Page 32 of Must Love Flowers
“Yeah, are you available Friday night?”
Her eyes widened, afraid he was about to ask her out. “I…I’m sorry but I already have plans.” This wasn’t good. From their earlier conversation, she was afraid this would happen. If they were to date, he would discover his mother had gone against his wishes. There had to be a better way to break the news, and going out with him wasn’t it.
“What about Saturday night?”
“Ah…then, too. Sorry.”
Surprise filled his eyes and his easy smile disappeared. “Are you giving me a message here? Are you saying you’d rather not go out with me?”
She pinched her lips together, not knowing what else to do. “I’m sorry, I…don’t think it’s a good idea for me to date a customer…It’s against company policy.” She had no idea if that was true or not and hoped Einstein would accept the excuse without question.
He didn’t easily accept her rejection. “That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s best you don’t ask me out again.”
“If that’s what you want.” He shrugged as if it was no bigdeal and left. Maggie swallowed hard and was fairly certain she was destined to meet Einstein again soon. When they did, she had a feeling it wouldn’t be pleasant for either of them.
Both Ashley and Leanne sent shocked looks her way when they heard Maggie turn down Nick’s invitation. Maggie thought it best not to explain when they riled her about the company policy she’d quoted.
—
Maggie’s mind wasn’t on her chemistry final when she headed to Seattle Central College on Friday. This was an important exam and the last one for the day. Then and only then could she relax. Getting a top grade on this exam could be the difference between receiving a scholarship and needing to apply for a student loan. She should be thinking about this test. Instead, her mind was on Joan’s son.
Thankfully, because Maggie had studied hard and was familiar with the material, she cruised through the final. It wasn’t until after she finished and left the classroom that doubts assaulted her. She found herself second-guessing her answers. She so badly wanted to make the grade, but decided to put it out of her mind. She’d given it her all and had to trust that that was enough.
Although it was well past lunchtime, Maggie treated herself to a Whopper, her favorite fast food. It also happened to be her father’s favorite as well. She hadn’t had any contact with him since she’d moved. He hadn’t reached out to her, either, although she didn’t expect he would.
Her father’s reaction to her moving weighed on her mind allafternoon. Her dad had relied on her heavily since she’d lost her mother. He would never openly admit that he needed her; that would show weakness. To Roy Herbert, weakness was unacceptable.
Although it didn’t fit into her food budget, she ordered a second Whopper for him.
When she arrived at the house, the sight of it brought up a slew of unhappy memories. For a good five minutes she sat in her car, wondering if this was a good idea after all. By now the electricity would have been cut off and he was sure to be in a foul mood. The last person he’d want to see was her. Almost against her better judgment, she opened her car door and climbed out. Although she’d spent most of her life in this house, she knocked softly before letting herself inside.
Her father looked up when she entered. He was exactly where she’d left him: in his recliner. To her surprise, the television was on. Somehow he’d managed to avoid having the power cut off.
“Well, look who’s here,” he said with a satisfied smirk, as if he fully expected her to move back.
“I brought you a Whopper.” She stepped farther into the room to hand him the brown bag.
“You think you can buy your way back into my good graces?” he asked, clearly pleased. “It’s going to take a lot more than a hamburger.”
“I’m sure it will,” she said. Arguing with him wouldn’t serve either of them well.
He tore open the bag and reached for the burger.
“You paid the electric bill?” Where he got the funds, she could only imagine.
He ignored the question as he wolfed down the Whopper. Without her there to see to his meals, she worried he’d survive solely on Bud Light.
It didn’t look like he was in the most communicative mood. She’d done what she’d come for. This was her good deed for the day, and it was time she left.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his mouth full of food.
“I tutor this afternoon. I only stopped by to see how you’re doing.”
He laughed, as though he found her excuse amusing. “Sure you did. You left me to fend for myself and now you feel bad. Surprise, surprise, I’m doing perfectly fine without you.”
“I can see that,” she said, again refusing to get into an angry exchange with him.
