I Picked You

by J C Hartung

  She hadn’t been able to help during those weeks and months as she healed from her injuries, but her family had more than answered the call. Though she tried not to go back to that nightmarish time often; when she did take a bit of time to think about it, she knew they had done so much more than give her a home. They took care of her and Oliver during the months when she couldn’t, and they had helped give her a new purpose. Essentially, they had saved her life when she didn’t think she could go on.

  “Mom?”

  She heard the shout as the herd of four varying heights of dark heads raced through the open doors onto the porch. Oliver jumped into her lap and cupped his hands to her ear, then leaned back to wait for an answer to his appeal.

  She smiled and felt the waves of love wash over her. Unless one’s heart was made of hard, unrelenting stone, she didn’t question those eyes would affect you. The innocent, eager, pure, sparkling-warmth in them could warm through a block of ice in seconds. And with a smile, she remembered, they weren’t the first pair to win her over all too rapidly.

  Oliver put his hands on Raina’s cheeks and she knew she was sunk. He could tell she was going to say yes, he just knew it. He bounced a little on her knees as his excitement peaked. She glanced outside and her laugh erupted before she could stop it!

  “Go, but once you’re out, you’re not coming back in unless it’s for a bath,” she said, and added a dramatic yet stern raise of an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Mama!” Ollie yipped in her ear, as he squeezed his arms around her neck and got tangled up in her hair.

  “What did you just agree to, Rae?” Trish asked, as she shifted her cumbersome frame on the wicker couch.

  “They’re going to play in the mud,” she laughed and rose from her chair as Trish scrunched up her nose.

  “It’s fine! I did it all the time as a kid. Actually, I’m going to join them, what’s more fun than splashing in the puddles?”

  She watched the kids streak over the drive and across the field to the corner where there was always mud. They looked so free, running with their arms out around them. She took one last look at Trish who had stood and crossed to watch out the window.

  She took the stairs to her room by twos and stripped off her white t-shirt and exchanged it for an old tank and ripped up jean shorts, she twisted her hair up and secured it with a tie. She joined the kids as she skidded across the mud pit. She lost her balance and very quickly found herself gazing up at the sky, as the rain fell into her eyes and mud splashed around her.

  All four giggle monkeys piled on her before she could jump to her feet, and then it was war. Hands full of mud flew until it was more efficient to kick the mud as its squidgy texture stuck between their toes.

  Later, when a good hosing off was required, a water fight ensued, and more laughter rang clear over the tops of the trees.

  From where Dave and Trish sat on the steps to the porch with their hands linked, their thoughts were very much the same.

  Trish saw it through eyes that threatened to mist over, there’s our Rae. She’s still in there.

  Dave wanted to join in but thought that Rae would need to know she had that spirit living in her without his help. He knew she’d have thought about what he’d said to her that morning weeks ago on the dock. And he knew sooner or later she would want that piece of herself back, and it was coming whether she knew it yet or not. He could see that light; feel the energy she was sending out. She was coming back to them.

  Chapter Nine

  Having Trish and Dave visiting made it a whole lot easier to head off to work over the weekend. At least she didn’t have to feel guilty for leaving Oliver with a babysitter or bringing him with her for a couple hours, before running him over to Abby’s until it slowed down and she could get away. Another week of summer vacation had flown by and soon her scheduling nightmare would end, or at least she was clinging to that fantasy.

  She would have the extra help with Shanna’s presence in just two weeks and then before she knew what was happening, it would be her baby’s first day of school. But not before the big party Oliver was planning. She’d try to remember that she had to sit down and talk to him about it soon, or he would get completely carried away and she would have to be the big, bad, mean one, who took it all away.

  The last of the goodies she’d created that morning were loaded into her van and she set off for the restaurant. It had been a busy summer so far and profits were up from this time last year. This allowed her to hire an additional night baker which alleviated some of the stress from her own plate; meaning she could leave the bread making to them and she could focus more on the cakes and pastries. In addition, because the restaurant was doing so well, she didn’t have to take on as many catering jobs, which meant she was home with Ollie most evenings.

  She loved her job, that in itself was a blessing, and she was thankful that it supported them. So what if she wasn’t creating fancy menus or the head chef of a four star restaurant as she’d always dreamed. She made good food for good people every day, and though some days it surprised her, she loved doing it in the town where she’d grown up.

  Turning the town’s coffee shop into a luncheon spot had seemed like a reasonable solution at the start. But it had proved to take more time and energy than she had anticipated. Thank goodness her Dad and brother Matthew were handy and had been able to turn the garage into a large kitchen. Without it she knew she just wouldn’t be able to keep her head above water.

  The lunch crowd had cleared out and her servers were on their break. When they returned, she would head home and spend the rest of the day with Ollie, and once supper was cleared away she would prep for her early morning wake-up routine.

  She walked out the open doors to the patio where a woman she had seen in the shop earlier in the week had taken a seat. She had caught her eye because she had been filthy, and the messy blond hair and stained clothes hadn’t hindered her beauty in the least. Plus, she had bought enough food for a large family.

  The woman sat outside, alone at a table and she was looking lost in thought as her gaze was cast towards the park where children were laughing, playing, and enjoying the August sun. Raina threw her long braid behind her shoulder and went to take the lady’s order.

  In contrast to the appearance the woman projected at their first meeting, today she was all style. Walking shorts with leather sandals, a beautiful purse and a nautical style shirt, finished with a chunky necklace and fabulous earrings.

  “Hello, great earrings! How are you today?”

  The woman smiled welcomingly at Raina, and she instantly felt a kinship with this stranger. “Thanks! I’m doing just fine, how are you?”

  She had the kindest, clearest, most trustworthy blue eyes she’d ever seen. Rae wanted to tell this woman the truth; that she was tired, and she wished she could be the one sitting in the chair being waited on. Instead of honesty, she smiled back and lowered herself to rest her crossed arms on the table.

  “I have no complaints. Can I get you something?”

  “Sure, I’d like an iced ginger green tea, please.”

  “Are you waiting for someone or can I bring you something to eat as well?”

  “My son may join me, but when he’s working he regularly loses all track of time, so I won’t wait.” A quick scan of the menu before flashing her eyes across the special’s board above the display case had her eyes honing in on her decision. “Do you have any of those delicious quiches today?”

  Raina smiled again.

  “We do, today it’s sun dried tomato, asparagus and asiago cheese. You can get that with or without a crust.”

  Raina admired the woman; the easy way she sat in the restaurant unruffled at likely having to eat there alone, her style and subtle, yet effective way with a compliment, she thought she was the picture of grace and class.

  “Sweetie, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you look tired.” The woman took a quick look around. “You wouldn’t be able to sit and join me would you?”<
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  She was so taken aback by the invitation that she just stared. When Raina didn’t answer, she continued.

  “I’m sorry, it’s not my place, and I get myself into trouble trying to take care of everyone!” Raina shook her head and half laughed to herself as she rose to her full height.

  “No, it’s fine. It’s the best offer I’ve had all week, truly. But I’m short staffed today and as soon as everyone is back from lunch, I have to run.”

  The woman looked inside the restaurant. What she saw was a welcoming and tastefully decorated space. She approved of its hominess, its clean lines, and as the food was its decorative touch, she thought that it spoke for itself.

  “This is your place?” She shouldn’t have been surprised, the girl looked more than competent, and with a bit of relief, she thought it would also explain a component of the tired appearance. She knew all too well what it was like to be a young woman in business.

  “Yes, it is,” she nodded, and took a quick look inside herself.

  “Do you create all the food as well?”

  “I do, I’m the chef!” she confirmed. It wasn’t bragging, but it sure felt good to have someone acknowledge and compliment her in her own place.

  “Well, congratulations! It looks like you’ve got a success on your hands.”

  “Thank you! Most days I do!” She was again surprised by this woman. She hadn’t ever thought of this venture as a success or failure, she had only ever thought of it as the bottom line, and a way to keep Oliver fed and in sneakers.

  She snapped out of this revelation and her whole body seemed to grin at this woman who was a complete stranger.

  “So will it be with or without crust?”

  She hesitated before she asked, “What would you suggest?”

  Raina laughed and could suddenly feel her whole body come alive and feeling so much lighter than she had moments ago.

  “I would go without the crust and then have a massive piece of the mixed berry layered pavlova!”

  They shared another smile, and the woman nodded.

  “Alright, bring them out!”

  “I have to run right away, but if you need anything else just ask one of the girls. They’ll be right over with your lunch.”

  Taking two steps back towards the kitchen she stopped and turned back to the woman. “I really enjoyed chatting with you, enjoy your afternoon. Oh, and those really are fabulous earrings!”

  The woman watched the girl who owned the restaurant walk away looking like a completely different woman from the one who had sunk to her heels next to the table looking exhausted and beaten. As she breezed back through the shop and into the kitchen, she had a bounce that seemed lighter than air, and there had been a spark in her memorable, smoky colored eyes.

  Chapter Ten

  He’d been waiting, like forever, even though Granddad said it wasn’t forever! When he saw Mr. Linc walk in the front doors of Granddad’s hardware store, he was practically bouncing. He didn’t tell anyone but he had been worried that school would start before he got to help Mr. Linc again. He was ready. He ran around the counter to where Granddad sat at a desk, and he waited for him to get to the counter.

  Linc nodded towards Martin when he reached the desk and held up his hand towards him to communicate he was alright with the kid for a bit.

  Martin leaned back in his chair where he could both listen and watch the conversation, while he gave the illusion of completing paperwork. He’d known Lincoln Morrow for a few months. He’d stopped by the lumberyard late last winter to check out the local business while considering moving to the area. They struck up an easy relationship and once he’d found out Lincoln was in the woodworking business, he’d assumed their relationship would benefit both of them. He seemed like a nice enough guy and his previous encounter with Oliver had left the kid floating on a cloud.

  “Hey there, Slugger!” Linc greeted the kid.

  “Good Afternoon, Mr. Linc! Why did you call me, slugger? Did you forget my name?” Where he sat, Martin stifled a laugh. The two men shared a smile and Linc turned his attention back to the kid.

  “No, Oliver, I didn’t forget your name. I guess Slugger, is just a sort of nickname.” He smiled down at the kid and ruffled his hair.

  “What does it mean?” Oliver’s eyes were like saucers as he waited for an answer.

  “It’s a baseball name. A name I could call you if you hit the ball really far. Do you like baseball? Champ?” He couldn’t resist.

  “I’m too small to play baseball, and I’m not, Champ, either.” His little eyes rolled and then turned back up at Linc.

  “Hmm, well on that point we disagree; you’re never too small for baseball, Buddy!”

  He smiled at that one. “Granddad sometimes calls me, Buddy. I don’t mind that one so much.”

  Oliver noticed while they were talking that Mr. Linc had his hands in his pockets, so he tried to do the same.

  Lincoln couldn’t help but smile at the kid, all that concentration, and such a smart little guy. He was touched too, when he realized the boy was trying to be like him.

  “All right, then, Buddy, it is! Unless you come up with something better, cool?”

  He thought about it quickly, and then nodded. “Cool.”

  “So I need a bit of help finding a few things. You think you can help?”

  Oliver walked around the desk to stand next to, Linc. “That’s my job, sir. What do you need?”

  “I need sandpaper to start.”

  “I know where it is, Linc!” he beamed, and he took hold of Linc’s hand and pulled him to the aisle.

  Linc squat down in the middle of the aisle when he saw his choices. He reached for the grit he was looking for, and then he looked at Oliver. “Do you know what sandpaper is for, Buddy?”

  “Granddad told me it makes wood smooth, but I don’t really know how that is supposed to work. It’s just scratchy paper, and I got all scratched up when I rubbed it on my arm.”

  He just couldn’t hold in the laugh this time. The kid was sharp and not afraid to ask questions, and he admired both qualities. He reached for the roughest paper on the shelf and held it out for Oliver to see.

  “See this one? How bumpy it is, it’s the scratchiest one,” he held it out for the kid to feel. “Now feel this one, the bumps are really tiny and it’s still scratchy but smooth.”

  “These are both sandpaper but they have different jobs. They all make the wood a different degree of smooth.”

  “What’s degree?”

  “Great question! It’s like a different level. This rough sandpaper will smooth the wood out, but only so much. This super fine paper will make the wood soft and smooth. No slivers after this one.”

  “I don’t like slivers, I got a big one from the dock at Grandpa and Grandma’s this summer.” He turned his hands over and made a quick examination of them. He suddenly looked a bit sheepish, and the shift of energy coming from the boy, had Linc curious.

  Linc took a closer look at the kid’s hand and saw the faint spot where the sliver may have been.

  “How’d you get a sliver from the dock?”

  “I was running to get the good spot in the boat, and I tripped. Uncle Pete yelled at all of us for racing, and then Grandma took me to the house to dig out the sliver. She said I was brave like my Daddy, and then I got a Spiderman bandage because the Superman ones were all gone.”

  “Superman, hey! I always thought he was way cooler than Spiderman,” he stated seriously. “So next time you won’t run on the dock, right?”

  “No way!” he shook his head with a fierceness that had Linc laughing again.

  He tipped his head and looked back at Oliver’s hand. “So how big was the sliver?”

  Oliver lifted his hand and made a space between his finger and his thumb. The space between was about a quarter inch. Linc looked impressed.

  “That big, huh?”

  “Yes, sir! I bet you get lots of slivers if you play with wood all the time.”


  Linc rose to his feet and his fingers sunk into Oliver’s dark hair, he gave his hand a shake and messed it a bit.

  “I sure do, Buddy! Let’s take this paper to the counter; I need to speak to your Granddad about something.”

  When they reached the desk, Linc lifted Oliver up and set him down next to the computer, and then he set down the stack of sandpaper. Martin rose to his feet and came over to enter the purchase into the computer.

  “So, Oliver, I was wondering if the next time you get to hang out with your Granddad, the two of you might want to come visit me.”

  “Really?” he squealed, and looked over with hope at Martin.

  The kid’s smile was contagious, so his grew until he beamed back. “Really!” he echoed with a laugh.

  “Can we, Granddad? Soon?”

  Martin was caught in the excitement now as well. He had already decided to make the next delivery out to Lincoln’s place himself, just to get a look at what the guy was doing out there. He’d heard a couple of the delivery guys talking over lunch, and they thought it was pretty cool, so he’d been biding his time, waiting for an invite.

  “Sure, Ollie. It just so happens you’re stuck with me for the next few days too. When does it suit you best, Linc?”

  “Any time, I’ll be there. But if you want to be sure, give me a call before you come. I’ll make sure I’m ready for you!”

  “Sounds good.”

  Linc went through the routine of paying for his purchase. He ruffled his hand in Oliver’s hair one last time before he turned to leave.

  “Can I give you a job, Oliver?” When he eagerly nodded, Linc continued. “I’m going to need some fancy door knobs soon. The kind that look sort of black. Do you think you could bring me some pictures?”

  “I’ll try,” he answered hesitantly, and looked over at Martin who nodded his head reassuringly.

  “I bet you will! I’ll see you soon, Buddy! Keep up the good work!”