Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Wyatt
The volunteer group followed the curvy woman, but I couldn’t bring myself to take a step. Between the feelings this place stirred inside me, to the woman I wanted to throw over my shoulder and carry home, I was a mashed-up mix of nonsense.
My therapist would have a field day if he could see me.
In fact, this entire thing was his stupid idea, and he was going to hear from me about how it didn’t work.
A few heads turned my way. I must’ve looked a fool standing there. Go to the door! You’ll never see any of these people again.
No, you came here for a reason. Stay and see it through.
Heal yourself.
Heal, heal, heal, HEAL.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to erase that word from the fucking English language.
I was so sick of hearing it.
Twelve years had passed, and I still had yet to heal, or at least like how they said. Who were they anyway and why did I have to play by their rules? Why couldn’t I live by my own?
There was no way my soul would ever fully heal. Not when my world shattered in a second. So abruptly. So unexpectedly. And so harshly.
Without wasting another second, I jogged towards the back of the group to catch up. I needed to stick it out. if not for me, then for the kids here who still had a chance at happiness.
And also, for her. Jewels.
I didn’t know who she was, but it didn’t matter. Seeing her was all it took.
She was the balm for my soul, the healer of my heart, and I vowed the moment I saw her to never let her go. Now, if only I could convince myself to actually make a move.
When I walked into the backroom, everyone gathered around the center table.
Boxes upon boxes sat in tall piles, on the few tables around the room, on the floor, and even on the chairs.
I’d never seen so many boxes in my life, at least not in one area.
It was a bit disorganized, and the urge to neaten it clawed at my insides.
I liked everything tidy and organized and in its rightful place.
“These are all the donations we got along with the gifts we bought for the children’s Christmas.
We need everything unpacked and sorted. We want to set it up like a store by putting all like items put together.
Then we can pick items out for each child before wrapping and tagging them.
I figured if we all pitched in, we could get it done within a couple of days. Sound good?”
Murmurs ran through the group and people dove in, tackling piles and opening boxes. I grabbed a pile and sat down to work, clearing a spot at one table. I hoped the busy task would pass the time.
Yet my hands shook.
My mouth went dry.
And I wanted to leave.
Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.
Truth was, I barely left my cabin. I didn’t need to. Everything I needed was there. I enjoyed being alone. Wanted to be alone. Deserved to be alone.
So why was I here?
But now this woman…she made me want to stay.
Confliction tore at me, scratching and clawing its way to the surface.
“Have you ever built a Lego set?” Jewels appeared before me.
I met her eyes with mine and we held each other’s gaze, as if it were a lifeline. “Maybe as a little boy. I don’t remember. I enjoy building model cars.”
Her face lit up. “That’s cool. I love being creative. I have too many hobbies, including a craft room that’s full of too much stuff.” Jewels laughed. “Maybe one day I’ll get around to organizing it. You won’t believe the amount of fabric and yarn I’ve collected.”
As much as any type of clutter annoyed me, I wanted to see her craft room.
I wanted to learn about her and surround myself with what she enjoyed.
These feelings were foreign to me, and I didn’t know what to do with them besides shove them back down.
“I have a coin collection, too. It’s the little things in life, hmm? ”
“It sure is.” Jewels said softly as she placed the Lego set down on the table next to the other one I opened. We worked quietly beside each other and having her next to me calmed my mind, the thoughts settling. The chatter died away, and it was only her and me, no one else.
“I’m really glad you stayed, Wyatt.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and her cheeks turned a slight pink.
“Me too.” I said, surprising myself. But it was the truth.
Loud chatter echoed from outside the back room, the sound of stomping feet and little yells the surefire sign children were close.
Jewels laughed. “The kids are back from school. They’ll be hungry. I’m going to go make them a snack.”
“Can I help?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
“Of course. I’d really like that. I’m sure they would, too.”
I smiled for the first time that night. All because of her.
Kids gathered around us in the kitchen as we handed out bread with peanut butter and sliced bananas along with juice boxes.
Bracing myself for the onslaught of feelings I expected around kids, it was surprisingly manageable.
Another thing all because of her.
How did she do it?
How did she ease my pain when she didn’t even know it existed?
How did she calm my insides when she didn’t know they needed calming?
How did she change my soul? How did she change something so powerfully to where it finally felt like it wasn’t being burned inside my very body with every breath I took?
How?
I’d never know all the answers.
But I’d always be grateful for meeting her.
Now I needed to make her mine. Officially.