Romance: Luther's Property (26 page)

The next three weeks were mostly a blur.
 
I went into Avalanche to fulfill their
scheduling needs, then I went home and tried to manage my house.
 
I didn’t see either Rick or Christopher the
entire time.
 
“You oaky Alyssa?”
 
Tim called to me from across the kitchen one
night, then ambled toward me to check.
 

“Yes, I’m all right.
 
Just a little tired.”
 
I gave him
a wry smile and then walked out with a tray full of food.
 
I was more nauseous than usual, and I could
tell that people were beginning to suspect my pregnancy.
 
I looked at the clock, relieved that I only
had another hour left before I could go home.
 
Just as I was about to take a break and get a glass of water, I saw the
door open and Christopher walked inside.

My heart raced and my palms began to sweat.
 
I couldn’t believe that he was here, and it
was all I could to maintain my composure.
 
I wanted to punch him square in the jaw but instead I just walked away.
 
He saw me and tried to get my attention but I
ignored his waves.
 
Luckily, my tables were
on the opposite side of the restaurant, so it wasn’t difficult to ignore him,
but I could still feel his stares from across the room.

At the end of my shift, I bundled up and then headed toward
the door.
 
Christopher saw me walking
out, and tried to get my attention once again.
 
I stopped on the steps and then turned around to face him.
 
“What do you want, Christopher?”
 
I glared at him and wrapped my scarf tightly
around my neck.

“Listen, Alyssa.
 
I
know you’re mad at me because of what you saw, but you had no right coming to
my house unannounced.”
 
He cocked his
head to the side and then shrugged.
 
I
put my hands on my hips and stared at him for a few seconds before walking down
the steps.
 

“Seriously?
 
You
aren’t even going to apologize?
 
Three
weeks go by and all you can say is the basically the same as what you said last
time?
 
That it was essentially my fault
that I caught you?
 
And not your fault
for being a dishonest cheat?”
 
I couldn’t
believe how self-righteous he was acting.

“Let’s back up here pretty lady.
 
Who’s the dishonest one?
 
Me?
 
For sleeping with someone who I’ve been dating for the last year?
 
Or you?For not telling anyone inside the
restaurant that you’re five months pregnant?”
 
He gave me an indignant stare then chuckled and walked away.
 
I stood motionless for a few seconds, then
spun around and headed to my truck.

Who told him that I was pregnant?
 
It could have only been Rick.
 
I was furious.
 
I got behind the wheel, started the ignition,
then drove away.
 
I could barely think
straight.
 
I tried to calm myself down,
but my emotions had gotten the best of me and I had no way to vent my
frustration.
 
As soon as I got home I
stormed inside the house and threw off my boots.

“Damn it!
 
Damn it,
Joe!”
 
I screamed at the top of my lungs
and then flung myself down on the couch.
 
“Damn it all.”
 
I covered my face
in my hands and cried.
 
“Why did you have
to go and get hurt, Joe?
 
Why?”
 
I sat there staring at the ceiling, as if I
truly expected a response.
 
When I heard
nothing except silence, I got up and trudged out of the living room.

“Rebecca.
 
It’
me.
 
I’m having a crisis.”
 
I knew that she didn’t mind speaking to me
but I felt bad calling her out of desperation.
 
“I’m a wreck.”
 
I wanted someone
to hold me, wanted someone to tell me that it would all go away and that I’d
feel better soon.
 
But there was nobody
there to restore my confidence.
 
I cried
into the receiver and then reached for a tissue.

“Do you want to come stay with us for a while?
 
It’s not good for you to be this stressed out
while you’re pregnant, Alyssa.”
 
I could
sense Rebecca’s compassion through the phone and I smiled.
 
Sometimes all it took was a friendly voice to
make everything feel better.

“No.
 
Thank you for
offering, but I’m going to stay here.
 
I
need to make sure Lizzie is taken care of.
 
And I need to get to work easily in the morning.
 
I appreciate it so much, Rebecca.
 
You’ve been such a good friend to me.”
 
I meant all of what I said.
 

“Well, just let me know if I can help, oaky?”
 
Rebecca hung up and I sat in silence for a
few minutes before deciding that it would be best for me to get a new job.
 
I could avoid having to see Christopher
again, and I could avoid seeing Rick, too, if he decided that he didn’t want to
see me anymore.
 
I knew that the money I
made at Avalanche would be hard to make at other restaurants, but maybe it
would be the best to just leave.

I spent the next week poring over the newspapers, looking
for something that would provide me with both the hours and the pay that I
needed to survive.
 
There was
nothing.
 
I only saw a part-time position
at the Bozeman Grille as a line cook, and it paid less than what I was making
at Avalanche. I shook my head in despair.
 

What else could I do now except forge ahead and try to make
the best of it?
 
I would have to deal
with Avalanche, with Christopher and with Rick, instead of simply running
away.
 
Besides, this had been my making,
anyway.
 
I had decided to get involved,
and I was just as guilty as the others for creating a dramatic situation.
 
I decided that I’d just need to change my
attitude and toughen up.

“Hey, Alyssa.
 
I’ve
got a tale on the other side of the floor that I’d like you to pick up if
you’ve got a second.”
 
Tim tapped me on
the shoulder and I nodded in affirmation.

“No problem, Tim.”
 
It
was about a quarter of the way into my Friday night shift and I was tired, but
still holding up relatively well.
 
I
walked to the south side of the restaurant, and stood at Table 4.
 
Rick was in the seat, staring blankly at the
menu.
 

“Hi, Alyssa.
 
I asked
the hostess if you could wait on me.
 
Hope you don’t mind.”
 
He smiled
shyly and then pushed away the menu.
 
“Honestly?”
 
He looked at me with
doleful eyes and then folded his hands across the table.
 
“I’ve been thinking about you ever since the
day I left.”
 
He shook his head and then
sighed.
 
“Can you sit for a second?”
 

I looked around and then pulled out a chair.
 
Tim wouldn’t be happy if he saw me sitting,
but I took my chances considering the circumstances.
 
“I’m glad to see you.
 
It’s been a weird couple of weeks.”
 
I took a deep breath and then twirled my hair
a few times.
 

“I’ve really missed you, Alyssa.
 
I’m sorry I disappeared.”
 
Rick shook his head and then gave me a wry
smile.
 

“I’ve missed you, too, Rick.”
 
I looked into his eyes and then smiled.
 

“Why don’t you stop by my place after work?
 
We can relax, have some tea, talk about me
and you.”
 
He looked at me with sincerity
and it was hard for me to think about turning him down.
 

“I think that sounds good.”
 
I nodded my head and then realized that I finally felt more centered,
more certain about what I wanted.
 
I was
beginning to understand that my feelings for Christopher had been an illusion,
and that I had been caught up in his good looks and his charms.
 
I should have known that it was foolish for
me to try and pursue something with a man like that.

“Well, I’m going to get going then.”
 
Rick got up and then started to get his
coat.
 
I remembered Christopher’s comment
about everyone knowing I was pregnant.

“Hey, Rick.”
 
I moved
closer and then paused.
 
“Did you tell
Christopher that I was pregnant?”
 
I
titled my head to the side with a look of curiosity.
 
Rick lowered his head and sighed.

“I did.”
 
He looked at
me for a second and then rubbed his hand through his beard.
 
“I wanted these guys to know the truth.
 
I didn’t want them playing any more games
with you, Alyssa.
 
You deserve better
than that.”
 
He shrugged and then stuffed
his hands in his pockets.
 
Instead of
getting mad at him for admitting what he’d said, I smiled.
 

“I guess they would have found out sooner or later.”
 
I looked down and rubbed my belly for a
moment, then buttoned up my coat and walked down the steps.
 
Rick smiled and walked behind me, then turned
toward his truck when we got to the corner.

“Stop by as soon as you can.”
 
He smiled and then waved goodbye.
 
I sat inside my truck for a few minutes
before driving away.
 
It had been a
whirlwind of a winter and I was looking forward to spring.
 
The baby would be here by October, and I was
eager to get through the winter and spend some of my heard earned money on baby
clothes and a crib.
 

I drove out of the lot and then headed up the highway until
I got on the mountain pass that led to Rick’s house.
 
As I looked out the window I could see the
tiny buds of flower-tops peeking through the ground.
 
Spring was just around the corner and it was
going to be such a welcome occasion.
 
I
smiled to myself when I thought about how much my world was going to change in
a short period of time.
 

When I pulled up at Rick’s house, I could see smoke curling
from the top of the chimney.
 
He was out
front splitting firewood and one of his dogs was frolicking in the yard.
 
I parked next to his truck at the top of the
driveway and then stepped out.
 
As soon a
she saw me he waved and walked toward me.
 

“It’s great to see you here, Alyssa.
 
Come on in.
 
I’ve already got a nice fire going.”
 
Rick smiled and took me by the hand.
 
I could tell that I had made the right choice as soon as I stepped
inside.
 
He had set out mugs of tea for
both of us and spread a blanket in front of the fireplace.
 

“This looks cozy.”
 
I
smiled and then sat down on the blanket.
 

“Give me five more minutes while I get the rest of this wood
inside, and I’ll be right there to join you.”
 
Rick smiled and then disappeared back outside.
 
I sat and watched the flames dance on top of
the logs.
 
It had been years since I’d
sat in front of a fire with someone, and it brought me back to a place of
warmth and comfort.

When Rick came back inside, I had kicked off my boots and
was propped up on a pillow.
 
He took off
his boots as well, then sat next to me and started to rub my shoulders.
 
I looked at him and smiled.
 
“You know, I have to admit.
 
When you first warned me about Christopher, I
thought you were just trying to sabotage my relationship with him.
 
I guess now I feel kind of stupid because you
were telling me the truth.”
 
I looked at
the fire and then at Rick.

“You know, Alyssa, I don’t have time for games.
 
I’m an honest guy, and I call it like I see
it.”
 
Rick shrugged and then rubbed my
back with his palm.
 
“I knew from the
moment that I first saw you that I wanted to be your man.
 
And when I heard that Christopher was responding
to a bet, well that just got my hackles up.”
 
Rick shook his head and then moved closer.

“Why don’t we try to forget about some of what’s happened,
and focus instead on the time we have together now?”
 
I ran my fingers through Rick’s tousled hair,
then leaned back on the blanket.
 
He
smiled and then nodded his head.
 
We both
moved toward each other, and in front of the flickering fire, opened our mouths
and met for a kiss.