Page 5 of Surprised By Love

I get in my SUV and crank the heat. The cool air, combined with my wet clothes, sends chills down my back. I look over at Samantha’s hatchback and watch as she pulls back onto the road.

I reach for my cell that’s cradled in the phone holder and call Talia.

She picks up on the first ring. “Hi, Josh. Sorry I’m running late, but I should be there shortly.”

“Hi. Talia. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to cancel our lunch date. Something came up and I won’t be able to make it.”

“Oh. Is everything alright?” she says, a sadness in her voice, and I hate that I’m cancelling on such short notice, but there is no way I can go out for lunch in soaking wet clothes.

“Yes. Everything is fine. I’m sorry about the late notice.”

“It’s alright. Maybe we can do it again some other time?”

“Sure. Sounds good. I’ll be in touch,” I say, disconnecting the call.

Thoughts of Samantha run through my mind, watching her struggling with the tire. When I drove up and saw her wiping her hands on her jeans, squatting down, attempting to get the tire off. It looked like she was really struggling and when she got up and kicked the tire.

I knew I had to stop and help her.

It’s not like I’ll ever see her again. I don’t even know where she was heading, but there’s something about her. She’s a pretty little thing but not really my type, the way her wet, wavy hair stuck to her face and the sweater that clung to her curvy frame sparked something in me that if I’m being honest, I haven’t felt in a while. Not with Talia or any of the other girls I’ve dated in the last year or so.

If you want to call what I do dating.

I’m suddenly not sure if I’ll contact Talia again. She seemed like a nice girl. We met a week ago at a bar in Pineridge and with her working afternoon shifts, we thought a lunch date was the best option since she didn’t want to wait till next week for our date.

I turn my car around, hook my phone to bluetooth and call my mom. “Hey Mom,” I say as she answers. “Change of plans. I’m on my way home.”

“Oh, no, what happened?”

“I had to cancel—”

“Why? You seemed excited about this date when you left.”

“I stopped to help someone with car trouble. I’ll tell you about it when I get home. Are the kids behaving?”

“Yes. Yes. Emily is in the dining room, having a tea party, and Jake is watching a cartoon playing with his cars.”

“Good. I should be home in less than thirty minutes.”

“Alright. Drive safe.”

I disconnect the call and grin. Four years ago, I took my mom’s advice and moved to Sunset Creek to be with my family. I don’t know what I would do without them being there to help with my kids. It’s hard enough being a single parent, but with the job I have, it’s even tougher.

“Hey mom, I’m back.” I holler twenty-five minutes later as I walk into my grey brick two-story home. Max, my black Labrador retriever, is in front of me in seconds, wagging his tail in excitement. I drop my keys onto the side table and squat down, vigorously rubbing Max behind the ear. “Hi boy, are you being good?” I kiss him on the top of the head and stand.

My mom walks out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a dishtowel.

“Hi, so what—Oh my! You’re soaked! Did you get caught in the rain?”

I slip off my loafers. “Yeah, I did. I need to shower and change, then I’ll tell you all about it.”

“Daddy!” Emily, my six-year-old daughter, comes running out of the great room, arms open wide. She’s wearing one of her princess gowns, her long blonde curls bouncing behind her.

My mom holds an arm across so Emily can’t pass. “Your daddy’s dirty and wet, sweetie. Let him go upstairs and change, then you can give him hugs, Okay?”

“Okay,” she says with a frown, her bright blue eyes staring up at me.

“I’ll be right down, kiddo,” I say, patting her on the head before I turn to the stairs, taking them two at a time.

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