Page 35 of Almost True
I couldn’t even see his eyes, but I felt a bit mesmerized by his holding onto my hand, concerned for their welfare. Thankfully, that thought shook me from the daze of his proximity, and I removed my hand. Was Ithatdesperate for attention that his basic concern for me sent me into a brain fog?
It went on like that, though. Not just for me, but for everyone. Aidan was the dad to the entire volunteer crew of more than twenty people. He made sure everyone had gloves. He forced water breaks on those planting in the direct sun beds. He walked around with sprayable sunscreen as the sun rose high in the sky. They brought in sandwiches donated by the diner, and he handed out napkins, then collected trash. Luca was right there with him, emulating the paragon of care.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. From the minute I met him, he’d given me this feeling like I was surrounded. Not in an intimidating way or like he wanted to impress me. More like he had everything covered. It was that capability. Even before I’d known he was a dad or just how much he was capable of, I’d sensed that.
And when I left hours later to get cleaned up before our dinner, he was still working. He’d thanked every single person, sending them home with thanks and a smile. He’d patted my shoulder and thanked me, too.
And I’d left relishing that I’d see him again tonight. That craving for more of his time and attention might’ve signaled just how lonely I’d been, but I didn’t care. I never shied away from admitting weaknesses in my professional life, so why did I resist that so aggressively in my personal arena? Clearly, my methods the last few years had failed on that front, no question. So that stopped now.
I couldn’t wait to see him for dinner, and if that made me weak? Well, no one could be strong all the time.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Aidan
Ihadn’t been nervous for a date in a long time. Maybe my track record set me up to anticipate failure, or maybe I’d always mentally prepared for the pity that came. Whatever the case, even though thiswasn’ta date, as evidenced by my son fidgeting next to me at the front door, I was still nervous.
Maybe because I’d spent all day trying not to just stare at her. Madeline Reynolds, with her grass-stained knees and shorts revealing long, tanned, gorgeous legs…yeah.Not exactly friendly feelings.
A few seconds after we rang the bell, she pulled the door open. I hadn’t expected her to be the one to answer, nor did I expect the sight of her smiling at me like she was genuinely glad I’d showed up to hit me right in the ribs.
“Welcome! Please come in.” She stepped back, a short white dress swishing around her knees, and waved us in, greeting Luca with enthusiasm that seemed surprisingly genuine.
Though why surprising? What had I experienced of her that hadn’t been like that? So far, she’d been real with me—direct, even. Maybe it came from the lingering twinge of regret over the reality that both of us had omitted large parts of ourselves the first time we met?
“Thank you for inviting us, Ms. Reynolds.” Luca handed her a paper plate with cookies covered with plastic wrap that didn’t stick to the bottom.
Perhaps that was the source of my anxious thoughts tonight—we were the paper plate in her multi-million-dollar home.
“Please call me Maddie. You did earlier, right? We’re friends, aren’t we?” She smiled at my son.
Luca grinned. “I guess we are since we know we’re both Tolkien nerds. It’s just… my dad said we should be polite, and—”
“If she says to call her Maddie, then you do that,” I interrupted, before he could throw me under the bus and reveal all my secrets.
Her lips pressed together like she found that humorous but wouldn’t reveal it. I found myself riveted on the hope of her smile, but she simply nodded, and Luca shrugged.
He’d told me all about his conversation with her earlier this week—about how rare it was to find a girl who liked the books as much as he did. I gently suggested there were probably lots of girls who likedLord of the Ringsbut that maybe he hadn’t met them yet, at which he scowled but seemed to reluctantly agree.
Maddie nodded decisively. “Exactly. We’re agreed. You’ll call me Maddie.”
She glanced up and gave me a secret smile like it was just between us. This adult moment shared, our amusement over blatant, honest Luca, had me feeling like I wanted her on my team indefinitely.
My insides dipped.Pathetic.
“I’m about done with everything—just need to drain the pasta in another two minutes. I hope that’s okay?”
She said this as she bustled into the kitchen, and I made the heroic effort to not admire the slim line of her neck or the way the dress hugged her torso and flared out at her hips.
“I love pasta. We have it at least once a week because it’s cheap and filling.” Luca slipped onto a barstool and opened his book.
“I love it, too. Like Gollum loves the precious. And you’re not wrong about the cheap and filling part,” she said, clearly still charmed by him and not annoyed he’d already dived back into the world of orcs and hobbits.
A timer beeped and Maddie whirled and pressed a button on the stove. I set down the bottle of wine I’d brought and moved to the sink to wash my hands. She pulled a pan from the stovetop, and I stepped in and grabbed the handles of the giant stainless steel pasta pot.
“Oh, thank you.”
“I’m more comfortable put to use.” I glanced at her before turning toward the sink. The reward? A pleased little grin she tucked away before she spoke again.
