Page 22 of Love Her

Chapter 11

Connor

Damn she smells good. I don’t dare admit I’ve spent days trying to figure out exactly what it is. Flowers, lemon . . . vanilla? Since the first day I saw her at PT, that scent has wormed its way into my dreams. Sometimes I’m holding flowers on a doorstep and others I’m drinking lemonade. Okay, maybe the woman standing in front of me has been part of those dreams as well. Lis is a welcome surprise on this boring errand of picking up soap and toilet paper. I was bored out of my mind and have hours until I have to be at Country Road.

I half expect her to turn and scowl at me for my forward comment, but she doesn’t. If I’m not mistaken, her reaction is the exact opposite. Her body shivers slightly. Other than that movement, she doesn’t budge. The little girl standing before us with one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead dramatically opens one eye and looks at Lis.

“Clem, what are you doing?”

“You said it wouldn’t fit. It does, Mom. Can I have it?”

Amused at the scene before me, I set the small basket I’m carrying on the ground and cross my arms in wait. This should be good. Blowing out a breath, Lis approaches her daughter and unhooks the bra before looking at the tag and shaking her head.

“No. You cannot have this. How about we get one from your section and call it a compromise?”

Huffing out a breath, the girl says, “Fine. Can I go look by myself? Have some privacy?”

“Yes, but I’ll be there in a minute.”

Before she moves, the girl shifts her focus to me. Her eyes assess me from head to toe and then back. I don’t think I’ve ever been checked out by a kid and I have to say it’s just as weird as it sounds.

“Oh for heaven’s sake Clementine Jean. Connor, this is my daughter Clementine. Clem this is Mr. Hall. Say hello.”

Suddenly shy, Clementine lifts her hand in greeting.

“Hi there. Nice to meet you, Clementine. That’s a pretty name.”

Scrunching her nose she asks, “Really? Everyone at school says it’s weird.”

“Well, I think those kids are weird. It’s a cool name. Better than Connor. You know how many Connors were in my classes growing up?” She shakes her head. “Four. Being Connor H. was weird. I think your name is pretty cool.”

I’ve thrown out compliments to women of all ages like they’re confetti on New Year’s before but never received the kind of smile Clementine offers.

“Go on, honey. I’ll be right there.”

With a nod of her head, Clementine skips off. Lis watches her for a minute then turns to me. Her eyes are glossy and like a deflated balloon, the pride I felt for giving her daughter a reason to smile vanishes.

“Shit. I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong? It really is a cool name.”

“No. I’m sorry. It’s been a rough few weeks for her at school and you have no idea how you saying that to her matters. Thank you.”

Stepping up to her, I lift my hand to offer comfort but pull back. “Hey, why the tears? It’s a good thing, right?”

“It is. Sorry,” she says, waving me off. “Don’t mind me. I should get going.”

“Right. I’m sure your husband is waiting for you at home.” Not the smoothest way to ask about her marital status. There’s no ring but that doesn’t mean someone isn’t waiting for her.

Smirking she narrows her eyes at me, assessing knowingly. “No husband, just a little boy who is probably driving my parents crazy.”

Two kids. Wow.

“Bye, Connor.”

Hands on the handles, she guides her cart around me. Before she can make it too far, I call out to her. She slows to a stop and turns to look at me, a small smile on her face, eyes wide in curiosity.

Now that she’s stopped and facing me, I have no idea what to say. Instead of something important or witty, I simply say, “Have a good weekend.”

“You too.”

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