Page 20 of By Your Side

“That was the best salmon I’ve ever had.”

Adeline’s cheeks flush with pleasure at my compliment. Clearing my throat, I excuse myself to go back to work.

The sun beats down on me as I cut the final piece of lumber for the front of Adeline’s porch rebuild. I’ve already replaced the posts and built the frame, now I can start on the rest. Reaching behind me, I pull my shirt off and toss it next to my empty water bottle.

It’s been four days since the fall, and I’ve been at work on Adeline’s porch from the time the sun is peeking out over the horizon to the time I can barely see in the evening.

Every day I’ve eaten breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Adeline at her insistence. Most days Raelynn has been there for at least two of the meals, but today she was gone before I arrived.

Smiling as I think about how Adeline learned my favorite breakfast food is a breakfast sandwich with all the fixings, so every morning she has had one ready for me. She seems to notice even the little things about people, catching comments or preferences without a word.

She has a kind heart that shines through in every word she says and everything she does. Even paying for Nora’s vet treatments and adopting this scrappy little cat who only likes Adeline.

Sighing, I scrub my hands down my face. I was completely wrong about her when I first met her, she does belong here. Her inner beauty outshines even how attractive she is on the outside. Why couldn’t she be the person I thought she was. Being this close to her, getting to know her so well, my attraction has moved past physical and started to move into more. I actually like the woman and it’s infuriating. And as hard as I try, it’s hard to ignore my developing feelings for her. My completely inappropriate feelings.

It feels nice, seeing Adeline smile and laugh freely. She smiles more around me now, but they’re guarded smiles.

When she’s with Raelynn though, they’re carefree and they send a sharp yearning through my chest. The urge to prove I’m not the guy she met that first day builds, I want her to see me as more.

Over the past four days, I’ve also learned a lot about Adeline’s previous life. She is a trained early childhood educator, but when Scott died, she went on a sabbatical and ended up not returning. Her parents are still married and she’s close with them, but in their retirement, they do a lot of traveling so she doesn’t get to see them as much as she would like.

I also learned that she and Scott met in college, falling in love quickly. The way she describes their relationship, it breaks my heart that they lost that. Listening to her talk about Scott makes me realize that what Jill and I had wasn’t true love. It was puppy love.

Jill leaving was an easy excuse to keep myself distant from forming any sort of meaningful relationships.

Adeline is everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner. Kind, compassionate, independent. Someone who would make a great partner.

Frustration has me working even harder to get the boards screwed down. Being this close to her is making me want things I can’t have. I need to get through this renovation with my heart and my integrity intact.

Wiping a rag over my face, I reload the screws into my belt. Adeline can now walk out of her house onto the porch, and soon the stairs will be done too. The faster I can get this done, the sooner I can continue on the inside of the house and that means I will be closer to having the distance I need to clear my head of the picture I’ve started to develop.

The door creaks open.

“Ow-en.” Adeline’s voice stutters as she comes out, limping on her injured ankle, a fresh bottle of water in her hand along with a plate filled with cut up fruits and veggies. She no longer tries to convince me to come in for snacks, bringing them to me instead.

Clearing her throat, she murmurs, “I thought it might be time to hydrate and refuel.”

Her cheeks flush and she looks intently at my eyes. Fighting a smile and failing, I grin at her. Her eyes flick down at my bare chest again, the light pink of her cheeks darkening as her eyes dart away from me.

“Thank you.” Hopping up onto the small section I’ve finished, I take the plate and sit down. “How’re you feeling?”

She sets the water bottle down next to me before slowly lowering herself next to me. “Good overall, but I’m not sleeping well between my ankle and the awful air mattress.”

“Ah. That explains the giant cup of coffee you had at breakfast,” I tease, noticing the darkness under her eyes.

We sit in comfortable silence, something I rarely experience with anyone. Adeline’s head is tilted back, her eyes closed as she basks in the sun. Smiling, I allow myself a brief moment to let my imagination run wild, guilt free.

I picture cupping her cheek in my hand. Brushing my lips over hers. Holding her close.

Looking away, I sigh.

“That was heavy.” Her voice is soft, relaxed with a tinge of concern.

“I’m enjoying the rest, but it’s time to go back to work.” I smile regretfully at the fact that I have to go back to work and the fact that the picture in my mind is something I have no right to. Adeline has given me no indication that she’s ready or wants anything more with me or anyone. I need to lock this up tight.

twelve

Owen

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