Chapter 8
Robbie looked up and caught Faith watching him use the snow blower to clear the driveway. The last two days had been difficult. Every time he tried to lighten the mood, she buried her nose in a book and ignored him. Maybe it was for the best, having already squandered his one chance at happiness.
He was ecstatic that the day had dawned bright and clear with no wind. The beautiful weather meant he could get out of the house and do some manual activity to take his mind off the blonde currently watching him out the window.
Fighting with the snow blower as he tried to remove a snowdrift, his foot slipped, and he went down hard, banging his head on the frozen ground. He laid there motionless while he tried to determine if he had injured anything other than his pride during the fall.
“Robbie,” Faith yelled. “Are you okay?”
He opened his eyes to Faith looking down at him worriedly. “Hey, are you hurt?”
“Nothing but my pride.” Noticing her shivering in the cold without her jacket, he stood and brushed the snow off of his pants. “Where is your coat?”
“In the house. I was more worried about you than about being cold,” she replied, her teeth chattering.
“Let’s get you in where it’s warm. Silly girl, running out in the middle of winter without a coat.” As soon as they were in the house, he pulled her close. “Thanks for worrying about me.” His lips gently pressed to Faith’s until she pushed her fingers through his hair and grabbed on.
Moaning, she moved her tongue against Robbie’s, slowly, tortuously. Her body pressed up against his, making it hard for him to keep his desire from becoming evident. He watched her pupils expand and her eyelids droop as the kiss continued.
He lost himself in the moment, just like before, forgetting completely about Madison. As the world seeped back into his consciousness, he watched the blush spread across her cheeks, and her eyes opened wider. Those orbs, so full of innocence and need, that looked straight into his soul.
“What was that for?” she asked.
The lights flickered and stayed on. “Looks like we’re back on the grid. I better go plug in my phone and call Ragan to let her know we’re okay.”
Faith stood there and rubbed her lips. They felt like they were swollen and sensitive. That had been one hell of a kiss, not that she had anything to compare it to other than the one he laid on her at Thanksgiving. Grabbing her bag, she carefully folded her clothes and dropped them into it. The last two days had been difficult as she attempted to ignore Robbie’s gestures of friendship. Nothing he tried had worked until that kiss. Wow, she still felt off balance.
“What are you doing?” Robbie asked angrily when he spied her bag on the bed.
“Since the power is back on, I can go back to the Romero’s. I’ve imposed on you too long already.” She turned and zipped up the sack and slung it over her shoulder. “Besides, I’m on a deadline, and I really need to get back to my book.”
“You’re not going anywhere. It will take most of the day for the house to warm up after I go relight the pilot light on the furnace. And hopefully, none of the pipes are frozen. Let me check everything out. I’ll bring your laptop back with me so you can work on your book.”
“No. I should go take care of it myself. I’m sure I can figure it out.”
“No. Why are you being so stubborn about this?” he asked. He thought the kiss had fixed everything between them.
She smirked at him, “What? You think just because you lay an awesome kiss on me, I’ll blindly listen to you? I don’t think so… Shit, I didn’t mean to say that.”
“You thought it was an awesome kiss?” Robbie grinned as he contemplated kissing her again. “It was pretty phenomenal.”
“No need to get a big head. The only kiss I remember was the one from a couple of days ago, so I have nothing to compare it to. It may have been a mediocre kiss for all I know.”
His mouth quirked, lifting up on one side, making him look smug. “Believe me, honey, that kiss was definitely not mediocre.”
She sneered again, “Maybe for you. I’m going to have to do some research and get back to you.”
Laughing, he replied, “You do that. I’m curious to see how I stack up.”
Faith grabbed her bag and stomped out of the bedroom. As soon as her boots and coat were on, she was headed for the door.
“I told you I’ll go light the pilot light and make sure the pipes aren’t frozen. Sit down, and I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Robbie insisted.
As soon as he walked out the door, she collapsed onto the couch and put her head in her hands. Holy crap, I’ve got to get out of here before I fall for him. I’m not in a place to start a relationship. I don’t even know who I am.
Robbie felt like he could melt snow just with his gaze, she had him so riled up. When he stepped outside, he let loose the tight reign he had over his body, and the blood rushed south, making him so hard he ached. How could someone as lost and confused about life as he was fall for a someone so fast? He never believed this would happen again, and he wasn’t sure of how to respond.
After restarting the furnace, he checked all the piping and was glad to see that nothing had happened. The sooner he got her out of his living space, the better. She deserved someone who was worthy of her. If he had to spend much more time with her, his resolve would be gone, and he’d end up doing something they would both regret.
Grabbing her laptop and power cord, he trudged back to his house where the mood was just as frigid as the temperature outside.
Chapter 9
Faith hurried into the bookstore. “Am I late? I forgot about having to scrape frost off the windows of my car. How do you deal with it all winter long?”
Cassie took her coat and hung it on the coat rack by the door. “You’re not late. We don’t start for another ten minutes or so. How about some wine? I mean, it is Words and Wine night.” Picking up a glass from the table, she poured the sparkling Chardonnay and handed the glass to Faith, “This is the first time we’ve had the author of a book here when we discussed it. This should be fun.”
“I’m nervous. This is the first book club I’ve done, and I’m not sure what to expect. You won’t be ripping my story apart will you?” she asked nervously. “I’m not good with taking criticism. My agent says I need to toughen up and get used to it.”
“Don’t worry. We just talk about the story and how it made us feel.” Cassie straightened the glasses and looked over the appetizers, making sure everything was ready.
Ragan breezed into the store. “Hey, Cassie. Hi, Faith. I am so ready for this. AJ was cranky all day, and I could use some adult time.”
Faith looked at her with concern. “Will Adam be okay with a cranky baby?”
“Oh, yes. AJ is always perfect for Adam. It’s irritating how he picks our son up, and he immediately stops crying. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great that he’s so good with him, but I just wish I knew how he did it.”
Faith pushed the heartache down. Talking about babies always made her think of the infant she lost. She crowded around with everyone else when Ragan pulled up some new pictures of AJ on her phone. Fighting back the tears, she turned to the table and reached for the bottle of wine.
Ragan touched her arm. “Hey, you okay, Faith?” She looked into her eyes. “You lost a baby, didn’t you? I’m so sorry that I’m going on and on about AJ. When did it happen?”
“A little over three years ago. Usually, I can handle it, but sometimes it just hurts worse than others.” She picked up a napkin and dabbed her eyes.
“We need to get together for some girl time sometime soon. Why don’t you join us for lunch tomorrow? We can get to know each other a little better.”
Faith squared her shoulders, reminding herself that she didn’t have any friends here but would like to. “Sure, that sounds nice.” The bell above the door rang, letting them know more people had arrived for the book club meeting. “Text me the details.”
Cassie
clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Get some drinks and snacks, and we’ll begin.”
Two hours later, Faith was all smiles as the last of the book club members walked out the door. “Wow, that was fun, but I’m wiped out. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much.” She started picking up plates. “It was nothing like I thought it would be. I can’t believe that Mark showed up.”
Cassie grinned. “He comes to all the meetings. I love hearing his perspective on the books we read. As a man, he comes at it from an entirely different direction.” She gulped the last of the Chardonnay in her glass. “He’s cute and single. You two should go out.”
“No, I don’t think so. I spent some time talking with him at Thanksgiving dinner. There wasn’t any spark there, but I can see how he would be a great friend.”
Ragan walked up. “He needs to meet someone. I worry about him rattling around in that big house all by himself. I was really hoping you two would hit it off.”
“Sorry. I’ve got some issues I need to work through before I start looking for a relationship.” Faith sighed. “Until then, I’m content with my writing.”
“Sounds like we need a full-on girls’ day instead of just lunch. Retail therapy and a good restaurant in Fort Wayne. How does that sound?”
“That sounds amazing. I have a phone interview to do at nine, but I’m free after that. Can we go to lunch first and then shopping?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ragan replied. “We can tell you the whole story about Mark. He and I had a thing for a while, but I couldn’t deny my love for Adam any longer.”
“I sense a great story there,” Faith said as she threw the paper plates in the trash. She yawned. “I really need to get going.”
“You think that’s a great story, just wait until you hear about Cassie and Logan’s journey to love. It’s a doozy. I hope you believe in the paranormal; otherwise, you’ll be a doubter.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
“How do you feel about pizza?” Cassie asked.
“Sounds good. I should be able to meet you here in the morning.”
Chapter 10
Faith turned and checked out the fit of the jeans from the back in the mirror. The door to the dressing room flew open, and Cassie poked her head in. “Wow, you need to get those. They look fabulous on you, and the teal sweater will look amazing with your eyes.”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t planning on buying anything today.”
“If you don’t buy them, I’m buying them for you. You not having those jeans would be a crime.”
“They really look that good?” Faith pulled on the teal sweater and gasped. “Oh, my. You’re right,” she exclaimed. The teal color made her eyes sparkle, and the jeans made her look like she had a nice, rounded butt. She looked at the tags. “My credit card is going to scream at me, but you’re right, I have to have these. Hopefully, they’ll still fit tomorrow after all that pizza I ate for lunch.”
Cassie yelled, “Ragan, get over here and check this out. Miss ‘I hate shopping for jeans because they never fit’ just found the perfect pair.”
Ragan pulled the door open wider. “Oh, you’re right. Those are fabulous. I’m not finding anything I like today. I’m glad the shopping gods are shining on someone.”
Faith changed back into her clothes and headed out of the dressing room area, stopping to put everything on the return rack except for the sweater and jeans. Cassie and Ragan dragged her to the register to pay before she chickened out.
Cassie fanned herself. “It’s warm in here. Who else is ready for something to drink?”
Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting around a table in the food court. “So, Faith, tell us about you. You sidestepped our questions about you at lunch. I mean we know about the writing, but what about you? How did you meet Nikki?”
Faith shredded the straw wrapper as she tried to figure out how to start. “I met Nikki in the ICU at the hospital where she works.”
“Oh, were you visiting someone?” Ragan asked.
Faith stared down into her soda. “No, I was the patient. I was brought in as a Jane Doe.”
Cassie’s hand found hers. “What happened, sweetie?”
“I don’t know. I was found beneath an underpass, beaten and barely alive. I was in a coma for six weeks.”
Ragan scooted her chair closer. “Oh, honey. That’s terrible. How did it happen?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember anything.”
“Were the police able to figure it out?”
“No. I couldn’t tell them anything that was helpful, and they didn’t even know where I came from.” Faith started to stand. “I need to…”
Cassie looked at her. “What do you mean they didn’t know where you came from?”
“I don’t remember anything. I woke up with no memory.”
“Let’s go, this party needs to move to my house. We’re going to need wine, lots of wine, and chocolate.”
Ragan’s house was warm and cozy with a lived-in feel that only comes from being a part of a family. After the wine had been poured and they all had large slabs of chocolate cake, Cassie waded right in and asked outright, “So, Faith, you really don’t remember anything?”
“Nothing. I woke up with a blank slate for a memory. The police couldn’t find any leads, and no one had come looking for me. It’s as if I didn’t exist before that day.”
Ragan set her cake on the table. “So that’s why you always seem so hesitant when meeting new people.”
“It’s like starting over; every situation is new to me. I have no memories to fall back on. Conversations are hard, especially when people start talking about the past, and I have nothing to contribute.” Faith’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s scary.”
Ragan pulled her into a hug. “We’ll be your family. There’s always room for one more at our table.” Faith couldn’t believe her luck, finding two friends so easily.
“I’m shocked I blurted it out like that.” Cassie handed her a tissue. “I’ve only told a few people. I’m actually surprised that Robbie hasn’t already talked with you about it, Ragan. I told him while we were snowed in a couple of weeks ago.”
“Robbie would never tell anyone unless you said it was okay. He understands about trying to overcome a life-changing event.”
“He told me about his wife. Who can blame him for turning to booze.”
“What?” Ragan exclaimed. “He told you?”
“Yeah, I saw the scar on his leg, and he told me the whole story. The accident, the drinking, and almost giving up. I don’t know if I would have been as strong. I probably would have ended it.”
“He told you the whole story? Other than family and his therapist, I think you are the only one who he has shared the entire situation with, even how he thought about ending his own life. You must have made quite an impression.”
“I don’t know about that. One minute Robbie’s exceptionally nice, and we can talk about anything, and the next, it’s like someone else has taken over his body, practically snarling and snapping at me. I just seem to bring it out in him without even trying.”
Chapter 11
Robbie pulled into the parking lot of the pub, hoping Adam had some ideas on how he could raise money.
Making the memory boxes kept his hands busy, but there was still something missing in his life, a true purpose. The idea he had last night as he sanded wood was tumbling around in his head. A restaurant run by kids to teach them skills they could use to better their lives. Figuring out where to start was his first goal, and he hoped Adam knew someone that could help.
As he walked down the hall, he marveled at what Adam had built—his own record label and recording studio attached to the pub. A picture of Ground Zero hung on the wall. They were the first big name band to sign with Adam’s Sky’s The Limit records. The office door was open, and he saw Adam showing Skylar the finger placement for a chord. A bassinet was to the side of the chair within easy reach.
&n
bsp; Skylar copied his father, trying to hold down the strings on the mini guitar he held. “Like this, Daddy?”
Robbie smiled, imagining Skylar a little older playing the guitar with his dad. He wanted that for himself someday.
“Strum it like I showed you. You’ll know if it’s right by the sound.” Adam smiled as Skylar played the guitar, pride showing on his face. “Good job, Sky. That’s a C chord.”
Robbie knocked on the doorframe. “Hey, guys, sounds great.”
Adam looked up. “Hey, Robbie.”
“Did you see me, Unca Robbie? I played the guitar.”
“I sure did, Skylar. Before too long, you’ll be playing whole songs.
“You ready for lunch, Sky boy?” Adam asked as he set the guitar in the stand. Let’s go out and have Mike get you something to eat while your Uncle Robbie and I talk.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Skylar chirped. “Can I have grilled cheese and french fries?”
“Sure, buddy,” Adam replied.
He walked him out the door, returning a few minutes later. “So, what’s up, Robbie?”
“I have an idea for a restaurant, and I don’t know where to start.”
“A restaurant? Don’t you know that’s the quickest way to go broke?”
“Not a regular restaurant, a restaurant where underprivileged kids can learn real job skills such as cooking, scheduling, and running a business. They can be in charge of the whole thing.”
Where There's Faith Page 6
