Chapter 12 #2
“And someday, when you are ready, some very lucky man will get the honor and privilege of you saying ‘I do’ to him,” and his voice broke, causing him to make a nervous little laugh that was so him. “I hope he knows just how lucky he is – and I hope he’s everything you could ever need.”
“Jack…” she whispered, but the sound didn’t come out. Nothing escaped her as she sat there, staring at the man before her, who was ticking off every checkbox within her soul, someone she never imagined could even make an impression on her.
Maybe it wasn’t the hot guy, the smooth talker…
Maybe it should have been the right guy, a man who heard her…
He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away, rubbing the back of his neck absently in that nervous fashion of his.
“Listen to me, carrying on like some fool,” he uttered hoarsely, clearing his throat once more. “Goodness, there must be a lot of pollen in the air or something because my sinuses are a mess. What about you?”
“Oh yeah,” she managed, grabbing a napkin. “My eyes are watering from the pollen. Stupid allergies.”
“Exactly – stupid allergies,” he agreed and then looked at her, giving her a shy smile. “When does this place officially open?”
“The café?” she started because it was so out of left field from the prior conversation that they’d been having. “Um, well, I was thinking of doing a soft open next Friday just to check things for the weekend and…”
Jack shot out of his chair, yanking up his burger and nodding. “Perfect – gotta go!”
“Go where?” She stood quickly, moving a few steps instinctively to follow him, and then stopped as he paused in the doorway.
“My time’s up, remember?” he tossed, grinning at her.
“B-But the surprise?” she stammered, shocked. He was leaving, taking off after that sweet moment, and that was it? Maybe she needed her head examined, because not only was he leaving, but something was rattling in the bag… almost buzzing.
Why would the bag be buzzing?
“Right on time,” Jack chuckled, and looked at his watch again, those hazel eyes flashing a mixture of pride and joy, only to shake his head once again, before stepping out into the street. She stood there, stunned… only to be greeted by a small chime in the silence from behind her.
“What the…?”
Turning, something tickled the back of her head as she walked those steps back toward the table, reaching for the bag.
There was a weight to it, despite the burgers and fries sitting on the table where they had been eating only moments ago.
Peering inside, she did a double-take – and looked up in time to see the police car driving away.
A cell phone?
Jack left her a cell phone… but why? How?
A split second later, it began vibrating in her hand – the buzzing she’d heard. Sliding her thumb across the phone, she whispered hoarsely, “Hello?”
“Miss Thompson?”
“This is she,” she replied automatically, as she stared in disbelief at the distance, processing what exactly was happening right now.
How was this cell phone even working when there was no signal?
Did that mean she could check her accounts, her email, call her mother?
– and she drew in a nervous breath at that thought because she wanted to share in her adventure with someone, anyone, so she didn’t feel like such a failure.
“Miss Thompson, I apologize for the delay, but it took a little bit to get the signal out to your new business. Our lines go as far as Yonder and Ember Creek… and well, it’s farmland out further, so there was no need for a tower,” the voice droned on in an apologetic tone that struck her as odd.
“But when the mayor called, then we had an anonymous benefactor privately fund the new tower proposed, well… it’s very hard to say ‘no’ to that, you understand,” the voice scoffed and gave an indignant huff as Heidi covered her mouth to keep from crying out in shock as it hit her.
Jack was the anonymous benefactor? He funded a cell phone tower, so she could have a signal again? He paid for a tower for the town, for her, instead of funneling it into some other things, like his house or replacing his old truck?
Mimi’s words hit her once again, like a freight train. She’d said that their family was loaded, but she really hadn’t believed her deep down inside. Sure, it was one thing to purchase a building eighty years ago, but this? Jack and his grandmother were loaded-loaded… like filthy-Richie-Rich-loaded.
“So the signal should be strong enough for your business, and if you could just verify that your point-of-sale transactions will also process, that would be wonderful,” the voice continued. “I apologize for any loss of business that this might have caused by such an inconvenience…”
What did he say to them?
“But we’re doing everything in our power to meet the deadlines set with the funding…”
“T-Thank you,” she choked out and ended the call, shocked. In fact, she was so flabbergasted that she sat down on the floor, collapsing in a heap and staring at the shiny new Apple phone in her hand. It chimed once more, and she looked at the screen – and melted.
Any guy can get his girlfriend flowers – but I’m not just any other guy.
Weeping emotionally, she hit reply.
I noticed.
Do you like peanut butter and jelly?
No.
Oh, then maybe we can have cereal together for dinner?
Heidi laughed tearfully, her heart melting in wonder at this man she’d met by sheer chance on some bumpy road in the middle of nowhere.
Only if it’s Cinnamon Life or Lucky Charms…
I knew you were perfect. See you this evening.
It’s a date.
Smiling softly, she dialed her mother’s phone number and remained seated on the floor, almost afraid to move or get up because it might disrupt this magical dream that she was in the middle of.
“Hello?” her mother’s voice answered – and Heidi wept at the sound of it. “Heidi? Honey, is that you? Where are you? Are you hurt? What’s going on, baby?”
“Mama,” she began brokenly, trying to curb the sobs, but it was too much.
Everything came out in a rush of emotion that she couldn’t hold back, even if she wanted to.
“Oh Mama, I’m in Texas… and I’m opening a business here, plus I met this guy – and before you say anything – he’s different…
” she breathed, realizing that it was so very, very true.
“He’s different from anyone I’ve ever met or known… and I think I’m actually happy, Mama.”