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ELIZABETH
Two days later and the garage was perfectly organized. In between the placing and hanging and organizing, I’d carved out time to get my work stuff done.
My license was going on file and I had my business phone added to my current account and just had to carry around an extra phone. Having my truck had drastically freed me up to get things done. I had gone out and gotten so many things accomplished.
Ronald had distributed the brochures I had made at a local print shop. After discussing rates with Ronald, I went with prices that were fifteen to twenty percent higher than my rates in Arkansas.
I still couldn’t believe my good luck in finding such a good friend. I'm surprised Tyler hadn't divested himself of that relationship. However, considering he was never home, I wasn’t really surprised.
Tyler was due to be home in just a little bit, but I wasn’t worried. I was in the garage and I’d left him a note that I was out there doing some things, but I hadn’t gone into detail. If he wanted to know more, he was welcome to ask.
Ronald had hired four neighborhood boys to deliver brochures. They’d gone around that morning since it was late start for their school. It was too early for calls, but I was hopeful it would be soon. Maybe next week.
Organizing my tools gave me a peaceful feeling. I messed with the 3/8 inch ratchet wrench and couldn't decide if I wanted to put it on the side or start a new row in a different drawer.
The business phone buzzed. I glanced at it and then looked back at my tools.
Then I froze, excitement welling inside me. The business line rang! That was so fast!
I took a deep breath and answered it calmly. “The House Doctor, how can I help you?” Was I too perky? Should I have lowered my voice some? Maybe next time I should say thank you for calling...
“Hi, I got your brochure on my door today. I’d like to get a consultation.” Was that Tyler’s voice? That couldn’t be him. Except it sounded just like him.
I cleared my throat and went for a deeper tone. Did he recognize me? “Of course. What's your address? And what do you want us to look at exactly? Anything in particular that needs fixing?” I turned to my record-keeping book I'd bought the day before and poised the pencil over the paper.
“The address is 386 Staten Avenue. I’ve been trying to sell the house and I can’t even get people to look at it. All I need to know is what to do to make it more marketable. Whatever I need to do, I'd like to know. Can you also add an estimate of costs and time line for any repairs? I’m looking to get this done immediately.” He was friendly but professional on the line. One more trait to add to my list of things I liked about him.
It was most definitely Tyler. He’d called my business on the first day of my soft launch.
What were the odds? One of the boys must have put a brochure on the front door, unaware it was where I worked.
I was fairly certain Tyler worked every morning. “Sure, we can do the consult tomorrow morning. Will you or someone be available?” I knew he would be gone, so it was a fairly safe question.
Closing my eyes, I hoped against hope he would say his wife would be there. I didn’t hold my breath, because he’d made it clear how he felt, but still...
“I won’t be there, but someone will. What time should I let her know?” He maintained the same level of friendliness and I wanted to flirt with him, but I was nervous to do so. So fast he would be off the line and I wouldn’t get another chance.
Oh, a woman. Okay, that’s disappointing.” I added a soft lilt to the last line and then rolled my eyes at myself. What was wrong with me? “Ahem, I’m sorry. Let’s set the appointment for ten.”
I deserved any comeuppance that came my way.
His soft chuckle curled my toes and pulled my lips together between my teeth. “Sounds great. Thank you.”
Of course he thought I was crazy. I thought I was insane. Plus, what game was I playing? He had to recognize my voice.
Maybe he’d say something when I went inside. Maybe he was waiting for me to say something.
I locked up the garage and went to the house, anxious to see Tyler and see if he had recognized my voice.
How could he not recognize mine, but I could recognize his? Probably because I was the last person he expected of running a handyman business. I, on the other hand, hadn’t been expecting anything so it’d been easy to accept that he might be calling.
Plus, I’d seen his house.
Tyler stood at the kitchen counter, which seemed to be his favorite place. He smiled when I walked in the door. “Hi. I was just going to come looking for you. I thought maybe a picnic for dinner would be nice. That is, if you're interested?”
His invitation took me aback. I hadn’t been there very long and he hadn’t really seemed interested in spending time with me. Tyler was always too busy and I accepted that. Hadn’t he said quite plainly that he didn’t want to be married or in that house?
Just because he’d said that, however, didn’t mean I was going to walk away from the opportunity to spend time with him. He didn’t have to be interested, but I was – did that make me desperate?
I agreed to go with him, even understanding that I might come across as desperate.
Tyler’s gaze roved my form and he lifted his eyebrows. “I like the outfit. Is it new?” His own suit and tie fit him well, and I don’t think I’d ever get sick of seeing him dressed like that.
I laughed, shaking my head. “No, my stuff finally got here the other day. I haven’t seen you or I would’ve told you.”
“That's great. I’m so glad. I’ve been doing late nights, I know. I’m sorry. Did you see the truck out front? I wonder whose it is. Dodge is one of my favorites. Rigs are more expensive to run here than you’d think. They take up a lot of room, too. That’s why I went with the ‘Stang. Dodge or Ford didn't really matter as long as it wasn’t a Chevy.” He winked and turned towards the front door.
Secrets grew around me. I wasn't sure what to say. Did I tell him it was my truck? Because, at that point, if I told him it was mine, after he just said they weren’t sensible to have in California, what would that make me look like?
I kept my mouth shut. Having a topic to talk about around Tyler was getting to be harder and harder.
He loosened his tie as he headed toward the front door. “I thought we could just pick up some chicken and sides. Are you ready or do you need to change?”
“Nah, I’m fine. Unless you want me to change?” It hadn’t occurred to me that I might not be dressed up enough for him. A picnic sounded suspiciously romantic and I was sure he just wanted something from me.
He turned at the foyer, before pulling the door open and studied me from head to foot again, this time more attentive. After a minute, he returned his gaze to meet mine and his words distinctly warmed me. “I think you’d be foolish to change when you look so good.”
My breath shortened and heat flooded my face. “Thanks.” I had married a man who knew how to make my knees weak but he wasn’t interested. He turned from me and led the way to his car.
We picked up chicken and some sides. Tyler produced a blanket from the back of his car when we got to Lakeside Park along Lake Merritt.
We tread quietly along the black top trails which wended further into the grassy landscape. Trees lined the walkways and sitting areas.
Tyler walked toward the grass beside a large gazebo style building with Roman-like columns. Bike riders passed us on the left and Tyler reached out and grabbed my elbow to pull me closer to him. “Careful, these people can go pretty fast.” He pointed to a spot further in from the gazebo. “How about over here in the sun. I’ve been locked up in the building for so long, I'm getting vitamin D deficient.” He spread out the blanket and we settled on the cushion of soft grass beneath it.
As we picked out pieces of chicken and passed them around to each other, Tyler spoke again. “Have you heard of a handyman company called The House Doctor? I know you just moved here, but I thought maybe you had seen something when they put a brochure on the door today.” He dug his plastic fork into the mashed potatoes and gravy.
“Oh, I heard from Ronald that it’s owned by a woman. Is that true?” I wasn't sure if Tyler was sexist or not, but right then was a perfect time to find out.
“Really? I spoke to a really friendly lady today. I wonder if that's her.” He took a drink of his pop and leaned back on an arm. “Speaking of our neighbor, are you seeing Ronald?”
I jolted backwards, blinking rapidly. “That's rather random. No, I'm not seeing Ronald. You and I are married.” I was repeating that fact to him over and over, like maybe he forgot it like a child whose turn it was to do dishes that wouldn't do them because they ‘forgot’.
He waved his hand towards me and took another bite of mashed potatoes. “Yeah, but not really. I don't want you to miss out on stuff because of me. It's not your fault we’re stuck together for six months.”
His dismissal of our relationship led me to believe maybe he was the one seeing other people. I didn’t want to ask, but I had to and the words came out before I could rethink them or control my mouth. “Are you seeing someone else?”
“No. I just...” He looked at me, tilting his head to the side, his neatly trimmed hair begging for me to caress the short length. “Would you care if I was?” He kind of laughed but there was curiosity in his tone.
I shrugged, embarrassed that I’d been shunted into the jealous wife category before securing any interest on his side. “I guess not.” But I really cared. Because even though it felt like we weren't really married and it felt like we weren't even really dating, Alex had gone through the same thing. I had to believe that Tyler and I needed to start somewhere.
Even if starting as friends was the only way to go. I took a bite of my coleslaw and chewed it for a moment. I swallowed and asked, “How is your company doing?”
He picked up a biscuit and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he ate. “Well, I've thought a lot about what you suggested. I've decided to offer the company to my CFO. He fits the brand more and he’s been with me since the beginning. I’m confident he can take it forward and grow it further than I would be able to. It doesn’t make it any easier to part with, though, you know?” Tyler smiled sideways at me, revealing a glimpse of vulnerability he’d hid until then.
“What will you do?” It took a lot to admit that you couldn’t do something with your company. The fact that he was stepping forward and not letting his pride get in the way said a lot about the man he was.
My attraction to him skyrocketed. Dang it, I think I was getting a crush.
“I don't know. I'm stuck in this house with you for six months.” He claimed another bite of biscuit and looked at me, as if expecting agreement and consoling remarks.
I grimaced, unable to agree with his sentiment. “Ouch. Don't hold anything back.” I tried to hide the sting but wasn't very successful.
Tyler’s eyes widened and he leaned forward, placing his fingers softly on my bare forearm. He glanced down at his hand and jerked his hand back quickly. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way.”
I stopped eating and pierced him with my gaze, uncomfortable with how much his touch affected me. “Yeah, you do. Just be honest with me.”
Tyler changed topics as if the truth was more pressure than he wanted to deal with. He picked up a chicken leg. “What have you been up to while I'm gone?”
I wasn’t surprised he hadn't noticed the house had been getting slowly fixed and cleaned up. Of course, he wouldn’t know I've been doing my business either, but that’s because I had opted to keep everything a secret.
I wasn't the type to seek attention or accolades. I wasn't going to start right then. “I'm just learning the neighborhood, you know, settling in.” I kept it vague because it was my thing to do. If he wanted to be more involved in my life, then he would be.
Tyler watched me. Out of the blue, as if he'd been thinking about it for a while, he blurted out, “You have amazing eyes. I've never seen brown eyes so clear, like amber.”
His compliment caught me off guard while splashing even more confusion over my emotions. I wrinkled my nose and grinned. “Thank you.” I didn't know what else to say, which was too bad because a woman should know how to thank her husband for a compliment with a modicum of grace.
Would he start to see me as I was?
