Three weeks later Lindsay parked her car outside the law office and rushed inside. As soon as she unlocked the door, the phone began to ring, and she quickly opened the blinds before running over to her desk.
"Hello?"
She sighed and slumped down into her chair.
"Hello Ms. Gherkins. Yes, yes we did give Lori Evans a call."
As she spoke, Karen walked in the door. She smiled at Lindsay and reached for the post-it the girl held out with her messages.
"No Ms. Gherkins, we did not call the police. You can't have someone arrested for yelling."
Karen chuckled. "That woman is forever in someone else's business."
After finally getting off the phone, Lindsay busied herself cleaning up things around the office, making a pot of coffee, and returning voice messages. She was cleaning the blades of the blinds when she noticed him across the street.
Justin was in front of the dry cleaners, talking and laughing with an older gentleman. She kept seeing him everywhere. Apparently he lived down the road from her, because he passed her house at least twice a day, once going into town and once coming back from it. He was standing there in blue jeans, a white tee shirt, and a blue plaid button-up left open. He and the man were talking animatedly, laughing and patting each other on the back.
"He's a doll baby, isn't he?"
The voice startled her, and she closed the blinds.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lindsay turned away, going back to her desk.
Karen smiled knowingly.
"Of course you don't. Don't mind me, I'm just speaking ‘bout that handsome young man Justin outside. Do you have that Tidwell file?"
"Yes," Lindsay paused in her typing, reaching for the envelope and handing it to Karen on her way by.
"Oh hey, how's the new house coming? All settled in?"
"Just about. I bought the last of my kitchenware yesterday so I'm pretty good."
"I admire you darlin'. I hate living on my own, I don't know what I'd do if I were on the outskirts of town, all alone, no one around for miles like you."
Karen stopped when she noticed the worried expression growing on Lindsay's face. The older woman smiled and patted her receptionist on the back.
"Don't worry honey, I'm just messing with you. Ain't nothing going to happen to you out there. ‘Sept maybe termites."
Once Karen had returned to her office, Lindsay looked up again, watching Justin through the window as he and the older man headed into the diner on the corner. There was something about that Justin that irked her. She didn't know why, but he did.
That weekend Lindsay stood in her kitchen, watching dishes and talking on the phone with her friend, Ashlynn, from California.
"So, what is new besides you and your boyfriend getting into a fry fight at McDonalds?" Lindsay asked, lifting a plate from the dishwater.
"Well, Adam came by here looking for you."
"What did he say?"
"He asked where you were, if we had heard from you."
"What did you tell him?"
"I didn't tell him anything, of course. I know he's no good for you. I told you he was no good for you."
"I know Ash, you don't have to rub it in."
"I'm not. You know I want to kill him for what he did to you. You're one of my bestfriends. But why can't you just tell me where you are?"
"We talked about this." Lindsay dried her hands on a dish towel and leaned against the door frame. "I don't want anyone knowing anything until he's disappeared from my life. For all we know he could have turned really psycho and be listening to our conversations or something."
"You're giving him too much credit."
A car pulled into her dirt driveway, kicking up dust. Lindsay turned to look out her kitchen window. A black Mercedes was parked next to her dirty old car.
"Maybe," she mumbled. "Ash listen, I'll call you next weekend. I have some stuff around the house to get too."
"All right sweetie. I love you."
"I love you too."
Lindsay unwrapped herself from the long cord and placed the phone back in its receiver before heading over to her front door. She met Justin on his way up the stairs, the screen door clanking shut behind her like in some old western movie.
"Hey there, City Girl," he smiled.
"What are you doing here?"
He paused, his eyebrows knitting together. Then he started to speak to himself, ad-libbing how he figured their conversation should have gone.
"Hi, how are you?" He tilted his head in the opposite direction. "I'm fine, City Girl, how about yourself?" He tilted his head back. "I'm well. To what do I owe this surprise?"
When he was done, he straightened back up and returned his attention to her.
"I heard through the grapevine that you'd moved in recently."
"Grapevine?"
"Gossip ladies at the grocery store. Actually, they told me about it almost a month ago, you know how small towns are. But I wanted to give you a chance to settle in before I came by."
"Oh."
"I brought you a housewarming gift," he held out something wrapped in a yellow dish towel.
Lindsay took it, hesitantly, and unwrapped the fabric to find an apple pie.
"Don't worry, I didn't bake it myself," he admitted. "I got it from Ms. Sarah at the diner. She's a great cook."
Lindsay nodded slightly.
"Thanks."
Justin nodded back.
"No problem. I figured we should get to be friendly, being neighbors and all."
"Neighbors?"
"Yeah. My house is about a half-mile down the road," he pointed. "I'm the closest one to you. Old man Ackerman, who owns the ammo shop on Main St., he owns all that land behind you. Believe me, you do not want to be caught on his property after dark. He has the worst aim in the county, and he'll use it. All that over there, from the peach trees and beyond is mine."
Lindsay nodded. That was a lot of land for a young man. But then, nothing about him fit in with the small town they were sharing. Nothing except for the southern drawl he spoke with. She glanced up at his eyes, and he was staring back at her.
I've been around the world
Seen a million honeys
Really special girls
Gave all my time and money
But there something 'bout ya
Something that's kinda funny
"Oh, by the way, I'm Justin."
He held his hand out for her. She looked at it cautiously, chewing the inside of her lower lip.
"So guarded." He observed. "It's just a hand shake."
She reached out to shake it.
"And a name."
"Why do you need to know my name?" She snatched her hand back.
"I just figured you'd get sick of me calling you City Girl. And now that you've lost the sunglasses you seem much more approachable."
Yes, because approachable was the look she was going for.
"Lindsay," she supplied.
"There, now as that so hard? But I have to confess, I like City Girl better. The name Lindsay seems too flaky for you, better suited on a blonde."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Lindsay makes me think shopping sprees and tanning lotion. You seem more street smart and sarcastic like a... well... a City Girl."
Lindsay let out a snort and a smirk before she could help it. He really had some kind of nerve about him.
"Oh, what was that? Was that the beginning of a smile I just saw?"
Lindsay wiped it away as quickly as she could, diverting her attention to her sun faded fence momentarily. Justin nodded to himself. She had a tougher shell than he thought, and he had no idea why.
"Well, I don't mean to take up your Saturday, I just wanted to bring that by."
He turned his back and headed down the steps to his shiny black Mercedes.
"Maybe I'll see you around town, City Girl."
Lindsay watched him back his car down her driveway and head off in the direction of his house before she headed back into the house.
A week later Lindsay was sitting at home when she had the chance to experience her first rain storm, alone. The night had started off like any other. She got home from work, cleaned up a little around the house, made herself some dinner, and read a little bit. She didn't own a TV yet, so she couldn't really kill time with that.
At about ten o'clock the rain started. First it was simple soft tapping on the roof of the house. She was used to that. Lindsay had walked through the house to make sure the roof didn't have any leaks, and everything looked okay. Then she made her way back into the bedroom. She changed into some plaid pajama pants and an oversized sweat shirt.
There was a single lamp on by the bedside, and she turned it on before she crawled into the bed, covering herself in the mounds of blanket she had piled on it. She got under the covers and leaned back against the wall looking outside the window as the rain poured down the side of the house onto the ground. It was starting to rain harder now, the trees blowing roughly in the wind.
"Everything's going to be alright," she said out loud. "It's just a storm."
As if on que there was a crack of lightening and her lamp shut off, the room going completely dark. She couldn't help the scream that left her lips, and she laid flat against the bed, pulling the covers over her head. Her mind came to a realization.
She was going to die in this house.
As she laid there, the sound of thunder boomed through the sky. She saw a few flashes of lightening through the covers.
"I'm alright, I'll be alright," she said out loud.
Lindsay stuck her head out from under the covers, feeling around her bedside table for the flashlight she had kept there for emergencies. She pulled it under the covers with her and turned it on. Instantly the light brightened up the dark space. She took a deep breath, feeling a little better now that things were illuminated. She laid there under the covers for a few more minutes, every once in awhile hearing the faint noise of the thunder cracking in the sky.
She was just about to fall asleep when she heard a pounding on her front door. Her eyes popped open, as she laid there waiting to hear the noise again. When she did, she squealed and climbed under the covers once more. Someone was trying to break into her house. Maybe it was Adam? Maybe he'd found her! Maybe he was here to drag her back to their apartment and lock her away forever.
There was nothing for a minute, and she thought she was safe when she heard the tapping again. But this time it wasn't coming from her front door, it was now coming from her bedside window. She pulled the covers even tighter.
"Lindsay!"
She heard her name being called from outside. She pulled a corner of the blanket back, looking out the window. She saw the silhouette of a figure standing outside her window, illuminated by another flash of lightening.
"Lindsay! It's Justin!"
Justin?
Lindsay got out of the bed, gripping the flash light as she went to the window. She opened the curtains, flashing the light in his face. There he was, standing there in jeans and black hoodie, soaked to the bone.
"Jesus!" he yelled, closing his eyes at the light.
Lindsay almost sighed in relief as she saw him. Although she would never admit it, she was happy to see him.
"What are you doing here?" She called back.
He squinted at her.
"Can I come in?" He questioned. "It's a little wet."
She nodded to him, and rushed to the front door. She unlocked it and opened it up, along with the screen door. Justin came from about the corner stepping up onto the porch, his heavy boots clanking as he walked. She held the front door open for him as he walked inside, and closed and locked the door behind him.
"Everything okay?" He questioned, looking around the house. "No leaks or anything?"
Lindsay looked at him, crossing her arms around her chest and holding the flash light securely in her hand.
"Fine," she stated. "No leaks."
"Good," he nodded. "Do you have a towel or something? I'm dripping on your floor."
She nodded and walked to the bathroom to grab him a towel. When she came back, she handed it to him. He nodded his thanks as he wrapped the towel around himself. Then he kicked off his boots and set them by the door. Lindsay watched him. She couldn't offer him anything because the power was out, other wise she would have made him a cup of tea or something.
"Crazy storm isn't it?" he questioned, looking at her.
She looked up at him.
"Yeah," she said. "I'm okay though."
"Yeah?" He asked. "I could of swarn I heard some screaming a few minutes ago."
She gave him a dirty look.
"Yeah, well, having a complete stranger pop up at my window isn't something to be happy about."
He smirked, "I'm not a complete stranger."
Lindsay remained quiet as she watched him continue to try and dry himself off. Once he pulled the hood off his head, he ran a towel over it, and she noticed that his semi curly hair that was starting to grow back. It was completely shaven off when she first met him. Had she been here that long? She watched him as he peeled off the black hoodie; all he had underneath was white wife beater.
"Do you want me to hang that up?" She asked pointing to his sweat shirt.
He nodded, holding it out.
"Thank you."
She took it from him and walked into the bathroom, wringing it out before hanging it up on one of the bars she'd installed. She then went into her room to grab a few blankets. She handed him a blanket and wrapped the other around her and sat down on the couch.
"The power's out all over," Justin stated. "But it should be up tomorrow. It happens around here from time to time."
Lindsay nodded, watching him curiously. This guy just did not fit in this small town; everything about him seemed more business like. Up until now though, she'd never really noticed that he was a handsome man. Pearly white teeth and pretty blue eyes. Instead of sitting next to her he sat down across from her on one of the overstuffed chairs she had there.
"So, you from around here?" He questioned.
Lindsay looked at him.
"Kind of," she stated. "I grew up a few hours away."
"That's a shock." He sat back. "So you weren't always a city girl?"
She shook her head.
"I lived there for a long time. I guess it just rubs off."
He nodded. She watched him take a look around the house once more. She knew he was just trying to be friendly, but she couldn't help but think of what his motive could be. Everyone had one; she wasn't that naïve.
"Did you try that pie yet?" he turned back to her.
Lindsay nodded.
"It was really good. Thank you," she said.
She remembered first cutting into it and had considered tossing it. Who knows what could have been in that thing, even if Ms. Sarah had made it. But then she chalked it up to her being paranoid and decided to cut herself a piece. She was quiet surprised. She hadn't been able to find an apple pie that was as good as her grandma's had been, but Ms. Sarah's did it.
"I'll let Ms. Sarah know you enjoyed it." he said
She nodded, and pulled one of her legs up under herself.
"So Justin, exactly what do you do?" she questioned.
"Odd jobs here and there," he replied simply.
Hmm, odd jobs?
"How do you afford that expensive car you drive?"
Justin smirked at her. She was getting bolder with him, which meant she was getting more comfortable with him. That was exactly what he was going for.
Girl it's what you do to me
It's got me saying
Damn girl...... you're so fine
The way you let me put it down, girl
Just blows my mind
I guess I gotta put it down tonight
I gotta put it down
ohh ohh ohh
"Old money," he simply stated. "My parents, not mine."
"Oh," she said simply, and wrapped the blanket tighter around herself.
"You like your job there with Karen?" He changed the subject.
Her eyebrows knitted. How did he know where she worked? It was like Adam all over again, he knew everything about her: where she worked, who she had lunch with, who she went out with. Justin noticed the expression on her face, and he held up his hands.
"I'm not a stalker," he proclaimed. "I just ran into her walking to my car the other day and she told me."
"Well, you're quite friendly aren't you?"
He smirked once more.
"It's a small town. There are few secrets." He replied. "Speaking of which, Jesse at the market is in love with you."
She gave him a dirty look, and he laughed out loud this time. He had one of those loud laughs, especially when he thought it was funny. She couldn't help but smirk at him as he laughed at her expense.
"He really is," Justin said. "He can't stop talking about you."
Poor kid, she didn't want to get involved with anyone right now. Her nerves were still on edge from her pervious relationship. She was too complicated, and she knew that. Besides, Jesse was obviously too young and she wasn't about to be his first.
"Well, tell him I'm flattered, but I think I want to be alone right now." Lindsay spoke before thinking.
"Do you?" Justin asked. "Really?"
Lindsay looked away from him, to the window. The lightening and thunder had stopped, all that was going on now was the steady patter of rainfall. Justin was watching her intently. She seemed to grow more and more nervous with his question, and she began to bite her bottom lip.
"Sorry. I'm sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to pry."
Lindsay stood up from the sofa.
"I think it's safe for you to leave now," she stated.
She turned her back, walking to the bathroom without not even waiting for his response. Justin sighed as he stood up, unwrapping the blanket from his body when Lindsay came back from the bathroom with his semi dried sweat shirt. She handed it to him and watched as he slipped it onto his skinny frame.
"Thank you for coming to check on me," she said simply.
He glanced to her as his head came through the top of the sweat shirt, and nodded.
"No problem," he said. "Let me know if you ever need anything."
Justin walked to the door and slipped his boots back on, then he opened the door and turned to Lindsay as she watched him.
"See you around," he said, and slipped out of the door.
Lindsay went to the door and locked it securely before moving to look out the window. She watched Justin walk down the steps of her porch and begin his jog back down the road to his house.
She sighed, grabbing the wet towel Justin had been using from the floor and taking it back into the bathroom. As she hung it up on the bar, she got a whiff off this incredibly musky scent coming from it. She lifted the towel close to her nose and smelled the scent once more. It smelled unbelievably familiar. Shaking her head free of the thoughts, she gathered the blankets they'd used in the living room and went back into the bedroom. She had to get some sleep, she had work tomorrow.
Morning came quickly, and Lindsay was late. She pulled up to work, parked her car, and hastily ran to the front door. The phone wasn't ringing this time, so she quickly opened the blinds, and made the coffee to get ready for Karen's arrival.
A few hours later, the day had been going quite well, with the exception of her being late, but now she was starving. She hadn't had time for breakfast, and Karen didn't really like her eating at the desk because of the risk of messing up files and things. She'd have to wait until lunch. Luckily for her, Karen wanted something from the diner, so Lindsay called and placed two to-go orders about fifteen minutes before going to pick them up.
She walked out of the building, slipping in her sunglasses -this time because of the sun- and made her way to the diner. As she walked she closed her eyes, and sniffed the air taking in the country air. She was starting to like it here; she could see herself here years from now. It was small and quiet, and the people were friendly. As long as Adam stayed away, she would survive.
While crossing the street, she glanced down an alleyway and noticed something familiar. A tall man with messy brown hair, and a strangely attractive five o'clock shadow. Her heart began to beat a little faster. She could have sworn it was Adam. She stopped immediately, taking cover behind the building, and lifted her sunglasses to look down the aisle once more. The man was walking towards her, but she didn't quite see who it was. She let out a soft, frightened cry and started to walk quickly down the street toward the diner. She looked back, over her shoulder, seeing the man step from around the corner. She quickened her pace, forgetting to watch where she was going, and ran smack dab into a hard chest, her glasses flying to the floor.
"Whoa."
Lindsay looked up at the figure she ran into and sighed. Justin.
"Where you off to so fast, City Girl?" He put his hands on her arms to balance her.
"Umm, I'm going to the diner. I don't really have time to talk right now," she was busy looking over her shoulder, in search of the man.
"You've got to stop running into me like this. What did I tell you about these glasses?" Justin leaned down to pick them up.
He blew the dust off and held them out for Lindsay. Her mind was preoccupied, and she didn't take them.
"Uhhh, yeah. Sorry."
"Hey," Justin tugged her elbow gently. "Lindsay?"
She turned when she heard her name.
"You okay?" His face displayed concern.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."
"You look scared."
"No, I'm fine."
"You're shaking a little."
"I'm fine."
"And you're kinda pale."
"Justin," she said sternly. "I'm fine. I just,-" she looked back one last time, "I thought I saw a ghost from my past."
"I'm guessing it's not a ghost you're looking forward to reuniting with anytime soon."
"Not as long as I can help it."
Justin nodded, chewing on that piece of information for a moment. She looked fidgety and antsy. He didn't like it.
"I have to go," she stated, attempting to move past him.
"Where are you headed?" He stepped to the side, blocking her escape.
She didn't look calm enough to be roaming the sidewalks alone. Something had quite obviously spooked her.
"I'm picking up lunch at the diner."
"I'll walk you there."
Instantly she shook her head. "No. I-."
"Uh-uh," he said simply. "I won't take no for an answer."
Lindsay sighed. She didn't have the strength or time to argue with him. She nodded okay and Justin motioned for her to begin walking. He smiled as he fell in step beside her.
"So, do you want to tell me about this ghost person?"
Lindsay sucked her teeth and looked down at the ground.
"Bad opening line. Let me start again," he said. "How's your day so far?"
"My day is fine," she replied politely. "How is yours?"
"I can't complain. I'm alive and I'm free."
"Are those really all that matter in your world?" Lindsay paused at the door to the diner.
She didn't wait for him to answer before she turned her back and walked in. But Justin followed behind her with a smile.
"When you get down to the bottom line, does anything else really matter?"
"Yeah. Things like food, water, rent, and electricity seem to come to mind. Then there's car notes and insurance."
"I like the way you think, City Girl. And yes I agree, those things are important. But you have to be alive to enjoy or need any of that stuff, right?" He leaned his elbows on the counter, raising his eyebrow in a challenge.
Lindsay rolled her eyes.
"Besides, a lot of those are luxuries, not necessities. You could survive without them if you had too."
"Have you gone without any of them?"
He smiled at her question. She was getting bold again.
"Not yet, unless camping counts."
"Camping doesn't count. That's living like a Neanderthal by choice."
After getting the two brown bags of food from Ms. Sarah, Lindsay headed back towards Karen's office. Against her wishes, Justin insisted on following.
"I really think that I can make it back to work on my own, Justin. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."
"You're not," he said, taking the bags from her hands. "I have nothing else going on at the moment."
"No odd jobs today?"
"Not today. Tomorrow I think I'll paint a fence though."
"Mmhmm."
They walked in silence past a few stores before Justin spoke again.
"You should let me take you to dinner sometime."
"I should?"
"Yes."
Lindsay stopped in her tracks, a building away from her office, and put her hands on her hips.
"And why should I do that?"
"Do you have better dinner plans tonight?"
She took her hands off her hips and crossed them over her chest.
"I'm just being friendly," he held up his hands. "I wasn't trying to pressure you into a date or anything. Is that what you thought? I wanted to date you? No. No no."
If she wasn't so annoyed, she might have been insulted. But she knew he was lying by the ever present smile on his face.
"Okay listen, to make it even less date like, why don't you come to my place for dinner. That's not a date, right? You go out on dates."
Lindsay's demeanor didn't change, but he wasn't discouraged in the slightest.
"How's eight o'clock? You bring the salad, I'll handle everything else. We'll eat, we'll chitchat, you can see that I'm not an obsessed stalker. It'll be fun. Come on. Please?"
Lindsay let out a sigh, taking her paper bags from him and walking to the front door. She pushed it open and stepped inside, expecting that to be the end of their conversation. She was wrong however, because a moment later the bell above the door rang and Justin was standing in front of her desk..
"Can I help you?"
"You forgot these," he held out her infamous glasses.
Lindsay blushed a little and took them, dropping them into her purse on the floor. She looked up at him, and he was trying to hide his amusement.
"Thank you."
"No problem," he said, walking backwards toward the door. "I'll see you tonight, City Girl. Eight o'clock. Don't be late, otherwise I'll never let you ask me out again."
The bell jingled again when he left and Lindsay shook her head. He really was some kind of character. When Lindsay looked up again, she noticed Karen in the hall, grinning from ear to ear. The woman opened her mouth to speak and Lindsay cut her off.
"I don't want to hear it. It's not a date."
Karen nodded, not believing a word, and turned to go back into her office.
"It's not a date," Lindsay told herself. "It's just dinner. Not a date."
Around 7:45pm that evening Lindsay found herself standing at her kitchen counter, cutting the last little bit of carrots for the salad. She had no idea why. Justin was intrusive and annoyingly persistent, but at the same time, it was good to have the little bit of company he provided. While she had gotten to know a few other people in town, he was the only one, besides Karen, that she'd had actual conversations with. Plus he did have a point, they might as well get to be friendly, being neighbors and all.
With the salad finished she tossed the ingredients around in the bowl a few times before cleaning up her mess and heading off towards his house. She figured that since he lived so close by, she could walk instead of drive. It was a nice evening anyway, and she wanted to enjoy it.
By the time she neared his driveway, her white and navy tennis shoes were covered with dust and dirt from the side of the road. Luckily she'd been thinking clearly enough to cover the top of the salad bowl in plastic wrap before leaving.
Justin's house could be seen from awhile up the road. It was a big white two-story with bay windows and a porch that wrapped completely around it. Sitting outside was the black Mercedes, and parked in the shed in the backyard was an old red Camero. While the affection for cars was typical for a guy his age, the house was not.
The door was open, and she could see into the living room as she approached. A country CD was playing somewhere, a man singing about a gorgeous woman from his younger years. The house appeared to be decorated nicely in pretty cremes and browns. It looked warm and homey and comfortable. It looked like it had a woman's touch.
"Hello?" Lindsay knocked on the wood frame of the screen door.
The volume on the music lowered, and a moment later Justin appeared, wiping his hands off on a towel.
"You made it," he smiled, unlatching the screen and holding it open for her.
"Yeah, and I brought the salad, as requested."
He took the bowl from her hands, and headed towards the kitchen.
"I'm sure it'll be great. Take your jacket off, have a seat."
Lindsay followed him into the kitchen, putting her jacket on the back of a chair and sitting down to watch him. It was a nice size kitchen, with a steel microwave and refrigerator. All the other small appliances, a blender and mixer, were pale yellow. That was definitely a woman thing.
"You didn't have any trouble finding me, did you?" He asked.
"Not at all. Right up the road, can't miss it."
He smiled at her before going back to slicing something up on the counter. Lindsay's eyes wondered around the house, as she took in the rest of the decorations.
"Did you decorate yourself?" She asked him.
Justin shook his head.
"My mother," he sighed. "She insisted."
Lindsay couldn't help but smile, and she looked away, trying not to giggle. Mama's boy. She recovered as he walked into the dinning room with the bowl of salad that she had brought over, and a plate with French bread all cut up on it. He set them on the table before walking back into the kitchen.
"Do you need help?"
The silence was killing her.
Justin shook his head again.
"I'm fine," he said. "I'm almost done."
"Can I at least get the drinks?" She questioned.
This was feeling like a date, and it was making her nervous.
"If you insist," he said.
Lindsay stood up and walked into the kitchen, moving around Justin to the other side of the kitchen where the refrigerator was. As she passed him she smelt that same musky scent she had smelled the other night on the towel he had used.
"I'll just take a beer," he said. "You can have whatever."
She opened the fridge, cold air rushing out of it and covering her body. She leaned forward to look at the contents, and took out a bottle of beer for Justin, and a pitcher of sweet tea he had in there. She was not about to get drunk in front of him—two beers and she was a little tipsy. She put them both on the counter then turned to him.
"Cups?"
He pointed to the cupboard across from her. Lindsay reached for it, taking out a medium sized glass and went back to the freezer to put some ice in it. She poured her glass and put the pitcher back into the fridge, then picked up the bottle and the cup and carried them into the dining room.
She sat down, and glanced down at the plates that were already set on the table. They were of regular size for plates, but they looked almost hand painted. A delicate blue shade was swirling around in the a flowery design. She couldn't help but lift it up and look underneath.
"It's a family heirloom," Justin spoke.
Hearing those words, Lindsay went to put the plate back down, and almost dropped it. She looked at Justin, feeling like a mouse caught by a cat. He smiled, trying not to laugh. He didn't want to embarrass her.
"You eat on them?" She asked.
"They're plates, aren't they?" He questioned back.
He put down the plates he was carrying; one with barbequed chicken, and the other was corn on the cob. Justin went to the kitchen once again and brought back a saucer of butter for the bread, and two bottles of salad dressing. He sat down across from her at the small square table, and pulled his chair up. Lindsay turned so she was sitting properly at the table, putting her hands in her lap.
"Do you mind if I say grace?" He asked.
Lindsay shook her head no. He bent his head, folding his hands in front of him as he closed his eyes. Lindsay semi-bowed her head, closing her eyes momentarily, then opening them slightly to watch him. She never really was a church goer, especially after her parents died. She couldn't understand why God would take them from her at such a young age. She would go with her grandma sometimes, but not often.
"Lord, thank you for the food set before us. Let it nourish and strengthen our bodies, and to keep us both safe in whatever we do. Amen."
"Amen," Lindsay mumbled.
Justin lifted his head to look at her, and she watched him as well.
"Well, guests first," he offered.
Lindsay reached over, taking the salad bowl and putting some onto her plate. As she did this, Justin took a piece of the French bread and buttered it. After they had everything on their plates that they wanted, they began eating and making small talk.
"So, are you close to your parents?" She asked, eating some salad.
"More or less," he replied.
Not really much else to say. Lindsay watched him. Hmm, sore subject? For someone who was so sure of themselves, that was odd.
"I use to be, but we had some differences," he stated taking a drink of his beer.
"Oh," Lindsay said as she took a drink of her tea.
"What about you?" He asked her. "Are you close to your parents?"
Lindsay looked at him, as she put the glass down and licked her lips.
"Not exactly," she said.
He looked at her, and Lindsay sighed. Why did she have to start this?
"They died when I was five," she said. "It was a tornado. I happened to be at a friends house that night."
Justin watched her expression change right before his eyes. He was sorry he asked.
"So, where did you go after that?" he questioned.
"My grandmother took care of me," Lindsay said. "She died a year ago."
Slowly some of the pieces as to why she was the way she was, were coming together. She hadn't gone through life in the best of circumstances.
"No brothers or sisters?"
Lindsay shook her head.
"I graduated from high school and moved to California," she spoke. "Never looked back."
Justin responded with a nod, as he began to cut up his chicken. They ate in silence for a few more minutes, both of them trying to think of something to say; something that would change the awful topic.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Lindsay asked, taking a drink of her tea.
Justin nodded.
"Yeah, two brothers. I don't see them often."
"They never come visit you? Or vice versa?"
"I don't go home much. There's issues with my mom."
"Don't you miss them?"
She could only imagine having brothers and never seeing them. She was certain she would miss them terribly.
"Sometimes," he stated.
Lindsay took a bite of her corn, making a satisfied face as she put it back on her plate.
"Wow, that's good," she said.
"You like that?" He smiled proudly. "It's fresh grown from the backyard."
"Wow, you grow your own vegetables too?" Her voice was sarcastic.
He rolled his eyes at her.
"I was taught well."
"By who?"
Once she blurted it she almost smacked herself for bringing up the family topic again.
"My grandma, Sadie," he stated. "She had an award winning garden."
Again, she couldn't help but wonder what was this guy doing out here in the middle of nowhere.
Their night continued, making small talk as they finished eating. Afterwards, Justin got up and cleared the table. Lindsay insisted on helping. It was not a date, so she should have been helping. Justin washed the dishes while Lindsay dried, and put them away, with the help of Justin of course.
Later they were sitting in the living room, Justin's CD still playing quietly in the stereo. Lindsay sat at one end of the comfortable couch as Justin sat on the other, facing her.
"That was actually pretty good," she complimented.
"Were you surprised?"
"Little bit,"she smiled.
Ahh, he finally got her to smile. He couldn't help but smile back.
"So, who's fence are you painting tomorrow?" Lindsay asked.
"It's actually a couple of buildings. Ronny wants me to paint the motel again."
"Do you do that often?" She questioned.
"Every couple of months. With the weather, sometimes it needs it."
"It's gonna be a hot one tomorrow. Wear some sun block," Lindsay warned.
"Aw, you worried about me?" He teased.
Lindsay rolled her eyes once more.
"I'm just saying."
He smiled, and they remained quiet for a moment, watching each other.
I said there something 'bout the way you do the things you do
When you do the things you do
It's got me ohh ohh ohh
I said there something 'bout the way you do the things you do
When you do the things you do
It's got me ohh ohh ohh
"Why don't you meet me on my lunch break tomorrow?" He suggested.
Lindsay's eyes widened slightly.
"I don't know," she said.
"You got plans already?"
"Well, no but-," she started.
"Great, I'll be at the diner at one."
"I didn't say yes," she gave him that look.
He smirked.
"Well, if you change your mind," he said.
Lindsay nodded and looked at the clock, it was almost 11. She should probably start walking back to the house. It was dark and passed bedtime. She started to stand up, Justin watching her intently.
"I should probably go," she said, stretching her arms.
"Are you sure?" He glanced at his watch. "It's only 11."
"I know," she started. "But I have to walk back, and it's dark."
Justin nodded. He knew it was just an excuse, but he agreed. It was better then pushing her, and then her being mad at him. She walked over to grab her jacket from the chair and slipped it on. Justin had gone to get her bowl from the kitchen. They met at the front door, and he handed her the bowl.
"I should walk you," Justin insisted.
Lindsay was about to deny his request, but he had already opened the door and practically pushed her out of it and closed it behind himself. He started walking down the steps, forcing Lindsay to follow him. She sighed, stepping off the porch, holding the bowl securely in her hands. They started their journey down the road to Lindsay's small one bedroom house.
"Well, I hope you had fun on this non-date," he said.
Lindsay looked at him, and smirked as he looked straight ahead.
"I did," she said. "It was nice to have company."
"There you see, that wasn't so bad," he nudged her arm.
She smiled once more, giving a small giggle as she nudged him back. They reached her house some minutes later, and she got out her key, unlocking her door.
"Well, thanks for cooking, it was great," Lindsay said standing in the doorway.
"My pleasure," he winked.
They stood there in silence for a while before Justin finally spoke.
"Well, if you decide to join me for lunch, I'll be at the diner, one o'clock."
He turned to walk off the steps onto the ground.
"Bye," Lindsay said, closing the door.
She watched him through the window as he walked down the street once more. Then she let out a sigh and headed into her bedroom. What an interesting evening.
Lindsay could not sleep that whole night. She tossed and turned, her mind going to Justin and their conversation; what they talked about and what he had asked her. Should she go? Should she not go? Did she really want to get involved with him right now? He knew she wasn't looking for that kind of relationship, but yet, he was persistent. She had to make a decision.
She finally fell asleep about four hours before her alarm was to go off for the next day. When it did, she dragged herself out of bed, exhausted. She pulled herself into the shower to try and wake herself up more. It kind of worked. She had a little breakfast and got into her car, driving to work.
Things went as usual—something she was used to for once. She had just finished organizing Karen's appointments for the next week when she happened to glance at the clock. 12:45. She had to make the choice now.
Twenty minutes later Lindsay stepped into the diner, looking around for any sign of Justin. At was just after one, he might not have arrived yet. Then she spotted him in the corner, his face half covered by the paper menu. She walked over, sitting in the booth in front of him.
"Afternoon, City Girl," he smiled, setting his menu down.
"Afternoon." She removed her sunglasses and set them on the table.
"You decided to come."
"This is not a date," she clarified.
Justin raised his hands in submission.
"Not a date."
Lindsay nodded, getting settled in the booth. Ms. Sarah brought their glasses of water, smiling shyly at them both.
"So, what's new?"
"You mean in the last 13 hours?" Lindsay sipped her water and set the glass back down. "Absolutely nothing. Got hissed at by a wild goose in my front yard this morning, but that's about it."
Justin chuckled.
"They show up in the summer. You gotta be careful around them, they'll get you, and it hurts like hell."
Lindsay nodded knowingly.
"Anything interesting with you?"
Justin shook his head, reaching up to pull off his baseball cap. Lindsay caught a glimpse of white paint on his forearm.
"I went to bed last night, started working on painting the motel this morning."
"How's that going?"
He shrugged. "Fences are easier."
True.
Ms. Sarah came back and they ordered their meals. He got a quarter-pounder burger, and Lindsay asked for a chicken sandwich. Ms. Sarah took the menus and left again, the same shy smirk on her face. They sat there for a moment in silence.
"You look like you wanna ask something but you're not sure how," he said.
Lindsay nodded at his ability to be so observant.
"So, Justin, what happened with your Mom that made you move out here?" She asked nonchalantly.
Might as well come right out with, now that he knew it was burning on her tongue. What she wasn't expecting was his counter question.
"What happened in California that made you move out here?" His hand swept across the table, brushing imaginary crumbs onto the floor.
Lindsay poked out her lips. She didn't like that question.
"Why don't you ever go home?"
Again his response was in the form of another question.
"Who's the ghost you thought you saw yesterday?"
She folded her arms over her chest. Was he playing a game with her?
"What's your last name?"
"What's your last name?"
Lindsay's eyes narrowed and he laughed.
"I thought you were street wise, City Girl," he said. "You should know that you can't get information without giving up some. If you want to ask questions, you're going to have to answer some as well. Why don't we just call a truce?"
"A truce? Why?"
"So you can stop being so evasive and looking at me like I hide outside of your bedroom window at night."
"You do."
"It was one night! And I was just looking in on you. You do one good deed..."
Lindsay laughed to herself as he muttered. When he heard her giggle, he looked up and raised his eyebrow.
"Oh I see," he said. "That was your version of a joke. Ha ha."
"Well, I do try."
Justin took another sip of his water, smirking at her over the rim. She was getting more comfortable with him.
"So, can we move on from the impersonal small talk and declare ourselves in a relationship?"
He sounded nothing like the witty country-boy he was portraying himself to be. Regardless, Lindsay gave him a look at the word ‘relationship'. He raised his hands innocently.
"A platonic relationship," he clarified. Then he held his hand out to her.
"Friends?"
She eyed him suspiciously for a moment before reaching out to shake it.
"Friends."
He smiled, "Aw, check you out now, City Girl. I remember when you were too afraid to shake my hand."
"I wasn't afraid," she defended. "I just didn't like you."
"But you like me now?"
Her eyes rolled. Of course he'd say that. But she had set herself up for it.
Their lunch continued, but their impersonal topics of conversation remained. He was waiting for her to ask first, because he didn't want to pry into her life, though he was dying to know the details of what had made her so cautious of life, and how she'd ended up in this small town when home was just a few hours away. But one of the first things he'd learned about her was that she'd shut down when pushed.
Lindsay was afraid to ask him about his life as well, not because she was weary of his answers, but because she knew that would open doors for him to ask her questions as well. She wasn't sure how ready she was to open up to him, even if they were friends now.
After lunch, Justin insisted on walking Lindsay back to the office. He said it was the cordial and gentlemanly thing to do. She'd expected it, and didn't put up much of a fight. He could be good conversation at times. They walked quietly for awhile, commenting on how good the food was from time to time. When they neared the law office, Justin stuck his hands in his pockets and spoke.
"You should let me take you out."
Lindsay stopped walking.
"Excuse me?"
"I want to take you out. But on a date, not another non-date."
She put her hands on her hips and cocked one eyebrow up.
"I get it," he said, reading her body language. "I'm asking for too much all at once. First for us to be friends, and now for a real date. I should know better. That's too much commitment in one day."
Lindsay snorted a laugh.
"I'll ask tomorrow," he told her.
"Don't ask tomorrow."
"Well I'm gonna ask either today or tomorrow. Which one is more convenient for you?"
Lindsay laughed out loud, and he smiled.
"Come on, City Girl." He nudged her arm gently. "It's just one date. It'll be fun. If you hate it, we can go back to the platonic friend thing."
She watched him for a moment before reaching up to rub her forehead. Against her better judgement, and the screaming voices in her head, she nodded.
"Alright. One date, Justin. One."
"That's all I'm asking."
"And if I'm uncomfortable, we go back to being friends."
"Of course," he grinned. "But you're not going to hate it or be uncomfortable."
The look on his face was far to cocky, and she turned her back to go into the office.
"You're not gonna regret it City Girl," he called. "You like me now, but by the end of the night you're gonna love me!"
Lindsay closed the door as he yelled his last words. She leaned back against the wood, letting out a sigh. What was she getting herself into?
Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Karen, standing in the hall with a smile.
"Don't say it," she said, moving toward her desk. "I don't want to hear it."
