Carolina sobered. “Sorry I wasn’t home today. If I knew I was going to start working today I would have left the back door unlocked so you could have access to something to drink.” She stepped inside. “Come inside and I’ll get you some cold water.”
“Thanks.” He bent and pulled off his boots before stepping inside.
“Go on in the kitchen I need to get out of these muddy clothes first.” She headed to the bedroom and shut the door. She quickly changed into some yoga pants and a sweatshirt and some thick socks.
When she walked into the living room, Thomas was standing by the fireplace looking up into the chimney.
“I don’t suppose you know anyone who can take a look at that for me? I’d like to make sure it works before I use it. The last thing I need is to burn the house down. Because judging by the way my life is going, it’s a total possibility.”
“It just needs cleaning. It’s a real wood burning fireplace, no gas starter.” He looked at her. “Have you ever made a fire before?”
“No. When we bought the lake house I was hoping we would get to use it on the weekends. But my husband, ex-husband, decided to rent it out. I think he didn’t want to use it because it wasn’t new. He tends to like new things. And new people.” She sneered and went to the kitchen. She pulled out some bottled waters and handed one to him.
She pulled out the pot roast from last night and set it on the counter.
“You made that just for you?”
“I did. But it’s too much. I’ll fix you a plate if you’re hungry. It’s the least I can do since I stranded you outside all day without the use of a bathroom or water.”
“I’m used to it. The clients I get don’t allow me in the house.”
“That’s pretty rude.” She pulled down some of her plates she recently bought and began loading them with roast beef. She added some leftover mashed potatoes as well.
“I don’t have any cornbread or rolls. But I do have crackers.”
“Crackers are fine.” He sat down at the small island and watched her as she worked.
“I would invite you to the dining room, but since I don’t have any furniture, this will have to do.” She warmed up his food before she set his plate before him at the kitchen island.
“You always eat at the dining room table?” He picked up his fork.
“I used to.” Her mind turned to memories of dinner when she was married. She always had a good meal ready for Chris when he got off work. “We used to eat at the dining room table all the time. Then he started taking his plate into the living room so he could watch TV while he ate. I guess I should have known something was going on when he stopped communicating.”
He took a bite of the roast beef. “He sounds like an idiot. Any man who would leave a woman that can cook like this isn’t right in the head.”
Carolina smiled. “I think you’re right.” She picked up her fork and began eating.
“This is really good. I’ve not had pot roast in…well I can’t remember when.”
“I don’t normally cook like this just for myself. I guess old habits die hard.”
“Don’t let them. You don’t stop living just because that part of your life stopped. If you do then you’ll find yourself struggling to get through the day. Just getting by is no way to live.”
Curious she took a sip of water. “Is that what you do? Just get by?”
His fork halted in midair. He lifted his gaze to her. His eyes shadowed in pain.
“Sorry. I didn’t meant to pry.”
He lowered his fork to his plate. “I lost my wife to cancer.”
“I’m so sorry. That must have been really hard.” She reached over and laid her hand on his arm.
He glanced down at her touch but didn’t move away.
“It’s been five years now. We were married for fifteen years and then one day she found out she had cancer during a routine checkup.”
Carolina nodded slowly. “It’s sobering how life can change on a dime.”
