Page 94 of Isolated
Now we were getting somewhere. “That’s true. But I’m not sure what any of that has to do with you.”
I took another bite of my sandwich and shot him an expectant look. He’d have no choice but to come right out with what was really on his mind. Walter seemed to understand he’d been backed into a corner, that he needed to give me some honesty. So, to avoid making that happen immediately, he began unwrapping his sandwich.
I turned my head so he couldn’t see me smile.
This was the very best I’d felt about things between Walter and me for more than a week now.
Giving him time to get his sandwich unwrapped, I continued to eat mine. Walter took two bites before I asked, “How is it? Does it taste okay?”
“It’s good.”
He loved it. I knew he did. He just didn’t want to give in.
“I’m glad.”
Walter made no move to speak, losing himself in his lunch.
I gave him a few minutes to enjoy himself before I asked, “So, can you help me out and share why I don’t get to continue having you as my friend if I have other friends and visitors?”
“Why would you want to?” He lowered his sandwich to his lap. “I’m just the grumpy old man who lives next door. You’ve got your sisters and those girls from work.”
“You’ve never been bothered by them before,” I reasoned, needing to steer him in the right direction.
Walter looked away and lifted the sandwich to his mouth again. After he chewed and swallowed, he shared, “Well, you’ve got that guy coming over now, too.”
“Landen?”
Walter waved his hand in the air dismissively. “I guess that’s his name. Anyway, if he’s not a fool, he’ll stick around.”
Tipping my head to the side, I searched his face. “I thought you liked me, Walter.”
“I do. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Well, don’t you want me to have a guy who’s not a fool and will stick around for me? Don’t I deserve that?”
He tore his attention away from me, and unshed tears filled his eyes. Seeing that emotion from him made my heart break.
“Walter, I want to find someone who will love me the way you loved Gertie. And I think Landen could be that guy. I thought you’d be happy for me.”
A sigh escaped. “I want you to be happy, Iris. I just hate what it means for me.”
“What do you think it means for you?”
Shaking his head, disappointment etched into his weathered features, he said, “You’ll eventually get married and move away. And I’ll be alone again. I’ve spent a little over a week now preparing myself for when that day comes.”
Landen hadn’t been wrong. He’d seen the way Walter reacted every time he had come around and believed Walter needed some reassurance. “Landen and I just started dating,” I reminded him. “And while I do really like him a lot, we’re not getting married just yet. Plus, I love my house. I love where I live. It’s a bit too early for me to discuss this with him, but I suspect that if the time comes when things progress in our relationship, Landen would take the time to talk to me about what’s important to me. And if the way he’s been with me to this point is any indication, I suspect he’d bend over backward to make me happy.”
Walter blinked rapidly, attempting to stave off the tears.
I took off the pressure a bit and added, “Did you know that we’re just two weeks away?”
“Two weeks away from what?”
My mouth curved into a smile. “The two-year anniversaryof when I moved into this house and met you. I was thinking about it the other day, and it made me smile. In fact, I was so happy about it, I decided I wanted to celebrate it with you.”
“I don’t celebrate.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know. I know. But it will really mean a lot to me if you’d make an exception. Our friendship is important to me, Walter. And I think it’s worthy of a celebration.”
