Trust Again (3 page)

Chapter Three

A sudden ding from the doorbell made Ellie jump. Even after a week in her new place, old habits died hard. Would she ever feel completely safe again? Cautiously, she walked over and looked out the peephole. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Viola standing in the hall, holding a bag from Ginger Snaps.

She opened the door and motioned her new friend inside.

Viola held up the pink striped sack. “I bought you a housewarming gift. I remember you saying how much you loved snickerdoodles.”

“Wow, thanks!” Ellie took the gift and smiled. She reached her hand into the bag.

The blond beauty walked around, gazing at Ellie’s new furnishings. “Looks fabulous.” She plopped down on the teal microfiber sofa.

Ellie crammed a warm cookie in her mouth. The taste of butter and cinnamon took her back to sitting in a booth in the diner after school, doing homework.

Viola looked around the room and then back at Ellie. “Very cozy.”

“Thanks,” Ellie mumbled with a mouth full of cookie, then swallowed. “It is starting to feel like home.” She walked into the kitchen and pulled a cream-colored plate out of the cabinet. She placed the other eleven cookies on the plate and grabbed a pitcher of iced tea out of the fridge. Resisting the urge to stuff another warm cookie in her mouth, she poured tea into the glasses.

Viola had her hands over her face when Ellie walked back into the living room, carrying a tray. She set the food down on the mahogany coffee table. “What’s wrong?”

She peeked through her fingers. “Oh, I’ve just been feeling lonely. Frank is gone and sometimes it’s hard, you know?”

She didn’t. Her only serious relationship had turned bad fast.
“Sure.” Ellie patted her friend’s knee. “Have a cookie.”

Viola burst out laughing. “I don’t eat sugar, remember?”

She smiled. “Oh, right. You drink it, though. Have some tea. It’s sweetened.”

Her friend laughed again and reached for her glass. “Would you go to the canal with me tomorrow night?”

She broke a snickerdoodle in half. “The canal?”

“Yeah. There’s a street fair going on with paddle boat rides at sunset.” Viola looked down at her lap and sighed. “Frank used to take me.”

Maybe it was time to get out and have some fun. “Why not? I’ve never been to the canal.”

Viola’s eyes widened. “You haven’t?”

“Nope. Dad is afraid of water, so we never went.”

“Great! I better get back home. Frank is going to Skype me later.”

She watched her friend hop up and leave. Odd.

***

Jacob sat in a booth eating his dinner when Viola sat down across from him uninvited. She was a talker, which always made him uncomfortable. The first time she’d sat down by him, he thought she was hitting on him. The wedding ring and talk of her husband quickly told him otherwise. She’d asked him all kinds of personal questions, like if he was seeing anyone and if he missed home. He had avoided answering by keeping his mouth full of food. After the fourth time she interrupted his quiet dinner, he had learned she just liked to talk and there was no stopping the woman. He dipped a few fries into the generous pile of ketchup on his plate.

She smiled like the Cheshire Cat. “Hey, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Great. Here goes. “What?”

“My friend is new in town and she wants to go to the canal street fair tomorrow. Would you go with her?”

Nothing worse than a busybody, except for a busybody playing matchmaker.
“Can’t. Have plans.” He shoved the rest of his cheeseburger in his mouth so he could leave.

Viola frowned at him like he was a disappointment. “Even for a little while?”

Jacob stood up and put a tip on the table. “Look, I can see what you are trying to do here.” He paused. “I think.” He looked at her and shook his head. “I don’t want to get involved with anyone right now.”

Her mouth fell open in faux shock. “I didn’t want you to get involved. I just wanted my friend to have some fun. That’s all.”

“Well, just the same. I have plans.”

Ryan walked up behind them and put his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “He’ll be there. His plans just opened up.” He winked at Viola.

“Great!” She grinned. “Meet us there at seven!”

Jacob turned to his best friend. “What was that?”

Ryan shrugged. “You’ve done nothing fun since you moved here. I did you a favor.”

“I’ve been busy,” Jacob snapped back. “You’ve already done enough favors for me.”

“Come on, man. Where is the Jacob I used to know?”

He rolled his eyes. “I still have fun.”

“Oh yeah? Prove it. Go to the street fair. I’m taking Maisie.” He paused and smiled. “Besides, you owe me one. So go.”

Jacob shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t think this is a good idea. If I go, you better promise to never do this to me again.”

“Scout’s Honor.” Ryan saluted him.

Jacob groaned. “We both know you were never a scout.”

“Exactly.” He laughed.

***

Ellie walked along Main Street, carrying her small shopping bag. Saturday mornings were so different here than in the city. The noise of horns and chaos was replaced with sounds of birds and calm. Nice. This was the first day she’d felt comfortable enough to meander the streets.
Going to the canal with Viola tonight could be fun. It was an unseasonably warm day, so she’d even bought a new pair of bright pink shorts on sale that matched today’s mood.

She walked toward her shop and smiled. A couple more weeks and she could have the grand opening. Which reminded her, she hadn’t eaten any candy since the day she’d left
New York. No wonder she was craving sugar.

Excited, she unlocked the door to her store with her empty hand. The walls were now a bright, glossy white and provided a background for the painted, multi-colored, varied, twenty to thirty inch polka dots. The floors were the same reddish-orange as the largest dots on the walls. So cheerful.
Jacob would be installing the glass counter on Monday. She had already ordered the candies and toys that would soon fill the store, creating a wonderland for all the children who would enter Oliver’s Toys & Treats.

***

Jacob got into his truck, feeling awkward. He didn’t like the idea of a blind date, or whatever this was he’d been suckered into. But he owed Ryan one for giving him such a good recommendation. Without his help, he may still have been unemployed. So he’d go to the canal and play nice. After tonight they were even.

When he pulled up to the lot everyone was meeting at, he took a deep breath. Ryan stood under a tree with his arm draped over his wife, Maisie. Viola stood next to them with her friend, who was bent over tying her shoe. All he saw were bright pink shorts hugging a rather nice behind. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

He got out of his truck and walked toward the group. Ryan waved and smiled, causing the pink shorts to turn around. Whoa, pink shorts was Ellie?
He stood face to face with his blind date.

“Jacob?” Ellie asked.

Viola gave Ryan a conspiring look. “I asked Jacob to come along.”

Ellie nodded and looked as confused as he felt.

Why were they trying to set him up with Ellie? Didn’t they know it wasn’t good to date someone you’re in business with?

“Well, you enjoy your night.” Ryan took Maisie’s hand. “We’re going to find someplace more private.”

Damn. Now his best friend was ditching him.
He watched
as Ryan and Maisie headed toward the food booths.

Viola looked at Jacob and Ellie. “Ready to go?”

They followed Viola to the booth that was grilling chicken. Viola stopped as she motioned to a booth. “Grilled chicken on a stick?”

Ellie shook her head. “I already ate dinner.”

“I’ll have one.” Jacob took out his wallet.

Viola slapped her forehead like she was auditioning for a cheesy play. “I just remembered that I left my curling iron plugged in. You two go on without me.” Before they could say anything, Viola was hightailing it back to the lot.

Jacob paid for his chicken and looked at Ellie. “I think we’ve been set up.”

“It appears so.” Ellie bit her lower lip.

He shrugged. “As long as we’re here, how about a boat ride?”

“Um, okay.”

Jacob took a few bites of the chicken before tossing the wooden stick into the nearest trashcan. He glanced at Ellie as they made their way to the water. She looked pretty with her hair pulled up on the sides, showing off those earrings she always twirled.

“I stopped by the shop earlier. Things are moving right along.” She walked along the canal as a slight breeze fluttered her hair. “Thanks for all your hard work.”

Jacob smiled and wished it was only for her compliment, but if he had to be honest with himself, he was happy to be there with her beside him. “You’re welcome.”

They reached the boat rental and Jacob paid for their ride. Ellie looked down at the paddle boat swaying in the water and hesitated.

Jacob looked at her with questioning eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never done this before.” She stuck one leg in the boat and when it shifted, she lost her balance and almost fell.

Jacob grabbed her hand to steady her. Problem was, once her fingers made contact with his, he didn’t want to let go. She looked at him for a brief second with pink cheeks before pulling her soft hand from his.

He sat beside her and put his feet on the pedals. In the same motion as riding a bike, they moved the boat forward.

***

Ellie could still feel the blush on her cheeks long after Jacob’s hand saved her from falling. How embarrassing. She could feel his gaze on her legs as she pedaled the boat. Why did she have to wear such short shorts? She was going to kill Viola for setting up whatever this was.

Jacob was the first to speak up. “Nice night.”

Ellie kept her view straight ahead pretending to concentrate on where the boat was being steered. “Yeah, it is.”

He cleared his throat. “How is your dad?”

“Good.” She watched a duck swim by. “His surgery went okay and he seems to be doing great with his therapy.”

“That’s good.”

Ellie avoided Jacob’s eyes. Did he stay behind to be polite? Or did he really want to be alone with her? A few moments passed without the small talk, so the water sloshing against the boat as it pushed through the canal grew louder. Ellie could still smell the food being grilled from down the street.

Jacob steered the boat back in the direction they’d first come from, which caused her to let out the breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding.

“You don’t talk much unless it’s about your store. I take it you’re not in a relationship with anyone, since Viola set us up.”

Did he think that she was interested? She had to stop this now. She faced him for the first time since her butt sat down in the boat. “Not interested in any relationship unless the man is a knight in shining armor with a white horse.” She laughed coldly. For an extra measure to push him away, she added, “And I’d say
those
are in short supply.”

Jacob looked at her for a moment as if he didn’t have a clue how to respond to her outburst. Then he glared at her. “Whoa there, princess. I’m not interested either. But if I was, I could
so
be a knight in shining armor.”

Without thinking, Ellie shot back, “I doubt that.” As her words flowed out of her mouth a shooting star blazed across the darkened sky, causing them both to look. A sign? But a sign of what?

With the boat tied back up, Jacob held out his hand for her to take which she ignored. He shook his head. “I think you got the wrong idea here, princess. The only thing I want from you is my job.”

Chapter Four

Two hours later, Jacob tossed in his bed, trying to figure out what the heck had happened.
That woman was crazy. He didn’t want her. How dare she assume that he did?
He threw his covers off the bed and huffed. He grabbed the stress ball on his nightstand and tossed it up in the air and caught it.

After about five minutes he put the ball back. Agitated, he rubbed the stubble on his face and stared at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and instead of picturing Ellie scowling at him, a vision of her face lit up with a smile he’d witnessed more than once filled his head. Her gorgeous, kissable face with her hair pulled up, meticulously taping her apartment. His eyes flew open. My God, he did want her! Why did he always want the women that didn’t want him back?

***

The darkness surrounded her. The hum of the fridge seemed louder than a couple of drunks fighting on the street. Maybe someday she’d get used to normal noises again. Restless, Ellie tossed and turned in her wrinkled sheets. She had been so rude to Jacob, and the regret was keeping her from a good night’s rest. Why did she go off on him like that? The answer was clear. Because she liked him and it scared the heck out of her. The nurse’s face that had stitched her up the last time she was hospitalized invaded her mind. The woman had known even though Ellie had denied it. She’d told her something she’d never forgotten,
Honey, men are all the same. Run fast and never look back. I’m single and have never been happier.

Ellie grabbed the extra pillow beside her and hugged it tight, with the other pillow catching the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

***

Ellie screamed when she opened her eyes to Bryce sitting on the edge of her bed with his smug face.

He shook his head. “I found you, Ellie. You shouldn’t have left. That upset me and you know what happens when you upset me, don’t you?”

She couldn’t catch her breath. Her chest felt as though someone was sitting on it. Ellie tried to open her mouth to speak, but couldn’t.
Leave me alone!

Bryce removed his black leather belt and raised it to hit her.
No! Please no!

“Ellie! Ellie! Open the door!” The sound of Viola’s panicked voice made Bryce disappear. Ellie opened her eyes to a dark, empty room. It was just a nightmare. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and got up to the pounding on the door. Her body still trembling, she opened the door to Viola holding a gun.

Viola lowered the weapon. “Are you okay? I heard screams coming from your apartment.”

Embarrassed, Ellie nodded. “I’m fine. Just a bad dream.”

“That must have been some dream.” The worried look in Viola’s eyes grew. “You sounded terrified.” She looked past Ellie as if she didn’t believe her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Her shaking body wasn’t helping her case. “I’m fine. Come in. I’ll make us some tea.”

Viola followed her inside to the kitchen. Ellie took a couple of tea packets out of the cabinet and filled two mugs with water before placing them in the microwave. She looked at Viola still clutching the small weapon. “You have a gun?”

Viola laughed and set the firearm down on the counter. “Yeah, it’s not loaded.” She took a sip of the hot liquid Ellie had placed before her. “Frank got it for me before he left. I’ve never touched the thing until tonight.” She giggled. “Then I forgot to put the bullets in it.”

Ellie smiled, glad to have her friend here and relieved that it was Viola that had woken her and not Bryce. “Good to know you’d come to my rescue.”

“I would.” Viola sighed. “Do you want to talk about the nightmare?”

Ellie sipped her tea. “I don’t even remember what it was about.”

Viola eyed her suspiciously, but didn’t press.

***

Heart racing with excitement, Ellie stood over Jacob as he installed the glass counter. Her shop was almost finished.

Jacob gazed up at her. “I guess I don’t have to ask if you like it.”

Ellie clasped her hands together. “I love it! Just as I pictured. No, even better.”

He chuckled. “You may change your mind after the store opens and sticky, little finger prints are scattered all over your shiny new glass.”

“All part of the design.”

Jacob shook his head. He pointed to the bins that opened inside the counter. “Here is where you fill the candies you want on display. Then the shelves can hold your containers. Easy enough?”

“Want to help me fill them?”

“Depends.” Jacob eyed her for a second. “Do I get free samples?”

“Of course! Go wash your hands and you can have all the candy you want.” She got a box cutter and opened the jelly bean box first. Her favorite.

While Jacob was sanitizing his hands, Ellie opened box after box of sweets. He walked back into the room, his eyes wide. “That’s
a lot of candy.”

“I know. Isn’t it pretty?” She scooped a large amount of colorful gum drops and poured them into the bin.

He grabbed a piece of red licorice and ate it in two bites. Ellie filled another bin with fruity lollipops while Jacob helped himself to a chocolate turtle.

As he reached for a piece of saltwater taffy, she put up her hand. “Hey, you have to help. Then you can eat.”

***

An hour later, Jacob and Ellie sat side by side on the floor with empty boxes and candy wrappers surrounding them.

His nauseated stomach gurgled. “I don’t feel so good.”

Ellie laughed. “I told you to slow down.” She patted her stomach. “I’m a pro. I can handle large quantities of candy at one time.”

“I’ve never eaten this much candy in my life. But when it is all right in front of you, it is hard to resist.” Among other things.

She unwrapped another yellow lollipop and stuck it in her mouth. “I know. I can usually control myself, but this was the first candy I’ve had since I arrived in
Pleasant Valley.”

“Look, Ellie, I have something to tell you.” He rubbed his hands on his jeans. “I lied to you at the canal.”

She removed the sucker from her mouth. “What do you mean?”

He gently put a hand on her knee. “When I said I wasn’t interested in you.”

Ellie stood up fast, causing his hand to fall away. “I like you, Jacob. As a friend. I don’t want any other kind of relationship with you. Or anyone.”

Jacob felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. The same feeling he’d gotten when his ex-wife had admitted to cheating on him. “Why?” He stood up.

She looked up to the ceiling and shook her head.

“Why? Why? Because only when it rains jelly beans will I ever trust again!” She choked back a cry and rushed out of the room.

Jacob watched her leave, more confused than ever. He didn’t know how, but he had to make that happen... for both of them.

***

Ellie sat in a booth at Ginger Snaps, eating snickerdoodles. She’d half expected Jacob to follow her to the diner. But after the third cookie was only crumbs on her plate, she figured it was safe to assume he wasn’t coming after her. She sighed. Good. She was on sugar overload. Even though she hadn’t eaten as many sweets as Jacob had, the three cookies put her over her limit.

“Ellie Oliver! Is that you?” Ginger, the owner, walked over to her, grinning.

Swallowing down her thoughts of Jacob, Ellie wiped her fingers on a folded napkin. “Ginger, how are you?”

She put her hands on her hips. In seven years, Ginger still looked pretty much the same. Same poofy, white hair. Same motherly tone. Maybe a few more wrinkles.

“I’m great, honey.” She sat down across from Ellie and frowned. “A little surprised you didn’t come by the diner sooner.”

Ellie placed her folded napkin over the plate. “I’m sorry. I’ve just had so much going on.”

Ginger eyed her. “Mmm hmm. Too much going on for a long time, huh?” She placed a hand over Ellie’s, showing off her perfectly manicured, pink nails and squeezed. “Good to have you home.”

She should have picked up the phone to call her. The only mom-like figure she’d ever had, and she was disappointed in her. “I heard you have quite a lot going on yourself. Aren’t you only in the diner part of the year now so you can travel?”

Ginger laughed. “Well, it didn’t take you long to find that out, did it? Your father?”

“Yep. Told me all about that rich guy leaving you a huge check.” Ellie grinned.

“Paid off the house and still had plenty left to travel all over the U.S.” She pursed her lips.

“That’s great.” Ellie placed her napkin on the plate.

Ginger studied her face. “You ever need to talk you know where to find me.”

Ellie swallowed and twirled her earring. “No. I’m good.” She forced a smile. “I’ve never been better.”

***

After half a bottle of Pepto, Jacob’s stomach finally calmed down. He knew better than to go after Ellie. He was done running after women. He sat on his sofa and flicked on the TV. After five minutes of channel surfing, he turned the TV back off. There was something about Ellie that he just couldn’t let go of. His head and his heart were in a battle. The woman had obviously been hurt, just as he had.

How could two hurt and distrustful people start a relationship? Life was never easy. Never had been. Why should this be any different?
Jacob grew up without knowing who his dad was. His mom had been sort of wild in her younger days and had given new meaning to backpacking through Europe. She’d kept him, though, and done the best she could. God rest her soul. He roamed around the apartment, checking for dirty laundry.

Jacob gave up moping around and went to bed. He lay there in the dark, trying to think of a way to make it literally rain jelly beans.

***

Ellie looked at her reflection in the mirror. What was she doing? What if this was one of those moments in life she looked back and regretted her stupid decisions? Jacob had embraced her, so sweet and gentle. His puppy-dog eyes reminded her of a small child begging for a new toy. Or just one more piece of candy. She giggled. He did eat a lot of candy.

Her love of the sweet stuff had started when she was four when her father bought her a board game called Candy Land. The colorful game had made quite an impression that stuck with her to this day. Bryce hated candy. She should’ve known right then that something had to be wrong with him. Jacob was different.

Enough thinking about Jacob and his puppy-dog eyes.
Ellie walked out the door and got into her car. With her grand opening only being a couple days away, she had to focus. She couldn’t open the shop all by herself. Anxious to find the right person to help her in the shop, Ellie parked her car.

The first interview was a flop. The mean old lady didn’t even like children. How could she ever work in a toy shop if she thought children were annoying and whiney?

Her next interview was in five minutes. Payton walked in with four minutes to spare dressed in jeans and a Tootsie Roll T-shirt. The girl was about the age Ellie was when she’d left home. Though, Payton looked much younger with her freckled face and blond hair in a pageboy cut.

Trying not to judge a book by its cover, Ellie suppressed her excitement. “What are your qualifications?”

“Well, besides being a cashier for two years, I have a Barbie collection and love kids.”

Whoo hoo! “Can you start in a couple days?”

“The sooner the better. My other job went out of business.”

Ellie grinned. “You’re hired.”

***

Nervous, but confident in what he was doing at the same time, Jacob grabbed Ellie’s gift and headed out the door to her grand opening. When he pulled up to the store and saw the customers with their children lined up at the door, a sense of pride washed over him. He’d done everything Ellie had envisioned. But finishing the job was bittersweet
.
He only had to convince her to go on one date with him. The rest would be a piece of cake.

People piled into Oliver’s Toys & Treats. Jacob stood back until the last customers had wedged their way into Ellie’s shop. Curious, he watched through the window as children dragged their parents from toy to toy, then their eyes would light up when they saw all the colorful candies on display. Ellie’s vision was a success. The smile on Ellie’s face was one he’d never seen. She really was in her element. She didn’t even reach up to twirl her earring once. Ellie bent down to the children’s level and looked them right in the eye when she asked them what kind of candy they wanted to sample.

When a little girl tugged on Ellie’s shirt and pointed at a doll all the way on the top shelf, even when there were dozens of dolls exactly the same right below it, Ellie just smiled, nodded and got a ladder to get the precise doll the little girl had pointed at. His heart warmed. Ellie Oliver was just as sweet as her candy.

***

It was hard not to notice Jacob ease into the crowded shop with his hands behind his back. He walked around as if trying to decide what to purchase when Ellie knew he was really here to see her. The grand opening was a huge success. Giddy about all the customers and the children’s reactions when they walked in, Ellie tried to ignore Jacob standing in the corner. As she scooped jelly beans, gum drops and gum balls, she could feel his eyes on her from across the store.