Page 49 of Love Story
“Same.” Cody shoved his hands in his pockets. He felt the gift he’d brought Andi.
The guy must not have been completely satisfied that Andi was okay, because he hesitated. Then after a few seconds, he turned and walked back toward the building. When he was gone, Cody looked at Andi once more. “Co-worker?” He didn’t have to ask whether the guy was more than that to Andi. Her tone said it all.
She took several heartbeats before she answered. “Yes. Caleb and I... We’re... we’re friends.” She didn’t blink. “At least for now.”
The rain was still falling, still making this time with her feel like something from a dream. “Okay.” He hadn’t for a minute thought she might be involved with another guy. His mind was reeling. “I guess.”
“Cody, I can’t do this... You can’t just...” She looked down at the muddy ground and shook her head.
Cody couldn’t tell if she was crying. Drops were running off her cheeks and nose, but they could’ve been the rain. When she looked up he knew the answer. Some of the drops had been tears. He took a step closer. “I’m sorry, Andi. Please... can we talk? Go somewhere? Just the two of us?”
Again her expression eased and she came closer. “Why do you always do this, Cody? Draw me in again?” She put her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. “So that all I want is you.”
They couldn’t stop themselves from coming together again if their lives depended on it. They held on to each other for several minutes, swaying to the sound of the rain and wind in the tree branches overhead. Cody loved this, but he wanted to talk. He couldn’t wait to tell her the truth about everything.
Finally he leaned back some and framed her face with his fingertips. The sight of her took his breath. He searched her eyes. It was all he could do not to kiss her again. “Where can we go?”
“We can’t.” She shook her head, but this time her eyes remained soft. “I have meetings tonight. And I’m taking care of a rescue puppy. He’s just six weeks old.” She nodded back toward the shed. “The puppy stays here during the day, but I take care of him after work.”
Cody was about to ask if he could go to the place where she was staying, wherever that was. They could talk in the lobby... or in the parking lot.
But she came up with a different plan, first. “Let’s meet tomorrow. At that park.” She pointed across the street at a small playground. “Seven in the morning.” Her soft voice and the look in her eyes said she wanted to stay, wanted to make this moment last as long as they could. But she was listening to a different voice. The one in her head.
Cody’s heart raced. “Okay.” He hesitated. “I can do that.” At least she wasn’t refusing to talk to him at all. “What about dinner?”
“I can’t.” She looked back toward the shed once more. “I have plans.” She released a tortured breath. “I have to think, Cody. Me and God. This... I wasn’t expecting you.”
Cody felt the blow of her words to his core. This was a different Andi, for sure. One who had options. That much was clear. This Andi had spent enough time helping people that she had no trouble now helping herself. Keeping her heart out of harm’s way when it came to Cody. Clearly right now she knew better than to stay with him another minute.
She gave him a sad smile and took three steps back. “I have to go. We need to clean every cage before we leave.”
He nodded. “Tomorrow then.” There was nothing else he could say. He didn’t want to leave her side while he was here, but she said she needed time. He pulled the gift from his pocket and handed it to her. “Here.”
She took it and new tears pooled in her eyes. “Thank you.”
It was the least Cody could do, proof that he understood her passion for working here and helping people. Proof that he was paying attention to her now, the way he hadn’t paid attention when they were engaged last time. Cody hoped the gift would tell her all of that and more, since they wouldn’t see each other until tomorrow. The gift was just what she wanted, after all.
A simple pair of clean white socks.
16
The memory of his beginning with Elizabeth wouldn’t leave him alone, just the way John had feared. He could only thank God that Elaine was understanding. She didn’t have to tell him how distant he’d been or how he’d barely engaged in their few conversations.
Yesterday evening he’d found her out front in one of their two rocking chairs. She was reading the Bible, and as he approached she looked up and smiled. Actually smiled at him. “Hello, John.”
“Elaine.” He took the chair beside her. “I’m interrupting.”
“Never.” Her tone was soft, and he could sense her spirit was, too. “I was reading Hebrews. About faith.”
John nodded. “One of my favorite passages.”
She looked more intently at him. “What’s on your heart?”
Elaine always said that.What’s on your heart?She didn’t want to know only the thoughts of someone she loved. She wanted to know what was going on at a deeper level. One of the reasons John cared about her so much.
“I’m sorry. I know... I’ve said it a few times these last weeks, but I really mean it. This whole interview thing... it’s taken me back, and it’s like...” He stared at the sky for a moment, then at her. “Like I’m living again in that faraway time and I can’t quite come home yet.”
Compassion colored Elaine’s expression. “Can I tell you a story?”
