by Noelle Adams
“Okay,” Rob murmured. “That’s good. That makes me feel better.”
“Me too.”
He stroked her back the way he’d done last night. “I know you were worried about a lot of things before. I know a lot of the problem was me, and it’s something I’m going to work on. I wouldn’t let myself be needy with you or open up if it made me feel out of control. I didn’t want to feel the way I’d felt in relationships before, but that meant I couldn’t do a real relationship at all. I’m not promising it will be fixed overnight, but I am going to change. I hope you know that.”
“I do. Thank you.”
“But there were other things you mentioned.” He paused. “You said you never intended to stay here in Fielding for long. Did you mean that?”
She felt a little pang—that everything in the world hadn’t been miraculously fixed. But the issues didn’t seem to be so monumental as they had before. “I…I wasn’t planning on it. Right now I don’t even know anymore. I don’t want to work at Dora’s for any longer than I have to. I do know that.”
“Well, of course not. I never expected you to. You’re taking classes again, so you can get a degree and get a better job. Right?”
“Right.”
His hand had grown still on her back, and she was sure he was going to say something about how there were plenty of job possibilities for her in the area. It wasn’t true, but he’d want to be encouraging.
When he finally spoke, it wasn’t at all what she’d expected. “You know, Charlotte isn’t very far away.”
“What?” she asked, lifting her head.
“Charlotte is only an hour or so away. If you want to work there, or if you end up managing to get your jewelry shop going, we could make it work. Or there’s Asheville, which is a decent size and even closer. We could live halfway between the city and here. Then neither of us would have to drive so far.” He gave her a quick, nervous look, evidently misreading her stunned expression. “I mean in the future, of course. Way in the future when we’re ready to make decisions like that. I just wanted you to know that you’re not trapped here, just because you’re with me.”
She was crying now, and it was absolutely ridiculous. She buried her face in his shoulder for a minute until the wave of emotion had passed. “You mean you’d actually be willing to move?” she gasped at last.
He lowered his eyebrows, clearly confused by her reaction. “Well, yeah. I mean, I don’t really want to live in the city. I would hate it like nobody’s business. But I’m not joined at the hip with this house or anything. Of course I would move, if it could get you closer to what you want.” His confusion was changing to a kind of bemused pleasure as he recognized her joyful expression. “Didn’t you know that?”
“I do now.” She pressed clumsy kisses against his mouth and chin.
He appeared to think this was a very good idea, because soon he was kissing her back. And then his hands were moving all over her body, and then he was taking off her clothes.
She was fumbling with his clothes too, but he was quicker. They were both so aroused and urgent and emotional at the moment that they couldn’t even be bothered with foreplay. As soon as Allison had freed his erection, he was positioning her over him, and she was lowering her hips to take him in.
He kissed her as they started to move, building a rhythm of fast, tight little pumps. Allison wasn’t sure she could come, but she loved it. Loved how he felt inside her, loved how he was already huffing in pleasure and an overflow of emotion. Loved how he was holding her bottom in his hands, guiding her motion. Loved how they both were in the same mood, needed the same thing from each other.
They didn’t last long. When she wasn’t making any strides toward coming, Rob shifted his arms so he could find and rub her clit. She gasped as the pleasure started to build, and soon she was riding him hard, reaching orgasm just as he lost control.
Both of them cried out with their release and then held each other tightly, panting in the aftermath.
“I love you,” Rob mumbled, still trying to press kisses against her hair.
She believed him, without question.
“I love you too.”
And she knew he believed her too.
—
A month later Allison was peeking again at the note Rob had left her on his napkin this morning.
He still came to eat at Dora’s on weekdays, and he’d never stopped giving her notes. This morning he’d written, I love the way you laugh, like it’s something secret. I love everything about you. R.
She wondered if anyone had ever had a better boyfriend than she had.
Not that he was perfect. They’d gotten into a stupid argument last night because she was reading over her assignment for class a second time. He’d told her it was an easy class and she could probably pass without reading it once. But she wanted to do the best she could in school, so she needed to really know it. So they’d argued over dinner and then gone to their separate corners until bedtime, when they’d both finally said they were sorry and got to have some makeup sex.
But overall, in general, she couldn’t imagine a better boyfriend than Rob.
“How many times are you going to read that today?” Chelle asked, coming over to stand beside her with a knowing smile.
Allison blushed slightly and stuck the note back into her pocket. “It hasn’t been that many.”
“If you say so.”
“I guess it’s silly,” Allison admitted. “But it makes me happy.”
Chelle’s expression changed. “That’s not silly. And you deserve some happiness. So does Rob. You both have had a hard time and deserve to be with someone good. So I’m happy for the two of you.”
“Thank you. I still can’t believe it’s really happening with him and that nothing serious is going wrong.”
“It’s the real deal. Anyone can see that. You know what comes next, don’t you?”
Allison gave Chelle a mock-stern look. “Don’t you dare start talking about that! It’s too early for it yet.”
“Maybe. But I’ve seen Rob’s face when he looks at you, and I guarantee that man already has a ring for you.”
Allison knew he had a ring. His mother’s ring. She was hoping that one day he would give it to her. She would say yes without hesitation.
But she hadn’t been lying to Chelle. She and Rob were still working out how to be together, despite all of their issues from the past.
They weren’t ready for marriage yet.
That evening she made dinner for Rob and his parents.
She’d wanted to spend more time with them, but she couldn’t always go up with Rob when he visited them once a week. Last Saturday she’d had a craft fair to attend—which had gone incredibly well and made her decide that she really needed a website—and the Saturday before she’d gone to visit Vicki.
So they’d invited his parents to dinner, and Allison was preparing the meal.
She made pasta and salad, and Rob bought bread and wine, and everything turned out just fine.
She really liked James and Tari, and not just because they were Rob’s parents. They were smart and funny and no-nonsense and had a huge number of stories to tell about their lives. After she served cookies and ice cream for dessert, they all went into the living room to sit.
She checked her phone quickly as they changed rooms and was glad to see a text from Cali. The girl was doing better. She hadn’t gone back to that boyfriend, and she seemed to be behaving better overall. The episode had evidently scared Dee, who was genuinely trying to be a somewhat decent mother. Allison didn’t know how long it would last, but at least it was encouraging for now.
While Rob was making his parents laugh about an annoying customer who had come into the store yesterday, Allison went to get something she’d found in the basement the other day.
“Where did you dig that thing up?” Rob asked, staring at the guitar she handed him.
“It was in the basement. Chelle’s husband tuned it up for y
ou, so it’s all ready to go.”
“What am I supposed to do with it?” He was smiling, but his question appeared genuine, like he had no idea what she wanted him to do.
“Your mom mentioned that you used to sing a few hymns that she loved, so I thought you could play her some now.”
“Oh, I would love that. Please do,” Tari said with a smile.
Rob had drawn his brows together in a questioning look at Allison.
She gave a little shrug. “You seemed to enjoy it that night on my birthday. You might as well play a little for fun. I love to hear you.”
“We do too,” his mother added.
Rob sighed, looking sheepish in that way he had but also rather pleased.
It wasn’t a big gesture. It was just a little thing. His mother had told Allison that he’d played and sung all the time when he was married the first time, but he’d stopped after Marie had started cheating on him and he hadn’t picked up the guitar since. She assumed he had bad memories associated with it, and she wanted him to have new ones, better ones, now.
So Rob sang “Be Thou My Vision” and “It Is Well with My Soul,” and his mother was in tears at the end of it.
When he’d finished, he put the guitar back in its case and reached out to wrap his arm around Allison. He gave her a quick kiss, and she was sure he understood why she’d asked him to sing.
“You know,” Tari said with a smile, “your father wrote a song for me when we were courting.”
“He did not!” Rob replied, staring in surprise at his dad.
“Nah,” James said.
“He did too! He’ll never admit it, but I still know all the words. It was the most romantic thing.” Tari gave Rob a teasing smile. “You should considering doing something equally romantic for your young lady.”
“He already does,” Allison said, giggling when Rob gave her a warning poke. “You should see the notes he writes me every morning after breakfast.”
“Does he really?” His mother’s eyes were wide. “I never would have believed it. Love letters?”
“Not really. They’re just little notes on napkins. But I guess, put together, they have ended up as a love letter. I have them all, even the very first one he wrote me.”
Rob was groaning, exaggerating his displeasure at this discussion of his romantic habits, and James was chortling softly.
“Didn’t you think he was fresh,” Tari asked, “writing you a note like that when you didn’t even know him?”
Allison looked up at Rob. “I thought he was amazing—and that he had the kindest heart I’d ever known. I still do.”
Rob’s face softened, although he leaned down and whispered, “Don’t lay it on too thick. They’ll never believe it.”
—
After his parents left for the evening, they stood on the front step waving them off, and then Rob took her into his arms as soon as they walked inside.
“What are you doing?” she murmured, responding immediately to his touch.
“I’m loving you,” he replied, just a little thickly. “Is that all right?”
“It sounds good to me.”
He just held her in his arms, standing in the entryway of her house.
Eventually she looked up at him and smiled. “I saw Keith today in Dora’s. He said he still owes you a hundred bucks.”
“Would you tell him to shut up about that?”
“Well, you won the bet, didn’t you?”
“I won something a lot better than the bet.”
Allison had absolutely no objection to this sentiment, and she made it clear to Rob with a kiss.
So Rob spent the rest of the evening loving her, and it was like nothing Allison had ever dreamed of before she’d moved to this little town last year.
But, as it turned out, loving him back was what she’d wanted all along.
Epilogue
Two months later Allison was checking the website for her jewelry first thing in the morning and thrilling with pleasure.
Another order had come in during the night. She was actually making a little money from her jewelry. Very little. Almost nothing compared to the kind of money she used to have. But it was something, and she’d earned it herself by selling the jewelry she was so proud of.
She wasn’t anywhere close to being able to quit working at Dora’s yet. She still had many more classes to take before she graduated, and until then she wouldn’t be able to get a better job. But still, it was nice to see at least a little progress toward a dream.
The idea of a shop in Charlotte was still just a fantasy—and it might always be a fantasy—but it wasn’t completely impossible. If that didn’t work out, she could do something else that would still make her feel fulfilled and happy.
It felt like life was bigger now than it had been a year ago when she’d left Arthur. Her happiness didn’t rest in only one dream. There were other things to hope for.
There were all kinds of things to hope for.
She closed her laptop and poured another cup of coffee, checking to make sure her black trousers and Dora’s shirt were on properly. It was 5:45 now, and she needed to get moving soon so she wouldn’t be late for work.
Rob strolled into the kitchen, wearing nothing but his underwear. He gave her a vague smile and mumbled something incoherent as he headed for her coffeepot.
She chuckled at his hair. “Vicki’s coming out for a visit today, so we’re going to hang out after work.”
“Yeah, you told me. What prompted her to brave the lack of shopping out here?”
“I don’t really know. She just started feeling bad that I was always the one to make the trip to see her, so she’s coming. She’s actually coming this morning. She says she wants to watch me work.” Allison laughed softly at this idea and hoped her friend wasn’t going to be bored to tears all day.
“Whatever.” Rob shook his head and focused on his coffee.
“Okay. I’ve got to go.” She stepped over to give him a quick kiss, grabbed her purse and her coat, and headed out the door.
It was freezing outside this morning, and it felt ridiculously early—particularly for a Monday. Despite this, Allison was in a good mood and looking forward to the day.
—
Her mood declined very quickly once she got to work. It was like the entire town had decided to eat breakfast at Dora’s this morning and was in a bad mood about it.
Vicki had arrived just after six, which was earlier than expected, but Allison barely had time to talk to her because she was scurrying around taking orders. She really didn’t mind being busy, but everyone was particularly difficult today.
Keith, Martha, and all four of their kids were waiting when she arrived and unlocked the door, and the kids weren’t behaving at all. First they hemmed and hawed forever as they were giving their orders, changing their minds and discussing the various menu options. Allison tried to keep smiling, but four tables came in and sat down before they were finished telling her what they wanted. Then they kept complaining loudly about the wait and throwing their napkins and straw wrappers on the floor.
Ernie came in, wearing his overalls as usual, but instead of the oatmeal he’d eaten every morning since Allison had started working, he wanted to try something different and looked offended that she didn’t offer him a menu.
Jeanie came in with several other women who worked the local craft fairs. They all were friendly and relaxed, which was nice, but they kept trying to ask Allison questions about her jewelry and expecting her to stay and chat with them when she had a dozen other impatient tables to deal with.
Cali came in with her new boyfriend, and they took the last booth. Cali was nice enough, but her boyfriend threw a fit because she’d brought him a Coke—which was what he’d ordered. He insisted he’d ordered a Mr. Pibb instead.
When Rob came in at six thirty, Allison almost slumped in relief. At last, someone who wasn’t going to cause her any trouble. But behind him came Malachi Beardsley, his beard just as unrul
y as the first time she’d seen him. He sat down on the stool next to Rob and took his entire attention, so Rob barely had time to even smile at her.
The restaurant was nearly filled up when Mitch came in, wearing his deputy’s uniform, with what looked like the entire sheriff’s department, who all stood around, glowering because there weren’t enough seats for them all.
Allison was running around frantically, trying to remember who was drinking what and get the plates down as soon as Gus got them up. Chelle was busy too, but her tables didn’t seem nearly as ornery as Allison’s were.
Vicki was sitting in her corner, laughing silently at Allison, and Rob seemed to be completely ignoring her.
She was carrying a tray loaded with plates for Peg and her husband—each of whom had ordered enough for three people—when she heard the bell on the door jangling again. She turned toward it, almost snarling with frustration that Fielding folks were all coming out the woodwork this morning. She stopped short when she saw James and Tari, Rob’s parents.
They smiled at her cheerfully—which was a nice change from everyone else here today—and went to sit with another couple they must have known, so at least they were able to get a table.
She delivered the orders to Peg and her silent husband and was rushing back to the kitchen, where another order was ready, when she saw that Rob was getting up to leave. Instead of coming over to kiss her goodbye, as he normally did, he was just walking to the door.
What the hell was going on this morning?
She didn’t have time to think it through, though, because Trey was banging on the order bell impatiently, making it clear she needed to get back there.
She grabbed the plate and ran it back to Ernie. He’d ordered a second plate after his first.
“Clear your tables, Allison,” Chelle told her brusquely as she passed. “We need the seats.”
The only person who’d left was Rob, so Allison delivered Ernie’s food and hurried back to the counter, where Rob’s empty plate was still sitting.
If he hadn’t left her a note today, she was just going to sit down on the floor and cry.
To her relief, she found the folded napkin with the tip.
