“Well, not really, no. It’s just that he’s disabled. He’s in a wheelchair.”
“I see. It takes you back, doesn’t it?” Bryant doesn’t even look shocked.
“Yep.” I scratch my stubbly chin. “What if I can’t handle it?”
“If there’s anyone who can handle it, it’s you. This is not something new to you.” Bryant is deep in thought for a few seconds. “Caleb, if this woman really turns out to be the one, you’re going to have to handle it.”
Bryant is right. Ellie’s son is a part of her. I have no choice but to accept him. There’s no way I can allow his disability to be a deal breaker.
ELLIE
“Are you sure you’re all right looking after Justin?” I ask Cindy the moment she enters the house.
“Of course, I am. Don’t be silly.” She hugs me. “I want you to go on that date, and I want you to have fun. Don’t even think about changing your mind.”
“But I’m so nervous.” I pull away and swipe my palm across my forehead to remove the film of sweat. “It just feels so strange. Since Tim, I haven’t been on a date with a man I really like.” I’m still finding it hard to believe that I fell in love with a guy after only a few letters and text messages. I feel totally crazy right now.
“It’s completely natural.” Cindy puts a hand on my cheek. “You like this guy and you are afraid it might not work out.”
“You’re right.” I blow out a breath. “But what if he’s a psychopath or something like that?”
“I don’t think he’s a psychopath.” Cindy walks into the kitchen and turns on the coffee machine. “If something suspicious happens, excuse yourself to go to the ladies’ room, then call me or the cops.”
I scrunch up my face. “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”
“Good. Now you need to get ready. And I’m helping you.” When the coffee is done, Cindy pours herself a steaming cup.
She also offers me one, but I refuse. A dose of caffeine might not be a good idea for a heart that’s racing out of control. But I allow the aroma to soothe me.
Before we go to my bedroom, I stop by the sitting room to check on Justin. He doesn’t even look up, he’s completely focused on the TV. He loves cartoons, so I thought it might be something that would calm him down.
When I got him out of bed earlier, I explained to him that I’m meeting a friend and that Cindy will be home with him. He simply nodded. For a moment, guilt threatened to suffocate me. I couldn’t help wondering whether he felt I was neglecting him. But then I reminded myself that the time has come for me to take care of myself as well. I promised him I’d be home in time for lunch.
Inside my bedroom, I wave at the clothes on the bed. “What should I wear?” I ask Cindy.
“None of them.” She takes a few steps toward my closet and throws it open. “I forbid you from wearing black today. It’s time for you to shine. You want Mr. Maybe to see you.”
Since Tim died, I started wearing black clothes and never looked back. Cindy will have a hard time finding anything in my closet that’s not black.
“You know I don’t have anything with a splash of color.” I perch on the edge of the bed and drop my head into my hands.
“I’ll be right back.” Cindy closes my closet again. A few seconds later, I hear the front door closing. She returns less than ten minutes later with a navy-blue dress draped over her arm.
“This is what you’re wearing today.” She pulls me to my feet. “It’s not black, but I’d like to think it’s in the same color family.”
“You’re hilarious.” I smile in spite of myself. “Fine, I’ll wear it.”
I slip into the dress. It’s a little too figure-hugging for my liking, but Cindy refuses to let me change. “You look absolutely stunning.”
“I feel exposed.” The dress is several fingers below the knee and only shows a hint of cleavage, but after years of wearing large T-shirts and baggy yoga pants, I feel almost naked.
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing, sweetie.” Cindy tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “You want him to see you, all of you. Don’t make me change my mind and give you something even spicier.”
“Forget it.” I grab her hand and take her to the bathroom. “Help me with my makeup. But don’t go overboard. I’m going for a natural look.”
Cindy gives me just what I want. When I take a final look in the mirror, I can actually recognize myself.
Ready to go, I grab my bag and hurry to the front door, my armpits already starting to sweat. Before I walk out of the house, I turn around. “What if Justin is upset with me?”
“Don’t worry about him. For the next couple of hours, he’s my responsibility. You only get to think about yourself.”
I walk back to Cindy and give her a tight hug. “You’re the best friend anyone could ever ask for.”
“Thanks, love.” She pulls back. “Now go and have fun. You deserve it.”
After a quick wave, I step out of the house and get into my car. There’s no turning back now.
ELLIE
I slow down as I near the Clarinet. It’s the kind of high-end restaurant I’d normally avoid walking into.
I park in the guest parking lot and hug my bag to my body as I approach the front door. I come to a halt in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, peering through the glass at the sparkling chandeliers, the damask-covered tables, luxury padded chairs, and expensive-looking table settings.
“Ellie?” I hear a deep voice behind me and spin around. “It’s me, Caleb,” he says, his lips curving into a smile.
It is him, the man from the photo. Same sandy hair, same green eyes, same smile.
My body starts to vibrate the same way it had when I spoke to him for the first time. He’s just as I had imagined him to be. I can’t believe I’m standing in front of him. I can’t stop staring into his eyes.
“Are you okay?” He touches my arm. “You look a little pale.”
“Um...” I swallow hard. “Of course, yes, I’m fine.”
“Great. It’s so nice to meet you finally.” I don’t move away when he leans in to kiss me on the cheek. After he pulls away, my skin still tingles with the touch of his lips and the soft caress of his stubble.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Caleb.” I place a hand on my cheek. Within a few seconds, my eyes scan his entire body. He’s wearing a plain, black shirt and blue jeans. Through the fabric of his shirt, I swear I can see the shape of his biceps.
After a moment of awkwardness, he takes my hand and slips it into the crook of his elbow. “Let’s go inside. I booked a table for us, and it’s not out here in the street.”
“Okay.” I allow him to escort me inside. I’m finding it hard to breathe, especially now that I’m so close to him, his woodsy cologne making me deliciously dizzy. What’s happening to me? What’s happening to my body? I’m not used to feeling out of control.
The restaurant smells of vintage wine, fresh flowers, and burning candles. The atmosphere is perfectly conducive for a romantic date. I’m surprised that even though the restaurant is quite spacious, there are only about six tables. The waiter leads us to the only one that’s not occupied. Caleb pulls out a chair for me.
“Welcome back to the Clarinet, Mr. LaClaire. What can I get you?” The waiter asks, his arms behind his back.
Caleb’s surname sounds familiar somehow, but I can’t place it.
“What would you like?” he asks me, pulling me from my thoughts. “Whatever is on the menu, you can have.”
“You know what? I’m actually not that hungry.” I’m too nervous to look at the menu. I can already tell from the restaurant decor and the atmosphere that the meals in this place won’t be cheap.
“Jaden, we’ll start with some Dekopon juice.”
“Of course, sir.” The waiter nods and walks away.
“That’s an interesting name for juice. I’ve never heard of it.”
“You’ll like it. The Dekopon fruit is really a mandarin orange and it
’s delicious.” Caleb leans back in his chair.
“Hmmm... I can’t wait to taste something new.”
It doesn’t take long for the waiter to return with our order. Caleb was right. The juice is so much more delicious than just plain orange. It also tastes expensive.
Caleb takes a long drink, then peers at me over the rim of his glass. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to see you today. I have a confession to make.” He lowers his glass to the table. “I was a little afraid you wouldn’t be the same person that’s in the photo.”
That’s all he needs to say to break the ice between us.
“I was worried about the same thing. I’ve heard horror stories.” Laughter spills from my lips.
“I guess we can both exhale now.” He joins in the laughter, his eyes taking in every inch of my face. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”
“I’m actually pleasantly surprised.” I lower my gaze. Looking into his eyes for too long is unraveling me.
“That’s good.” I watch his hand pick up his glass again. “Ellie, look at me.”
I do as he asks, my lips pressed together.
“What are you so afraid of?” he asks.
“I’m not afraid. It’s just that this is not the kind of thing I normally do.”
His brows draw together. “Going on dates?”
“No. Meeting up with strangers.” I lift my glass to my lips, but change my mind and put it down again because my hands are shaking.
“You don’t feel like a stranger to me,” he says over the sound of soothing classical music.
Our eyes hold for a long time until I find the courage to break the silence.
“That’s what’s really scary,” I whisper. “You don’t feel like a stranger to me either.”
“Then let’s not make this complicated. Let’s just pretend we’ve known each other for a very long time.” He reaches for my hand. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m happy that my brothers and your grandmother signed us up for that matchmaking service.” His thumb sweeps across the top of my hand. “What’s your grandmother’s name?”
“Ruth. I’ve always called her Grandma Ruth.” I blink away tears that burn my eyes.
“Hey, why do you look so sad when you say her name?”
I lift my chin and put on a smile. “She has Alzheimer’s. She signed me up for the service because... She said she wanted to see me happy before the disease took her away.”
Caleb squeezes my hand, and my fingers wrap around his. “Ellie, I’m so sorry to hear that. It must be terrible for you.”
I nod. “She and Justin, my son, are all I have. They’re my family.” I remove my hand from his grip. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to spoil this moment. Let’s not speak about sad things.”
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t.” He props his chin on his hand. “Sad moments make us who we are. Tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.” He smiles. “I’d love to hear about your son.”
“I can’t imagine my life without him,” I say. After those few words, I find it hard to stop telling Caleb everything about my life, both the bitter and the sweet.
You’d think I’d been waiting all my life to talk to him. I open up about the birth of Justin, his father’s suicide, and the depression I struggled with while trying to be the best mom possible to my baby boy.
Caleb listens to every word without saying much, holding my hand the entire time.
“That’s it,” I say when I’m done. “Those are some of my sad moments.”
Caleb is silent for a long time. Then he takes a breath. His eyes are so much darker now. “No wonder you’re such a fascinating woman,” he says in a ragged voice. “I knew there was something about you that went far beyond your beauty.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” I dab at my damp cheek. “There’s nothing special about me. I’m just a regular mom trying to keep her head above water.” I bite my lower lip. “I’m sorry, Caleb. I shouldn’t have piled all that on you. I got carried away.”
“Don’t apologize. I like that you felt comfortable enough to tell me your sad moments. I’m sorry about your husband.” With each word, his face clouds over and his jaw tightens. “I hate what he did to you.”
“Me too. I was angry for a long time.” I shrug. “But after he quit on me, I took all the love I had for him and poured it over my son. Justin is all that matters to me now.”
“And there’s no treatment for his disease?”
“No, but a drug came out on the market that would help him and other people with SMA regain their strength. It’s pretty expensive though.” I cross my legs under the table. “Enough about me. I want to hear about your sad moments.”
“Sure. But let’s order something to eat first.” He hands me the menu. “Go nuts.”
“Please, order for me… something light.” I push the menu to the side. “I’m really not that hungry.”
Caleb waves the waiter over and orders our food while I go to the ladies’ room to call Cindy.
“How’s Justin?” I lean against the marble sink.
“None of your business. Focus on your date. We’re both fine.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” Cindy laughs. It’s a good sign that she sounds relaxed. “Are you having fun?”
“No.” I wrap a hand around my middle. “I’m experiencing something much deeper than just fun.”
“Then get back to him and continue the adventure. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
Back at the table, Caleb and I discuss mundane topics until our food arrives. He didn’t listen to me. He ordered way too much food. But it’s fine. I’m suddenly hungry.
“So, you wanted to know more about me.” He sticks a knife into the mushroom omelet on his plate. “I have four brothers, who can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them. Since our parents died in a plane crash, years ago, we coped by becoming closer than ever.”
“Oh, no.” I press a hand to my throat. “I’m so sorry. It’s heartbreaking to lose both parents at the same time. Mine died in a car accident when I was little.”
Caleb stops chewing and shakes his head. “How are you still able to wake up each morning when life has stolen so much from you?”
I set my palms down flat on the table. “Well, it helps that life has also given me so much.”
“Justin.” Caleb nods. “He’s very lucky to have a mom like you.”
“Thank you.” Tears come to my eyes, tears of joy. The connection between me and Caleb is beyond words. He says all the right things at the right time. He just gets me. “I was so afraid that you wouldn’t want to come into my world if you knew about my son.” I pick up my fork and knife and cut into a piece of sausage.
“There’s something you don’t know about me.” Caleb bites into a strawberry and chews for a while. “My brother Lance was in a wheelchair for a very long time. He’s well and healthy now, but it was a hard road for all of us to travel.”
My fork and knife clutter onto my plate. “My goodness. What happened to him?” No wonder we have such a strong connection. We have a lot in common.
It makes me wonder whether Grace Graham hired a private investigator to look into our lives for similarities.
“It was a freak accident.” Caleb shoves a lock of his hair from his face. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Lance is happy and that’s all that counts.”
“Thank you for telling me about him.”
We continue to eat in silence, listening to the sound of the music pouring from hidden speakers. When the food is gone, we hold hands, not ready to let go just yet. I’m the one who pushes the pause button on our date.
“I need to get back to Justin.”
“Yes, of course.” Caleb pushes back his chair. “I’m going to the office.”
“What do you do?” I ask as we walk out of the restaurant.
“I’m in real estate.” When we reach my car, he bri
ngs his hand to my cheek, warming my skin. “How is it possible that I lived so many years of my life without knowing you exist?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Right now, everything feels just right. “I haven’t been on a date for a very long time because I was afraid I’d meet a man who can’t handle that I have so much responsibility. I couldn’t let anyone in.”
“Will you let me in?” he asks. “I’d like to prove to you that not all men are jerks.”
I giggle and place my hand on top of his. “I could try.”
“Will this help speed up the process?” He cups my chin with his strong hand and lowers his lips to mine. His tongue on my lips sends shivers of desire racing through me.
The kiss makes me forget my pains, insecurities, fears, and anxieties. It reminds me that I’m still a woman with desires that are dying to be met.
We don’t take it further than the kiss, but if I never see Caleb again, I’ll still be grateful to him for reminding my heart how it feels to beat again.
CALEB
After a long day at the office, I walk into Hotel LaClaire, thoughts of Ellie still on my mind. How the hell am I going to keep it together until the next time I see her?
As soon as I enter, Jane Stilwell, the restaurant manager walks up to me, her smile as bright as always. She has the looks, the curves, and the pretty smile, but she can’t compare to Ellie. I’m pretty sure no woman can.
“Caleb,” Jane tucks a dark lock of her hair behind her ear. “Where have you been? You haven’t been in here for a while.”
“I know.” I glance at my phone, still hoping for a text message from Ellie. On the way to the hotel I had considered contacting her, but I didn’t want to overwhelm her. “I’ve been out of the country a lot.”
“Great to see you.” Jane bats her eyelashes. “Your brothers are waiting for you in the back.”
“Thanks, Jane.” As I walk away from her, I can feel her following me with her gaze.
“See you later,” she calls after me.
I halt and turn around. “Yeah,” I say, my mind still not fully present. “See you.”
Dear Mr. Maybe: The Matchmaker Series Page 4
