Page 42 of I Found You
Typically, Wyatt would get to my house somewhere between six and six thirty. I texted him to see what time he thought he would be today so that I could prepare dinner just in time.
Jane’stemperature remained elevated, and she was doing that heartbreaking moan/cry. I gave her a bath and changed her out of her sweaty clothes. She wasn’t going through as many diapers as usual, so I knew I had to keep my eye on her hydration. Getting her to eat was still a struggle, but she was eating, which was the most important thing.
I kept checking my phone, but Wyatt hadn’t responded to my message. He was at work though. I couldn’t expect him to drop everything just to text me back. And besides, he probably didn’t even know what time he would be over.
The next time Jane was sleeping, I took the opportunity to jump in the shower. I must have picked up and tried on six different dresses as I was getting ready, settling on an aqua-colored, body-hugging dress that accentuated my curves. My nerves were sky-high, even though Wyatt came by my house almost every night. He knew what I looked like, for better or worse. He knew my cooking skills. There was nothing about tonight that would be any different for him. But I was building this up so much in my head my hands were clammy, and my belly felt like it was trying to take flight.
By five thirty, there was still no response from Wyatt, so I decided to just start making the meal. That way, it would be ready for six if he showed up on the earlier side. If I had to rewarm it, I could.
Once dinner was prepared and there was still no sign of Wyatt after another thirty minutes, I decided to text him. The last thing I wanted to do was come across as clingy, but it wasn’t like him to not return my texts all day.
Me: Hey, just checking in. Are you still planning on coming by today?
I was too restless to sit around waiting, so I set thedining room table, taking time to find a candle for the center that didn’t look too over-the-top. At least, I hoped not. When that was done, I put the ice cream bar together, setting up the toppings in little dishes across the breakfast bar counter, adding a few different syrup choices as well. After, I arranged the blankets outside on the back porch, along with some pillows and a bottle of wine.
Time was passing far too slowly and far too fast simultaneously. Every time I looked at the clock and another ten or fifteen minutes had passed, it seemed like an eternity, but I also wanted to stop time in its place until Wyatt got here.
I fed and changed Jane again, getting her ready for her long sleep, and more time passed without word from Wyatt. Jane had been sleeping so much throughout the day I was afraid she would be difficult to put down to bed, but she knocked right out, her body working overtime to fight this virus.
Taking the baby monitor with me, I went to the back porch for some fresh air. There was a misty drizzle coming down, but the temperature was warm. The bottle of wine was calling to me, and seeing as it was past nine o’clock at this point, I figured I might as well pour a glass. I took it inside with me, seeing as I would need to clean up the kitchen shortly, but I didn’t have it in me to do it right now. It was probably for the best that he didn’t show. This had been a colossally bad idea anyway. What was he going to think walking in here to a prepared meal, full dessert bar, candle on the dining room table? He would probably want to run from the crazy lady who was clearly becoming obsessed with him.
18
Wyatt
Earlier that day
I went straight to the garage after leaving Maeve’s house. Waking up with her wrapped around me had been an unexpected delight. One part of me, specifically, was instantly enamored with that development. I hadn’t meant to spend the night. Jane was still fussy when I went to lay her down, so I tried skin-to-skin contact with her to get her to settle down. Maeve’s bed was just so comfortable, especially after sleeping on the tiny two-seater couch in the hospital waiting room. Plus, it had the added bonus of smelling like her. I could still feel her body pressed against mine, her heart beating softly as she breathed.
Fuck. I needed to clear my head. There was a lot to do today. It used to be that I would close the garage to customers by 5:00 p.m., but I wouldn’t leave until seven or eight o’clock. Lately though, I had been taking off at closing time, heading home for a quick shower, and going directly to Maeve’s house. It was nice, not being holed up in the garage for twelve-plushours a day, but it set me back big-time. Idly, I thought about Jackson. I had given him some tasks to help me out last week and found him to be a good worker. Still learning a lot, but he was dedicated and eager to learn more. I threw him some cash at the end of the week, which he seemed to appreciate.
We didn’t put a set schedule in place. Technically, he was just loaned some garage space as a favor to Maeve. I didn’t have any authority over his time. Maybe I would talk to him about coming on board legitimately. I really did need another set of hands around here if I wanted to stay on top of things and, more importantly, get people back their mode of transportation in a decent time frame.
I had already been at it for a few hours when I heard a car pull up and a door close. At least he came back for another day, I thought, smiling to myself. Just as I predicted, a moment later, the steel door to the garage opened, and Jackson strode in.
“Hey, boss,” he said. As he put down the backpack he always had with him under the workbench, he turned and gave me a strange look. I wasn’t sure what that was about, but I would roll with it for now.
“Morning,” I said to him. “What’s your plan for today?”
“Thought I would stop by, maybe see if you needed any help.” He scratched at his chin, and I could see the beginnings of a beard growing in. He was looking down, and I could swear he would be kicking dirt with the toe of his boot if there were any of it around. He had the same anxious energy that Maeve had.
“Yeah, man. I’ve got a bunch of shit on the to-do list today. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m kind of dragging ass today as it is,” I told him. Walking over to the workbenchwhere I kept a list of things that needed to get done, I picked up Maeve’s travel cup, which had miraculously kept my coffee hot, and took a swig. I nearly choked as I realized what the look Jackson had given me was about. There was a sticker with “#1 Teacher” written across it. Clearly, this wasn’t mine. If he wasn’t going to say anything about it, neither would I. Besides, nothing happened between Maeve and me, so really, there was nothing to tell.
“What?” I asked him, realizing he had said something that I completely missed. Then it processed a second later—he had asked why I was so tired today.
“Nothing,” he responded quickly.
He was clearly afraid of learning far too much about his sister’s sex life. I chuckled at his discomfort. It wasn’t any of his business one way or another. Maeve was a grown woman; she could do as she pleased. But I also didn’t want to work in awkward silence all day either.
“I was at the hospital most of the night waiting for Maeve. Don’t worry. It was Jane who was sick,” I added when his head snapped up. “Not Maeve.”
I moved the conversation along to the tasks that needed to get done today.
“Why don’t you take on the two brake jobs while I continue to work on Mr. Tutino’s engine.”
“Whatever. That works.”
He seemed off, and not just because he caught me with Maeve’s cup. He moved the first car into the bay like I asked, but he was moving slowly, and his hand kept touching his ribs. “You alright?”
