Page 3 of Isolated
Still smiling, I tipped my head to the side. “I don’t believe that. Everyone loves a good party.”
“Not me.” He crossed his arms over his chest, like he needed to exaggerate his pouting to show me just how serious he was.
The man was so miserable; I found it endearing and laughed. “Well, maybe you haven’t been to any good ones lately.”
“Don’t plan on going to any, either.” His eyes narrowed on my balloons and the flowers in my hand. “If you’re not throwing a party, what’s all that nonsense for?”
“My birthday is tomorrow.”
“I thought you said you weren’t throwing a party.”
I didn’t care what he said. This man desperatelywanted to attend a party. “I’m not. But my coworkers had a little something special for me at work today. In fact, I’ve got some leftover birthday cake. Would you like some?”
He hesitated. It was brief, and if I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed it. “What kind?”
My grin grew. “There’s both chocolate cake and white cake. Do you have a preference?”
“Well, I prefer chocolate, but I’m not singing to you. I don’t celebrate.”
But he certainly wanted my cake…
Laughing, I said, “Let me bring this stuff inside and get myself ready to leave. Then I’ll bring some over to share with you.”
Little did he know, he was going to celebrate with me. I might not make him sing for the cake, but he was going to tolerate a few minutes of my company.
I felt bad for Walter.
He had been living here alone for years. His wife had died twenty years ago, and his daughter had moved across the country.
He wasn’t a grouch by nature; he was lonely. And I often found myself asking him for help—even when I didn’t need it—just to give him a reason to feel useful.
“Where are you leaving to go to?”
Even if we didn’t spend our days hanging out with one another, Walter seemed to be bothered every time he realized I was leaving for any reason other than work.
“Tonight, I’m going to meet up with some of my friends for dinner. Tomorrow, I’m heading to Grouse to visit with my family for my birthday. They’re having a party for me. Would you like to join me?”
Something lit up in his eyes. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I told you, I don’t like parties.”
I shrugged. “Alright. Well, if you change your mind before I leave, I’d be happy to take you. I’ll stop back over shortly with cake. Okay?”
Walter would never accept my invite, but that wasn’t going to stop me from extending the invitation.
“I’ll wait on the porch.”
I smiled at him. “Sounds good.”
A few minutes later, I’d made it inside and unloaded everything from my arms. Then I went about getting myself ready for dinner with my friends. I rushed myself a bit, if only because I wanted to spend extra time with Walter.
And though I knew it would drive him crazy, when I met him on his porch, I didn’t hesitate to bring not just the chocolate cake but a single balloon as well.
He happily took the cake, but he grumbled the entire time about the balloon being tied to his rocking chair.
TWO
