17. Wade

seventeen

wade

There are a lot of things I will do for my client, but only Ms. Linda will get me on my hands and knees to trim her lawn. She likes it edged a certain way, and she wants the blades of her grass to be the same height. She's my only high maintenance client, but she's also one of my longest. Plus, she feeds me and makes sure I have all the sweet tea I could want on a hot, almost fall day.

The only issue I have with Ms. Linda is she likes to chat. She will move her lawn chair around her yard so she's always within talking distance. If someone happens to walk by, well they're invited in for an ice-cold glass of tea, a good chat about my lackluster love life. Of course, by the time I arrived at Ms. Linda's this morning, she'd already heard about Lemon's near fatal car accident—gotta love the small town inflation—and how I saved the day from the big bad wolf. Never mind how it was only a flat that Landon, from Murphy's Garage, and I were able to fix in under an hour.

Yes, I did the right thing by fixing Lemon's tire and dropping her car off to her so she wouldn't have to worry, and yes, I added a rose because that is something I used to do. It's something I miss doing. Bringing her flowers used to be a highlight of my day. Every time I brought her a flower or two, sometimes a bouquet, her eyes would sparkle.

I miss the sparkle.

And I miss Lemon. More so after last night. I never thought I'd tell her we couldn't have sex and when those words came out of my mouth, I hated myself. For one brief moment I wished I was the cad she expected me to be and had a glove box full of rubbers, but that's not me. Sure, I could've moved on, but I haven't. I'm content, and happy with being Goldie's dad. I figure, someday I'll look, but honestly, I don't want to look past Lemon. She's all I want. She's all I ever wanted.

With Ms. Linda occupied with Sarah, the owner of Sugar Rush—the candy store Goldie begs me to take her to, even though I know my mom and her stop there often—and also another gossip like Ms. Linda, I move to the other side of the house and work on the hedgerow. One of these days I plan to take a topiary course. I want to learn how to shape and manipulate shrubs into different designs. Although, unless I quit my day off, I won't have time for another project.

"Sarah wanted me to know she saw Lemon walking to school this morning."

"I think Lemon walks most days," I say without taking my eyes off the shrub.

"With a rose in her hand."

I'm thankful Ms. Linda can't see me right now because my smile would give me away.

"I knew a boy once who used to give the girl he was sweet on a flower every time he went and saw her. He used to pluck them from my garden."

My hand slips slightly. While what she says is true, I'm not sure how she would've noticed. I always cut where there wouldn't be a gap among the blooms.

"I wonder if I'm missing a rose," she says with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"I didn't see any fresh cuts, Ms. Linda."

She hums, which with her you can never tell if she's onto you or thinking of an answer. "I suppose if a man is going to be sweet on a woman, it should be my roses he gives her."

Another smile and again I'm thankful she can't see me. I like the idea of her assuming it's me without confirming.

"Maybe I should get cameras for the outside."

I shake my head. "Why waste your money?"

"To catch those little bandits."

"Yeah," I sigh and adjust my ball cap. "I think those rose bandits are all grown up."

Ms. Linda snickered. "If you find yourself needing more roses, you know where to get them."

I turn and look at her and this time she sees my smile. "Yes, ma'am."

"I hope that shit eating grin on your face means you're pursuing our lovely young principal."

"Ma'am, I am trying. Lemon doesn't make things easy, but we took a step in the right direction."

"That's our boy," she says as she starts laughing her way back into her house. I give myself a moment to replay last night's encounter and then get back to work. As if on cue, when Ms. Linda's screen door slams shut, my phone rings. Taking it from my pocket, I look at the caller ID and groan. I can't imagine what else has gone wrong at the school and think about sending Jean to voicemail.

"Jenkins Landscaping." I want to be professional, but I also want to say, "what's the fucking problem now?"

"Hi, it's Lem—Ms. Walsh."

The smile I had moments ago is back with a vengeance, except she said Ms. Walsh, not Lemon, which leads me to think this is definitely professional and not personal.

"This isn't an emergency, but Marigold was accidently hit today in the cafeteria."

My heart does a double tap and I'm already picking up my tools. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, I believe she's fine. She's in my office. Would you like to speak with her?"

"Yes." What kind of question is that? Of course, I want to speak to my daughter. I hear Lemon say, "Your dad would like to talk to you."

"Hi, Daddy."

"Hey. How's my girl?"

"My head hurts."

"Ms. Walsh said there was an accident. Are you okay?"

"My head hurts. Will you come get me?"

"Of course, I will. Make sure you put some ice on the part that hurts. I'll be there soon. I'm at Ms. Linda's."

"Okay."

Lemon takes a deep breath. I don't know if she realizes how close she is to her phone, but I can hear her breathing, and I like that I fluster her. It means she likes me.

"Hello." Lemon is definitely breathless, and I'm torn between being excited I've caused this and anxious to get to my daughter. What a mixed bag of emotions. Still, I can't miss an opportunity to flirt with her.

"You're being too professional, Ms. Walsh."

"It's part of my job."

"I'm going to head there and see how she's doing."

"She'll be in my office."

"Not the nurse's office?"

"No, mine." She hangs up before I can question why my daughter is in the principal's office and not the nurse's.

I climb the steps to Ms. Linda's and knock on the door.

"Come in dear."

"I'm heading over to the school," I tell her. "Something happened and Goldie wants me to pick her up. I'll be back in a bit."

"Oh no, was she in the fight?"

My blood boils instantly. Goldie has had trouble making friends and just the other day she told me how she had a new friend named Rosie. "What fight?"

"Two boys decided to duke it out in the cafeteria. Not sure who they belong to."

"Not sure, but I'll let you know." I rush to my truck, start it up, and head toward the school without bothering to put my seatbelt on. If Sheriff Parker wants to give me a ticket, so be it. Hell, he can follow me to the school with lights and sirens for all I care. Although, that would royally piss Lemon off.

I park in my normal spot, kill the engine, and rush inside. I'm heaving pretty good when I get to the office. I don't bother to say to Jean and head straight toward Lemon's closed door.

"Stop," Jean says. "Come here, Wade."

"Ms. Walsh called?—"

She waves me over. "I know she called you but come here. You need to see this."

I go behind the large desk and walk toward Jean's desk. From there, I can see into Lemon's office. It takes me a moment to really absorb what I'm seeing. When it finally hits me, my eyes water.

"Does she do this with all the students?"

"No," Jean says. "She's never done this."

Lemon sits on the couch, with Goldie's head resting in her lap. Lemon's reading a book to my daughter and absentmindedly running her hand through Goldie's hair. I take my phone out and snap a picture. It's something I plan to look at every chance I can.

"I don't want to interrupt them."

"No, I can't imagine you do."

I clear my throat and nod. "I'll knock so I don't scare them."

"You know, she called you on her own. I didn't have to force her."

"Thanks, Jean." I smile kindly and head toward Lemon's door. I knock once.

"Come in." I step in and find them both in the same position as Jean had pointed out. Neither move until I'm halfway across the room. Every fiber of my being wants to pull Lemon into my arms and kiss her, but I can't.

Instead, all my focus is on my daughter, who is slowly sitting up. "Hey, sweetie. How's your head?" Goldie pulls the ice pack away from the side of her head. I see a bit of red, but nothing else and she doesn't have a bruise. I look at Lemon and hope she can tell I'm not upset with her. "There was a fight?"

"Yes, two boys. Fists started flying and Goldie just happened to be walking by. I took her right to Ms. Cade. She thinks Goldie's okay."

"Are you?" I ask my daughter.

She nods. "Maybe I'll go to class. Rosie probably misses me."

I have to bite my tongue because I could've stayed at work, but then I would've missed this. "If that's what you want, or I can take you to Grandma's."

Goldie shakes her head. "I think I'm okay now."

"Do you want me to walk you back to class?"

Goldie looks horrified. "No, Daddy."

"Okay," I say, putting my hands up.

"Show this to your teacher," Lemon hands her a slip of paper. "If your head starts hurting, ask to go see Ms. Cade. Okay?"

"Thank you, Ms. Walsh."

Goldie gives me a hug and then skips her way out of Lemon's office. I head to the door, close it, and turn to face her.

"Can I come over tonight?"

She starts to shake her head and then stops. "What about Goldie?"

"My mom will watch her especially if I tell her I'm going to go see you."

Lemon tries not to smile and ducks her head so I can't see her do so. "I should say no."

I nod.

"But I'm saying yes."

"I'll be over around eight," I tell her. "That's when Goldie goes to bed."

I put my hand on the doorknob and begin to turn.

"Wade?"

I look at her.

"Don't hurt me."

Tears rush to my eyes. If she wasn't at work or didn't work in a school, I'd go to her right now and hold her in my arms. I never meant to hurt her to begin with. I was young, stupid, and did something that changed the trajectory of our lives. It was never my intent, but when the love of your life tells you they don't want to be with you anymore, you tend to do shit you may or may not regret later. I wish I had given Lemon more time before I allowed myself to do what I did.

"Hurting you is something I never ever want to do again, Lemon."

With those words, I leave her office. Instead of heading to my truck, I go toward Goldie's classroom and make sure she's made it back. I'm going to have to buy her a dog after this because she single-handedly showed me the one thing that was missing in my quest to get Lemon back . . . how she'd act with my daughter now that she knows the truth.