Clearing my throat, I sipped my black coffee. I didn’t drink it for the taste; I drank it out of caffeine necessity. The bitter hit of adrenaline did little to quell my persistent exhaustion.
“So.”
“Thanks..”
We both chuckled a little as we broke the awkward silence with small talk simultaneously. I gestured for her to proceed, then waited.
“I was just going to say thanks again for saving my ass yesterday. I know it probably wasn’t how you wanted to use a ‘favor’ from Connie.”
Brushing off her comment, I shrugged. I had no use for favors from locals. I helped our town’s people because I was raised that way. My Ma and Pops taught me to never do things intending to get something in return, to do things out of the goodness of your heart and because it’s the right thing.
People liked to rag on small towns for our ability to takecare of each other - but that’s what kept small towns alive. We were a family, through and through. When one of us hurt, we all hurt.
“Really, it was no problem.” I took another sip of my coffee. “I’m going to assume that you didn’t have any trouble getting a room? It’s not really busy season around here, so I figured Connie probably enjoyed the bit of company.”
“Yep,” she said, popping the ‘p,’ at the end. “Now, if I could just afford to stay for another couple of nights while I find something more permanent, that would be a miracle.” She mumbled quietly enough that I barely caught it as she averted her eyes and traced the ridges of the wooden table in front of us.
I couldn’t miss the fact that she wouldn’t look me in the eyes. She was constantly focusing on her lap, hands, or Charlie instead. I dismissed that minor detail, thinking it was simply a matter of her adapting to her new surroundings and getting to know a new person - but a niggling fear inside of me said that I could add that to the column of traits she’d inherited from her past.
“I’m sure Connie would love to have you girls stay a couple more nights if you need to. I can call and make sure the room cost is covered.”
“Oh, no, you don’t have to do that. We can figure it out.” She replied hastily.
Her eyes darted from the table to the door, then to Charlie, then back to the table. It almost looked like she was planning a quick escape. Reaching over, I softly placed my hand on her arm in reassurance.
“I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to. I’m not a man to mince words or intentions. You look like you could honestly use a friend.” Ireleased her arm and snagged my coffee back up, taking another sip as I waited for her reaction.
I saw her deep intake of breath before the resolve drained from her features. Her nod was shallow and barely perceptible, but I caught it and gave back a soft smile.
I could feel the ice around her thawing as she opened up to the option of letting someone help her. I could tell that life hadn’t been kind to Stella and Charlie, and I couldn’t help the overwhelming feeling of wanting to change that. If giving her a safe place to stay by paying for another couple nights at the inn helped, I’d call Connie right this minute.
“Thanks, Max.” Those emerald eyes met mine, and I felt an instant tingle of electricity in my gut. I’m not one to believe in love at first sight. Honestly, I’d never believed my Ma and Pops when they’d recount their intensely romantic, and often cringeworthy, love story. I figured that love was just as real as the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, or unicorns.
I should probably call Doc Jericho about this nagging tingle - it was becoming slightly concerning, and it only seemed to happen around Stella.
In the blink of an eye, Charlie went from shoveling the muffin from her tiny fists into her awaiting mouth to screaming at the top of her lungs and banging her fists on the table. It was as if a switch had flipped and she went from blissfully happy to a complete nuclear meltdown in the blink of an eye.
Stella’s gaze grew wide as she stood to pick her up out of the high chair. She cradled the little girl against her body, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other under her butt holding her on her hip. She pressed her face to Charlie’schubby cheek and began shushing her. Her attempts at soothing her were futile.
I didn’t need to turn around and look to know that all the eyes in the coffee shop were on her and the crying baby. Looking up at the two of them, I noticed water gathering on Stella’s lower lashes, threatening to fall. My gut clenched at the pleading look of desperation clouding her features.
“How can I help?” I asked, pushing my chair back and standing up. She shook her head and continued shushing as she rocked back and forth.
“She’s just tired. She slept like a rock last night, but that doesn’t make up for the eighteen hours of driving we did and sleeping in seedy motel rooms.”
About the time she mentioned sleep, Charlie let out a yawn that almost split her face. She rubbed those tiny fists into her eyes as she continued to wail.
“I’ll just take her outside and walk her around.. Thank-”
“Can I try?” I interrupted, standing and raising my hands in offering to give her a minute of reprieve.
She hesitated, looking down at Charlie with concern. I can imagine the struggle she must be warring with to allow someone else to help soothe her child.
“I don’t want to overstep...” I added.
I’m not sure how long she’d been on her own, minus the driving, but it looked as if she was used to handling things without help. If I could give her a minute of peace, I’d do it in a heartbeat.She looked like she needed it.
Resigning herself to the help, Stella shushed Charlie a couple more times as she carefully transferred her into my arms, settling her on my right side in the same hold she had been using.
