in charge of the fun stuff—like painting and landscaping.
I threw on some clothes,
left my warm and cozy cottage, and dragged myself to the kitchen in the main house. Dad sat on his usual stool at the end of the long center island, reading his newspaper. Lucky for me, he’d already made coffee.
“Can you pass me the coffee, Dad?” Thankful to be upright, I grabbed my favorite mug from the cupboard. I wouldn’t last long without my fix. I did not do well with sleep deprivation.
“You look …”
“Awful? Horrible?” I thought I’d help him along a little. I poured the coffee in my mug.
“No! You always look lovely. You just look a little tired. Are you okay? You feeling all right?”
My dad acted like a mother hen at times. He always checked to make sure I ate right and took care of myself. Both my parents were the picture of health. Dad, with his salt and pepper hair and fit body, was still handsome by anyone’s standards. Mom was as beautiful as ever. They were both in their fifties, but looked thirty-five. I hoped I’d inherited their good genes.
When I eventually moved out, he’d probably take it pretty hard. I’d need to make sure he started a new hobby—one that didn’t include hovering over me.
“Nothing a couple gallons of coffee won’t fix.” I raised my cup and plopped down on the stool in front of the long, granite-topped island. My mom remodeled the entire kitchen last year in the farmhouse style, with whitewashed cabinets and an apron sink. It was cozy and understated. I loved it.
“Are you working at the house today?” Dad asked.
He knew my usual Sunday plans. Wake up, go to church, and work at the ALS/Habitat Home until dinner.
“Yep. I have double-duty because Jain had her baby. A girl. Yay!” The warm, happy feeling from last night came back with a big whoosh. After work today, I’d be right back at the hospital.
“Give her my congratulations, will you? I’m headed out. I have a date with a fishing pole.”
My mouth dropped open. “What? Who? Where?” My dad never fished in his entire life. This was a good thing, his new hobby. Now I wouldn’t have to find him one.
“Braydon Decker’s dad, Brian,” he answered.
“You two sure hit it off at Jain and Braydon’s wedding.”
“He’s a great guy. Anyway, he invited us out for a day of fishing with his girlfriend, Jennifer.” His next words almost toppled me off my stool. “Your mom is going also.”
“Mom. You mean my mom?” I don’t think I’d witnessed my mom out in public without a pair of high heels in my entire life.
He laughed and rubbed my head. Oh, dad. I’m not five.
With my sternest tone, I said, “Dad, I’m not—”
“Five. I know, but you’re still my baby. You can’t get out of that.”
Yeah. Totally a daddy’s girl. No denying it. But I loved him. He was the greatest dad any girl could ever want.
I grabbed a bagel and my coffee to-go and headed out the door. “See you for dinner. Don’t fall off the boat!”
“Don’t fall in a can of paint!”
“Deal.” I stopped. “I’m glad to see you and Mom doing something fun. You two work too hard.”
His expression softened. “Thanks. We know things won’t stay the same forever.” Oh no, he looked like he was about to tear up. “So, your mom and I decided to pick up a few hobbies. I picked fishing. She’s chosen shopping.” He laughed softly. “We’re still negotiating.”
“I’m glad, Dad.” The truth hung in the air, unspoken. We all knew I’d be moving out soon. But it didn’t make it any easier.
“I’ll see you tonight, honey. It’s great what you’re doing for that family.”
He meant the Anderson family. The father lost everything after his health started to fail from the effects of ALS. We couldn’t give his health back, not yet, but we could give him and his family a lovely place to live. Along with hope and the knowledge the community supported and cared about them.
I loved working on this project.
“Thanks, Dad. You’ve spent the better part of your life doing the same and are a great example for me.” I went around the kitchen island and gave him a big hug. “Enough of this. I need to get going.” I smiled and grabbed my purse off the counter. Resigned to a long, uneventful day without Jain, I headed out to the worksite.
Chapter Ten
Todd
LOVE.
I FELT IT. Savannah. The emotion, smooth and rich, coursed through my veins. She lay next to me, her hand over my heart. It skipped a beat as I looked into her beautiful, green eyes. She smiled her dimpled grin and said, “I’ll love you forever.”
Groaning, I tossed the covers back and rolled over. I sat forward and ran shaky fingers through my sweaty hair. I asked God, or the Universe, anyone or anything, to make the dreams stop. They were going to kill me. But they weren’t just dreams, were they? They were stronger and more painful than any dream I’d ever had.
It had been four long years, and the dreams still haunted me. I remained frozen, a prisoner to emotions I couldn’t shake. In my deep sleep, I felt the love we shared almost like it was yesterday. Had she moved on? Was she married? I’d guess she’d moved back to the south and lived the life she was born into. One where I hadn’t belonged.
I enjoyed my four years at The University of Washington, but never more than I did on that particular day.
“Oh, aren’t you a gentleman!” she said in the sweetest southern drawl I’d ever heard. God, she was beautiful. Tiny, blonde, and drenched—she stood under my favorite tree on campus, getting pelted by the rain. I’d run over in an attempt to shield her with my umbrella. It was too late, but, nevertheless, she looked up at me as if I were her savior. She took my breath away. Flawless skin, perfect nose, full, pink bow-shaped lips, and a dimple in her right cheek.
I jumped up from the bed in attempt to snap out of it. It was bad when the recollections started to encroach on my waking hours. I thought they were locked up. Was it because I’d kissed Tiffany last night? Maybe. I’d enjoyed that kiss. A lot.
I hadn’t wanted to think about a possible relationship until now. Something had unfurled within me, and I was powerless to stop it. A year. I’d held myself back for an entire year. Damn. All that effort to stay away from Tiffany; all that work undone in a few minutes’ time. That kiss undid me. I’d known instinctively it would happen if I touched her. Why was I so stupid?
I knew the reason. It’d been the hurt look on Tiffany’s face. I couldn’t stand it. When I’d heard Fletcher’s poisonous words, I wanted to punch him. He couldn’t handle rejection, and Tiffany got caught in his line of fire. My hands formed into fists thinking about it. My choice had been to either knock Fletcher out or kiss Tiffany. I’d made the right decision, but a part of me felt like there was unfinished business.
Tiffany could handle it, though. She always reminded me of the picture of strength and positivity. I smiled remembering the ALS research gala the month before when she put herself between two large, angry drunk men. Both were itching for a fight with their red faces, loud voices and tightened fists. Everyone in the crowd stayed frozen, waiting for the inevitable violence to begin. I watched from the opposite end of the room as she left her table and placed herself between them, speaking animatedly while she poked her index finger on the chest of the first infuriated man, turned and did the same to the second. As if they received a dressing down by their mother, they peered down to the floor and shook their heads while she continued to speak, using both words and hands to convey her message. When they skulked off in opposite directions, she flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder and returned to her seat as if it were an everyday event. She was brave, determined and resilient—and also funny and happy. Which made the sadness in her eyes last night unbearable.
And I was pretty certain I was falling in love with her. Or maybe I already had. That’s why the dreams and memories of Savannah were hitting me with a vengeance. It was my subconscious warning me. You fool! You’ve been in love before and what did it give you? Pain and misery. Shut it down! Lock it
up!
Could I? Now that I’d had a taste—her sweetness, her warmth—would I be able to resist? I grabbed a towel and headed to the shower. Hopefully, cold water would bring me to my senses.
Two hours after a freezing shower, my skin still cold from the icy temperature, I realized I was no better. I turned the heat to full blast in my car and tried to warm up on the journey across town to visit Braydon and his new family in the hospital.
After a few minutes of conversation, Jain asked me to fill her shift at Habitat Home.
“Tiffany will be there.” She smiled innocently at me.
Heart racing I replied with a nonchalant, “Oh?” Good one.
Sitting next to Jain’s hospital bed, I held their new baby girl in my arms. Braydon hovered close by, making sure I didn’t drop her.
“Braydon, my sister has two kids. I’ve got this.”
He smiled a little and with hesitation moved back a few inches.
Jain continued, “You’d be helping me, Todd. Really.”
“I thought you agreed to stop your matchmaking last night?” I touched their daughter’s cheek. A real beauty—all soft and chubby, just like a baby should be.
Jain’s eyes twinkled and she chuckled. “I don’t blame you for not trusting me. Really, though, Tiffany is going to need help today now that I’m indisposed.” She grinned and looked at her daughter in my arms. “If I know Tiffany, she’ll work day and night to stay on schedule. She won’t want to let the Anderson family down. She counted on my help.” Her eyebrows arched, waiting for my reply.
“Okay.” I was a goner.
“Okay? My favorite word! Braydon, did you hear that? Todd said ‘Okay’.”
Braydon laughed and shook his head. “You’re a goner, you know that?”
Oh, I knew.
