14. Clark
Chapter fourteen
Clark
C lara’s face haunts my thoughts for the rest of the day.
She’d come into the office filled with spunk, sparks of hope in her eyes. But she’d fled with devastation, tears in her eyes.
Because I’d been a jerk.
I didn’t want to hurt her, to crush her like that. But I didn’t know how to get through to her, to stop her from chasing this fool’s errand. Noel is never going to be a Christmas town. It’s just not.
And I didn’t know what to do about that feeling she kept stirring up in my heart. When she’d answered the door last night, she was wearing the same robe from the first time I saw her. One look brought the warmth of our first encounter crashing like a tidal wave over my internal walls. That yearning to be closer pulled at me. To learn everything there is to know about her, to spill all of who I am out to her. I didn’t know how to cut that sensation off. I was unprepared to deal with it because I’ve never experienced that draw to a person before now.
So I crumpled the paper. And regretted it the instant I saw the trust in her eyes splinter.
But I couldn’t take it back, couldn’t take the risk.
“I was so wrong about you.”
Clara whispered the words so quietly, she may have thought I couldn’t hear. But I heard. And I still hear them, words playing on a loop through my mind, no matter what task I distract myself with.
As I install a new storm door for Davis’ parents, I swing between berating myself for being so cruel to Clara and exhorting myself to keep forcing distance between us. For his part, Chase is giving me the dog equivalent of the silent treatment. He nearly lost his mind this morning when Clara left, whining and barking and pacing and scratching up my door. He’s been aloof today, punishing me for being a bad dog.
I’ve finished up the storm door when I receive a text from Rhonda.
Rhonda: Don and Kate are moving to Bentonville and putting their house on the market. Can you meet me there today or tomorrow to make a punch list of repairs to make before listing?
My fist involuntarily clenches around my phone. Not another one.
I rub my temples with my free hand, eyes closed. Chase nudges against me, and I open my eyes to see him staring up at me. “Oh, you’ve decided you love me again?” His tail gives a small wag, so I reach down to scratch his ears before responding to Rhonda to set a time.
While my text messages are open, my thumb hovers over Clara’s name. Maybe I should text her and apologize for being rude?
The tug I feel to reach out to her is enough to make me lock my phone instead.