Chapter 2 #3
“Mr. Becker and I will talk about it.” Things were changing far too quickly.
Though they hadn’t completely discussed it yet, Hendrix clearly planned to let them stay in the campgrounds or he wouldn’t have invited her and Ryder to enjoy his hot tub.
At least, she hoped that was the case. “He’s waiting for your promise, honey. ”
“I promise,” Ryder said. “Mom doesn’t let me near any water without her.”
“She’s a good mom.” He slid open French doors. “Come on, let’s eat.”
Ryder was the first one in. Curiously, he looked around. “Your kitchen is way bigger than ours.”
Hendrix waited for her to enter, then he joined them. “This is officially the dining room, or at least that’s what the listing said when I bought the place.” He set Ryder’s card upright on a buffet table next to a decorative bowl.
With his attention fixed on a giant fish hanging on the wall, Ryder didn’t notice.
“It’s not real,” Hendrix said in his ear, then lifted it off a hook so Ryder could see it.
Eyes widening even more, he lurched back before screwing up his courage and getting close again. “It’s a toy?”
“More like a plastic replica of a lingcod, which I know only because I researched the fish online.”
“I can’t get online.” He crossed his arms in a recognizably stubborn pose. “Mom says I’m not old enough.”
With a slight pause, Hendrix said, “She’s a teacher, right? So she’d know.”
“I’d like to ‘search it, too.” Ryder shot her a calculating look. “Maybe she’d let me with you.”
Nonplussed, Hendrix straightened. “Well, anyway, the fish is fake. It was here when I bought the place. Everything was, except some stuff in the living room, and my bed.” He turned to Joey.
“The other two bedrooms are still the same, but I couldn’t see sleeping on a bed that hundreds of others had used. ”
Honestly, she’d barely been paying attention as she took in the neutral colors, the various “cabin rental” type wall decor, but also the touches that were pure Hendrix.
Like the large coffee mug set on a dishtowel beside the sink, sunglasses and keys on a table, and rubber boots on a mat by the back door.
It encouraged her that he would so casually chat now, when previously, even before she missed the December exodus, he’d been reserved.
“It’s all nice, and I love the privacy you have. Plus, you have the closest spot to the beach.”
“Privacy isn’t easy in an RV park. There’s a small porch out front, but if I sit there, renters see me and stop to chat. That’s why I got in the habit of using the back door.”
“Have you considered a gate for the privacy fence, so your backyard will stay private?”
“Not a bad idea.” Leaving the fish with Ryder, who was still studying it, he said, “Grab a seat. I’ll get the pizza. I put it in the oven on warm. What do you want to drink?”
“What do you have?” Joey asked. She probably should have brought a drink for Ryder, but she hadn’t known she’d be leaving her house.
With a frown, he looked in his refrigerator and said, “Beer, water, iced tea, or soda.” He glanced at Ryder. “Sorry, I didn’t think –”
“Soda!” Ryder cheered.
After giving it brief thought, Joey shrugged. “Just for tonight, and only a small glass.” She took the fish from him and hung it back on the wall. “You and I need to wash our hands before we eat.”
“There’s a hall bath to the right of the front door.”
“Thanks. We’ll find it.” It was a bonus to get to see the rest of his place.
She could tell the couch, chair and huge television were the newer editions he’d mentioned.
The coffee table and end tables matched the rest of the furnishings, so they likely came with the house.
From the hallway, she could see into his bedroom through the open door.
A king-size bed with two nightstands took up one wall beneath a window.
On another wall was built-in cabinets, and opposite that were a closet and dresser.
The bed was hastily made with a gray comforter, no throw pillows.
She smiled as she steered Ryder into the bathroom.
Again, he looked around, probably making comparisons. “It’s a big bathtub, huh?”
It was standard size, so she wasn’t sure what to say.
She didn’t want to mention her in-law’s home, since Ryder hadn’t seen it in a while.
“It’s nice.” When was the last time she’d been able to soak in a tub?
The cabin she rented had only a dinky little shower and she often bumped her elbows to the wall when she washed her hair.
By the time they finished, Hendrix had the food on the table, the drinks poured, and he’d even made a salad.
Ryder had a blast talking nonstop while they ate. Hendrix seemed more amused than annoyed by the chatter, much to her relief.
It was full dark now, and she knew the temperature would have dropped. She should have taken the time to get a coat for her and Ryder both.
Hendrix sat back in his seat. “When they sold, the owners left everything behind. That included a small chest of toys.”
Ryder’s head snapped up. “Toys?”
Playing it cool, Hendrix nodded. “Mostly well-used stuff. Nothing as cool as your Wonder Woman.”
Joey stared at him. Who was this man? Where had her brusque camp owner gone? Since Ryder looked too hopeful to say anything else, she asked, “You still have them?”
Hendrix ran a hand over the back of his head. “The box had been stored away, but I got it out and dusted off a few things. I thought Ryder might like to look through it while we talked?”
Rapidly nodding his head, Ryder said, “I will. Sure. Okay.”
An endearing grin made Hendrix even more handsome. “It’s right here in the living room. I’ll show you.”
With her curiosity almost as keen as Ryder’s, Joey said, “Wait! Hands first.” She hastily retrieved a paper towel, wet it, and cleaned up her son’s face and greasy fingers. He fairly churned beside her, anxious to see what prizes awaited.
It was so close to Christmas. If only Hendrix had told her first, she might have been able to use a few of the toys as gifts for under the tree. Not that she had any right to his things, even things left by the previous owner. But still...
“All done,” Hendrix announced, taking the paper towel from her and tossing it onto Ryder’s plate. “This way.”
Watching her son bound after him, Joey wasn’t sure who was more excited – Hendrix or Ryder.
Lifting a small wooden chest away from the wall and putting it in the middle of the floor, Hendrix told him to open it.
Ryder dropped to his knees and lifted the lid with barely subdued reverence. One by one, he lifted out the treasures. A boat made from Legos, a large rubber spider, a kaleidoscope, two colorful plastic dinosaurs, a couple of well-used books, a plastic truck, and puppets.
“Wow.”
Hendrix knelt beside him. “Since you gave me a nice card, I’d like to give you your choice of one of these. Would that be fair?”
“For real?”
“Sure. You can take home whatever you pick, and play with the other stuff when you visit.”
So now they’d be visiting? That pleased her as much as the toys pleased Ryder.
It clearly surprised Hendrix when Ryder launched at him for a huge hug. Unlike her, Hendrix wasn’t knocked over. It took him a second, then he folded his long arms around Ryder and stood, turning his back on her.
Joey thought he might have wanted to hide his emotions from her.
Like a man starved for human contact, he held Ryder close and patted his back.
Seeing the two of them like this, each appearing grateful, caused emotions to swell.
She had to swallow twice before she could offer a motherly reminder. “Tell Mr. Becker thank you.”
“Thank you!” Ryder sang.
Hendrix gave him a final squeeze and set him down, but his hand lingered on Ryder’s head. “Take your time deciding what to keep. In fact, you can take something now, then trade it for something else on another day. How’s that sound?”
“Good.” Ryder rubbed his nose and nodded. “That sounds good, Mr. Becker. You’re the best.”
Joey slipped away to take care of their dishes, but she’d barely gotten into the kitchen when Hendrix joined her. Keeping her back to him, she said quietly, “Thank you. You left Ryder a little overwhelmed.” It was true for her as well.
Leaning on the counter, he replied, “They’re only cheap, used toys. What else would I do with them?”
“Does this mean...” The words trailed off. She wasn’t used to anyone doing so much for her or her son. She was afraid if she tried to say anything at all, her voice would crack.
“It means you’re welcome to stay for December, and I’m sorry I was a dick about it at first.”
Around a laugh, her damp eyes forgotten, she turned to him. “You weren’t. You have rules and I’m breaking the rules. That’s not cool, I know, but I wasn’t sure what else–”
“Shh,” His warm gaze, full of understanding, captured hers, but thankfully he kept his distance.
If he’d gotten close, she might have grabbed him as tightly as Ryder had. But it wasn’t only a hug she wanted. Her body was aching for so much more.
Only with Hendrix.
Without averting his gaze, he let out a breath. “The thing is, Christmas is difficult for me.”
Arrested by that confession, Joey bit her lip and wondered how much he’d reveal. When he said nothing more, she whispered, “I kind of figured that out and I’m sorry that I’m intruding and probably making it worse.”
He looked down a moment, then back up. “Actually, it was my own attitude making it worse. I tended to focus on my dislike of Christmas and so many...” He shook his head. “I thought about shit that bugged me a lot. Terrible things that shouldn’t have happened.”
Immediately, she wondered about that. Did he divorce? Was he widowed? Something worse?
Hendrix went on. “But then you stayed and I found myself thinking about you even more. Let me tell you, focusing on you and your possible problems is a lot easier than facing my own bullshit.”