setting with high school students who would rather sleep through
class than give her the time of day.
Overwhelmed
was not a strong enough word to describe her first month on her own. Without
Carl, she might have given up or, at the very least, had a serious nervous
breakdown. Gretchen didn’t want his advice when it came to John, but it was
hard to argue he didn’t have the right to offer one.
“Thanks,”
Carl said as he took one of the bowls from the counter.
“You’re the
one who made it,” Gretchen said with a weak laugh. “Thank you .”
He shrugged
and carried the bowl to the table. Little was said when she joined him and they
both ate. No one would call Carl extravagant. In many ways, he was
uncomplicated and enjoyed the simple aspects of life. Cooking was a means to an
end for him. Yet, he never failed to please, and took pride in what he served.
He was the kind of man who never gave half-effort. He put his all into what he
did and wasn’t satisfied until the job was done well.
Sometimes
Gretchen wondered if that was how he viewed her. A project he needed to
complete. Fix the poor, sad girl, build her up until she could survive on her
own, and then release her back into the wild. Was she just another task to him?
The first day he helped her unpack her moving truck was the beginning, and he’d
never let up since. At times his unfailing presence in her life was the only
thing that kept her going. At others, she was terrified to think he might one
day consider his duty done and walk away.
Spooning
the last of the stew into his mouth, Carl licked the spoon before dropping it
back into the bowl and meeting her gaze. “If I promise not to bring up Coma
Guy, will you watch a movie with me? I noticed you had a few new ones on your
DVR.”
“You were
going through my DVR?”
“I got
bored waiting for you,” he said with a shrug. “You know I made the posole at my
place, so I didn’t really have anything to do while I waited.”
Gretchen
didn’t doubt that for a minute. Her kitchen was rarely used for more than toast
and microwaving leftovers. The ingredients for posole would have been
nonexistent in her kitchen. Shaking her head, she pushed her bowl away and eyed
him. “Which movie?”
“The
courtroom one looked good.” He pinned her with a look that said he’d go if she
wanted, but that wasn’t what he wanted.
Telling him
no was never easy. Sending him packing when she was emotionally spent and on
the verge of tears every time she thought about what might happen to John,
there was no way she could push him out the door, even if that was probably the
best option. After having spent the last week completely focused on her
nameless friend, Gretchen needed just one night to think about herself, to
indulge in the warmth of a friend who might have been biased, but definitely
had her best interests at heart.
Heat spread
through her body when she met Carl’s gaze and saw the worry and compassion in
his eyes. He didn’t agree with her continued involvement with John, but it
didn’t stop him from being there for her. “Courtroom drama it is then,” she
said with a smile that was almost entirely genuine.
He didn’t
question her willingness to let him stay. After clearing both their bowls from
the table, he grabbed her hand and tugged her up to standing. She didn’t have
the heart to pull away from him when he didn’t let go of her hand. By the time
they made it to the couch, the posole, and the fact that he had made it for
her, eased away her usual distance from him. He took advantage and pulled her
close, but Gretchen found she didn’t mind so much that night.
“If I fall
asleep, I’m sorry,” she warned him as he started the show. “It’s been a long
week.”
Carl
smirked. “You always fall asleep during movies. I’d be amazed if you didn’t.”
Grimacing,
Gretchen considered her plans to be back at the hospital as soon as visiting hours
resumed. “But…if I
class than give her the time of day.
Overwhelmed
was not a strong enough word to describe her first month on her own. Without
Carl, she might have given up or, at the very least, had a serious nervous
breakdown. Gretchen didn’t want his advice when it came to John, but it was
hard to argue he didn’t have the right to offer one.
“Thanks,”
Carl said as he took one of the bowls from the counter.
“You’re the
one who made it,” Gretchen said with a weak laugh. “Thank you .”
He shrugged
and carried the bowl to the table. Little was said when she joined him and they
both ate. No one would call Carl extravagant. In many ways, he was
uncomplicated and enjoyed the simple aspects of life. Cooking was a means to an
end for him. Yet, he never failed to please, and took pride in what he served.
He was the kind of man who never gave half-effort. He put his all into what he
did and wasn’t satisfied until the job was done well.
Sometimes
Gretchen wondered if that was how he viewed her. A project he needed to
complete. Fix the poor, sad girl, build her up until she could survive on her
own, and then release her back into the wild. Was she just another task to him?
The first day he helped her unpack her moving truck was the beginning, and he’d
never let up since. At times his unfailing presence in her life was the only
thing that kept her going. At others, she was terrified to think he might one
day consider his duty done and walk away.
Spooning
the last of the stew into his mouth, Carl licked the spoon before dropping it
back into the bowl and meeting her gaze. “If I promise not to bring up Coma
Guy, will you watch a movie with me? I noticed you had a few new ones on your
DVR.”
“You were
going through my DVR?”
“I got
bored waiting for you,” he said with a shrug. “You know I made the posole at my
place, so I didn’t really have anything to do while I waited.”
Gretchen
didn’t doubt that for a minute. Her kitchen was rarely used for more than toast
and microwaving leftovers. The ingredients for posole would have been
nonexistent in her kitchen. Shaking her head, she pushed her bowl away and eyed
him. “Which movie?”
“The
courtroom one looked good.” He pinned her with a look that said he’d go if she
wanted, but that wasn’t what he wanted.
Telling him
no was never easy. Sending him packing when she was emotionally spent and on
the verge of tears every time she thought about what might happen to John,
there was no way she could push him out the door, even if that was probably the
best option. After having spent the last week completely focused on her
nameless friend, Gretchen needed just one night to think about herself, to
indulge in the warmth of a friend who might have been biased, but definitely
had her best interests at heart.
Heat spread
through her body when she met Carl’s gaze and saw the worry and compassion in
his eyes. He didn’t agree with her continued involvement with John, but it
didn’t stop him from being there for her. “Courtroom drama it is then,” she
said with a smile that was almost entirely genuine.
He didn’t
question her willingness to let him stay. After clearing both their bowls from
the table, he grabbed her hand and tugged her up to standing. She didn’t have
the heart to pull away from him when he didn’t let go of her hand. By the time
they made it to the couch, the posole, and the fact that he had made it for
her, eased away her usual distance from him. He took advantage and pulled her
close, but Gretchen found she didn’t mind so much that night.
“If I fall
asleep, I’m sorry,” she warned him as he started the show. “It’s been a long
week.”
Carl
smirked. “You always fall asleep during movies. I’d be amazed if you didn’t.”
Grimacing,
Gretchen considered her plans to be back at the hospital as soon as visiting hours
resumed. “But…if I
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