Never Saw it Coming

by Bernadette Marie

  Her eyes met his as he made his generous offer. How could she have ever thought he wasn’t a sincere man? It nearly oozed out of him.

  “Will you go with me?”

  “To the hospital?”

  “You don’t have to. I just thought the company…”

  “I would love to. Give me a task. Let’s get this place closed down.”

  They walked out of the door at eleven. Mike had on his warmest coat, but he’d need to buy another. Chandra, on the other hand, had only a sweatshirt, and she seemed content.

  Chandra opened the door and started the car. It sputtered to life under protest, but then hummed as it warmed. She pulled two ice scrapers from the back seat and tossed one to Mike.

  “If we both have a go at it, it’ll take less time.”

  He began to scrape the ice from the window, realizing he’d soon need a pair of gloves too. This certainly wasn’t something he’d ever encountered in Southern California.

  Once the glass was clear, they both climbed into the car, but the heater was taking its time to kick in.

  “Sorry, it’ll be a cold drive. By the time we get there, we might be warm.”

  “I’m warm enough,” he said.

  “You’re probably running on adrenaline. That was quite an offer Peter brought to you. Did you expect that?”

  “Not at all. I’ll admit, I was a little saddened that I didn’t get the job, but I was the old guy in the room.”

  “You’re not old,” she shifted a glance his way.

  “No, just in my industry.”

  They drove the empty streets in silence. The hospital wasn’t too far away, but he figured he’d seen nearly every economic variation of the downtown area.

  The hospital looked to be fairly new. That didn’t surprise him. Denver seemed to be one of those cities that was always updating and putting in new things.

  Chandra parked the car and sat quietly for a moment. “I want to apologize to you again for jumping you for going to my house.”

  “Don’t feel the need to do that. I’d have been suspicious too. You’ve got a great kid. If he were mine, I wouldn’t want anything to ever happen to him.”

  “Thanks for staying up and coming with me.”

  “My pleasure. You’re going to be beat tomorrow.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah. I might have to call in some help.”

  “Tell you what. We’ll go inside, and you head to them, I’ll get us some coffee. Does Tracy drink coffee?”

  Now she laughed aloud. “No. But bring her a cup of hot water. She carries some homemade teas in her purse, and trust me when I say her taste isn’t like anyone else’s.”

  “Hot water then.” He reached his hand to hers, and much like at the bar when she’d covered his hand, he gave hers a squeeze. “Gabe is lucky to have you.”

  Mike watched her as she took in his compliment. He was sure it was the way the streetlights shone through the window, otherwise, he might have thought her eyes had misted.

  Mike went one direction, and Chandra went the other until she found Tracy seated in the waiting area.

  “Anything yet?” she asked.

  Tracy lifted her head. “Not yet. I was just texting Gabe’s mom and Holly’s dad. Her parents are with Madison.”

  Chandra sat down next to Tracy, who smelled of essential oils. “What’s your bet? Boy or girl?”

  “Oh, sweetheart, you know it’s a girl. What would Gabe Maguire do without another woman?”

  Both women laughed, but she knew Tracy was right. She figured that’s why he’d always treated her so right. Gabe was surrounded by strong women in his life. Chandra didn’t put him off.

  “Ah, I found you,” Mike walked through the door balancing three cups. “Tracy, yours is the one in front. It’s just hot water.”

  She reached for it. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

  Chandra took the next one in his hands as he sat down right next to her. There was something comforting about having him so close, and it bothered her that she liked it.

  Midnight quickly crept up on them, and the TV in the waiting area droned on. “Put your head on my shoulder and get some rest,” Mike said as he slid down in his chair and rested his head against the wall.

  “You don’t have to stay here,” she offered as she shifted to lay her head on his shoulder. “You have your own life.”

  He let out a tired sigh. “Oh, I don’t have anything I need to tend to until tomorrow when my moving truck arrives. I’m happy to be here with you.”

  The sweet words he spoke buzzed in her head as she relaxed against him. He smelled nice. Had she noticed that before? She liked it she thought as she let the sounds around her drift away.

  Chapter Eleven

  It had been a long time since he’d felt the comfort of a woman’s body pressed to him, even if it were just her arm against him and her head on his shoulder.

  Mike rested his head against hers and breathed in deeply the smell of her shampoo. He felt the rise and fall of her breath and the warmth of her skin next to his.

  The first moment he’d looked at her a few days ago, he never could have imagined he’d be where he was. The tattooed woman with a heart of gold had saved him from himself. He’d easily have fallen into a depression from the failures in his life had he not wandered into Maguire’s for that beer.

  Brushing a strand of her hair from her forehead, he looked down at her sleeping peacefully. She was a hard worker. He’d meant it when he’d said Gabe was a lucky man. Who else would put her life on hold for someone whom they weren’t in love with or related to? But Mike was a good judge of character. He knew Gabe appreciated her as much as she appreciated him.

  Mike looked at the clock. It was nearly two in the morning. It could still be hours until baby Maguire made it into the world. Perhaps he should wake her and offer to drive her home.

  That was when a weary Gabe walked through the door. “They’re both out cold, huh?” he asked looking at Chandra and Tracy.

  Mike smiled. “Yeah. A few hours now. They wouldn’t have wanted to miss this for the world.”

  Gabe reached down and rubbed Chandra’s arm. “Sweetheart, wake up,” he said softly and Chandra’s eyes opened slowly, then she sat up, nearly fully alert.

  “Well?”

  Tracy stirred at the conversation and quickly stood. “Well?”

  Gabe smiled at both of them and then pulled Tracy to him in a grand embrace. “We have another little princess,” he said with genuine pride oozing from his words.

  Chandra stood and hugged him, her arms wrapped tightly around Gabe’s neck. “I knew you’d have another girl.”

  Gabe laughed. “It’s my fate.”

  Mike stood and held out his hand. “That’s fantastic. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. Madison will be very happy. Before we left, she said she wanted a sister. When I asked her what she would think if we brought home a brother, she said she’d take him back.”

  He chuckled. “Everyone will be happy then.”

  Gabe stepped back. “You guys want to see her and Holly? They’re both in the room.”

  Tracy and Chandra both nodded and followed Gabe. When Mike didn’t move, Chandra turned to him. “Aren’t you coming.”

  “I’ve never met Holly. This probably isn’t the time she wants to meet new people. I have no doubt I’ll get my chance to see them both. You go ahead and take all the time you need. I’ll be right here.”

  She smiled, and his heart melted in his chest. Would anyone look at that woman and think that she was a softy? He wouldn’t have pegged her for one, but he was glad he was getting the opportunity to see that side of her.

  Gabe walked with Chandra and Tracy back to the room. Tracy walked ahead of them and in to see Holly, but Gabe pulled Chandra back.

  “So what’s up with you and our handyman?” he asked with a grin on his lips, which she hadn’t seen in nearly two years.

  “Nothing. Why?”

  “Nothing? You’re certainly
comfortable with him.”

  Chandra crossed her arms in front of her. “He’s a nice guy. Can’t I have a nice guy in my life?”

  “Don’t get defensive,” he said, still grinning. “You’re easy around him. You let your guard down. C’mon, you were sleeping on his shoulder.”

  “I’m tired.”

  “And usually you’d rather sleep on the hard floor,” he challenged.

  Chandra kept her eyes on Gabe, whose stupid smile was about to irritate her into an irrational argument with the man. “Listen, he’s a nice guy. Jason likes him and so does my mom. He’s nice to have around, have dinner with, and…”

  Gabe stepped in closer. “Have dinner with? You guys went out on a date?”

  “No, he cooked me dinner tonight.”

  “And you’re not seeing him?”

  “No.” She felt the aggravation shake in her voice. “Gabe, he’s alone. I guess I’m his friend.”

  He nodded, but still, that irritating smile was on his lips. “He seems like he’ll be a nice friend to keep around.”

  With a growl, she pushed past Gabe and walked into the hospital room, where Tracy had already scooped up the baby.

  “Hey, Chandra,” Holly said, her voice soft and tired.

  “How are you?”

  “Much better now.”

  Chandra walked across the room to where Tracy sat with the baby. “Isn’t she precious?”

  “She is,” she said looking down at the tiny pink bundle. “What’s her name?” she asked Holly.

  “Jessica.”

  “Beautiful.”

  Tracy looked up at her. “Do you want to hold her?”

  She shook her head. “Not now. When they’re that little, they scare me.”

  Holly’s eyes shifted to Gabe. “Did you get a hold of everyone?”

  He bent to kiss Holly’s head. “Yes. Mom will be on a plane tomorrow, and Madison said she’s glad we’re not bringing her a brother.”

  Chandra rubbed her eyes. “I’d better get going, so I can take Mike back and get a few hours of sleep.”

  “Mike?” Holly’s brows drew together. “Who’s that?”

  Gabe sat down on the edge of the bed next to his wife. “Remember the guy who’s doing handyman stuff for us and renting the apartment.”

  “Oh, right. You told me about him.” She looked up at Chandra. “He came with you?”

  “Yeah, he was at the bar when Tracy came in. He came to keep me company, I guess.”

  “You’re dating him?”

  Gabe laughed, and Chandra shook her head. “I’ll let him explain. I’m leaving. Congratulations, guys,” she said as she headed toward the door.

  Gabe stood and hurried toward her. He pulled her in and gave her a hug. “Thank you for everything. Without you, I couldn’t have been with her all week.”

  “Well, my rules stand. I don’t want to see you for the next three weeks.”

  “At least two.”

  “Don’t make me walk out on you.”

  He kissed her forehead, which was something he’d never done. “I promise you a paid vacation when I get back.”

  “You’d better,” she agreed and walked out of the room.

  ~*~

  Mike lay in bed looking at the lights that danced on the ceiling from the cars passing in the early morning. Chandra had dropped him off at home around four o’clock, and he had yet to fall asleep. Now his six o’clock alarm was minutes from going off, and he didn’t have it in him to get up and get ready. It was going to be a long day with his storage unit arriving. He’d need to find some energy to carry all of his belongings up the stairs. Jason wouldn’t be any help until after school, but at this rate, he might just have to wait him out.

  He thought about their drive home, and how silent Chandra had been. Of course, he wrote it off to being tired, but there was something deeper. He could only imagine there was a jealous side to her. Was it over Gabe or the baby?

  She didn’t seem to have feelings for Gabe, but Esther had said Gabe and Holly were a one-night-stand gone right, which was the first time he’d heard of something like that. But had that shifted his attention from Chandra? He wasn’t sure about that hypothesis. Perhaps it was that her son was now ten. He knew that women got sentimental when other women had babies. It was a thing with them that he’d never understand. His son was nineteen and babies didn’t make him go all crazy.

  On the other hand, he thought as he rolled to his side and pounded the pillow into place, ten-year-old boys made him miss those simpler times with Dane. Those were times filled with big dreams, such as making a professional soccer team or playing in the Olympics. It was fishing on the weekends and bike rides down the coast.

  His heart began to ache a bit, and now he understood a woman holding a newborn baby.

  He rolled onto his back again and tucked his hands under his head. Perhaps getting stuck in Denver was how it was meant to be. Maybe he was supposed to fill some greater need. Why else would it just work out to have a woman with a son, who didn’t have a dad around, enter his life? And, add that they had nothing in common, but damn if he didn’t want to spend every moment with her.

  Now the bed was becoming more uncomfortable, and he swung his feet to the side and rested his head in his hands. Was this the moment when he was supposed to admit to himself that he was attracted to Chandra? Well, of course, he was attracted to her. No man in his right mind wouldn’t be. That long dark hair, those well-toned muscles, and that air of confidence that tugged at a man. Hadn’t he, in the past week, nearly memorized every tattoo visible on her arms?

  Mike got to his feet and went into the bathroom. He turned on the water and splashed his face with it. Turning it off, he looked into the mirror.

  There had to be at least ten years between them. To Chandra, he was probably just some old guy she was friending to be nice. Sure, that was it.

  He finished in the bathroom and went to the kitchen to make coffee, only to have that reality hit him too. The coffee maker was in the storage unit he was waiting for. Well, he might as well get up and walk down the street to get some coffee. The brisk walk would do him some good.

  By six-fifteen, he was standing in line at the Starbuck’s. Didn’t people have coffee makers at home? Wasn’t that the norm?

  He placed his order and moved down the line to wait it out. That’s when a hand came to his shoulder, and he turned to see Peter Roberts standing there.

  “Hey, you’re hitting the juice early, huh?” Robert joked.

  “Sure,” Mike laughed and shook his hand. “It was a long night.”

  “So what did they have? Boy or girl?”

  “A little girl,” he said smiling as they called his name for his drink. “We got home around four. I’m running on black magic.”

  Peter laughed with a nod. “Yeah, I’m headed over to meet with an investor before trekking to the tech center. So what about golf this weekend? Saturday?”

  Mike took a breath to accept, but then stopped, thinking of his prior commitment. “Saturday is busy. Chandra’s son has an important soccer game I promised to be at.”

  He saw the shift of humor in Peter’s expression. “You can’t back down from a kid. How old?”

  “Ten.”

  “My son is twelve. And if you make a promise, you’d better follow through with it, or you’ll hear about it for life. Let’s plan another day. I’ll call you this week, and we can talk some more about the job.”

  “Sounds great,” he said, shaking the man’s hand again.

  Mike took the walk back slowly. The air was crisp but fresh. The mountains with their caps of snow gave the perfect backdrop to the orange hues of the sunrise which reflected off them.

  He sipped his coffee and thought about his life a week ago. He’d been packing and finalizing his move. Everything had gone so wrong, but somehow it was turning out to be so right.

  As he walked past the front of Maguire’s, he looked inside at the stillness. There was peace there in the ho
urs they were closed. No wonder Chandra went to work early, he thought, and at that moment he saw the light in the back hall.

  He moved closer to the window and pressed his face to it. It was not even seven o’clock, and Chandra was standing at the bar pouring herself a cup of coffee.

  Without any thought, he tapped on the window, and she snapped her head up. She studied him in the window, and when she realized who he was, she started toward him. However, the look on her face wasn’t one of welcome, and he suddenly was rethinking having knocked.

  “What do you want?” She scowled as she flung open the door.

  “Just to say hi. I saw you and instinctively knocked.”

  “What are you doing walking around this early? I could have made you a cup of coffee for free,” she said looking at the cup in his hand.

  “I didn’t know you were going to be here this early.”

  “I never left.”

  He narrowed his gaze on her. “What do you mean you never left?”

  “It was so late I just stayed in the office. I slept on the couch. No need to wake up my family just to turn right back around and come back.”

  The thought that they’d slept, or not, under the same roof seemed to give him a little jolt. He hoped to God it didn’t show on his face.

  “Have you had breakfast?” he asked.

  “Are you kidding me? I just got off the couch. I’m going to drink my breakfast and try and clean up for my shift.”

  “You could use my shower.”

  She shifted her stance and crossed her arms in front of her. “You’re very forward today. I didn’t say I wanted to shower with you, did I?”

  He held up his hand in protest and couldn’t help but laugh. “I didn’t say that. I said you could use my shower.” He watched that process in her tired brain, and her expression eased. “I’ll go pick us up some breakfast.” He pulled his keys from his pocket. “I know you have a set, but this is just as easy. Get ready, and I’ll be back in a little bit. We’re both dead tired, so we’ll need some fuel.”