61. Birdie

Confession: I'm a backslider.

A call coming in from an unknown number interrupted my television binge. I'd been holed up in my room for most of the last few days, passing the time talking to Ralphie and watching shows I'd already seen a hundred times.

The call went to voicemail, and I waited to see what they said. But instead of leaving a message, they called again.

Worried it could be news from the hospital, I picked up. Anthea was thirty-two weeks pregnant, so not full term. Would she be okay if she delivered early?

"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hi, is this Birdie?"

"It is," I said. "Is everything okay?" If it was bad news, I wanted to hear it already instead of fearing the worst.

"Hi, um, it's me, um, Walter?"

Walter. His voice registered in my mind, and I almost hung up. Almost. "Yes?" I said, my voice cool.

"I, um, this is awkward, but I was wondering if you might go out with me again?"

"What?" I was shocked that he would even ask.

"I know I messed up last time, but you did give me a lot to think about. That's what I want in a woman, someone who will challenge me, even if they are misguided."

"Are you serious?" I asked, baffled.

"I know I might not be your dream guy, but I would be able to take care of you."

"Take care of me?"

"I'm blowing this, aren't I?"

The bit of vulnerability in his voice softened my heart, if only a bit. "Kind of."

He chuckled. "Do you think there's a possibility I could get a second chance? Do dinner the right way? I'll take you anywhere you want."

I glanced in the direction of the kitchen, which held all of my sandwich supplies. Until I found a job, I was on a barebones budget, which meant no coffee shops, no driving unless necessary, and definitely no eating out. Would it be bad to get a meal with him?

After all, he was right. He would take care of me, financially at least. A life with someone like Walter would be easy. No passion, but also no heartbreak. No head-clouding lust that would keep me from making the right decisions.

"I'll go to lunch with you," I said. "Let's go to Waldo's Diner. Say noon?"

I wanted to see my grandpa anyway. Also, if Walter could refrain from insulting the diner while he was there, he might stand a fighting chance at redemption.

"I'll be there," he promised.

As I got ready, I called Grandpa Chester. He answered on the third ring, and I could hear wind in the background. He always stepped outside to answer a call, saying it was rude to talk on the phone in a restaurant.

"Hi, Birdie," he said. "How's my favorite granddaughter?"

"I've been better," I said honestly. "But I wanted to let you know I'm coming by the restaurant today. And I'm bringing, a, um, friend."

"Cohen?" he asked, full of happiness. "I was hoping you'd bring him back around."

My chest ached, because I'd been hoping the same thing. "That didn't work out, Grandpa. It's someone else. Nothing serious. But I thought maybe I could get a coffee with you after?"

"Of course. When will you be here?" he asked.

"We're eating at noon."

"That works great. I need to take Grandma to the doctor at eleven, so we'll be by at one."

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"You know your grandma. Healthy as a horse."

I smiled. Just talking to him was like a balm to my soul. "Good. I'll see you then."

"Bye, sugar. Love you."

"Love you."

* * *

Sometime around eleven, I threw on the first clean dress I saw in the closet, put my curls into a bun, slipped on some sandals and walked out the door, not even bothering with makeup.

Losing my job, seeing Dax so happy, it had messed with me. What was wrong with me that I couldn't have that kind of happiness? That the universe conspired against me having both a job and love and now I had neither?

I couldn't even bring myself to call Cohen. It would be pathetic. And what would I say anyway? Well, since you came in second to my job and I no longer have it, I guess we can see each other again? It fell flat even to my own ears.

With a sigh, I grabbed my purse and went out to my car, making the drive to my grandpa's restaurant.

When I got there, it was immediately clear which car was Walter's. It had to cost at least twenty grand more than all the other cars in the lot, and it shined in the sun like it had been freshly detailed.

When I got out of the car, I saw his driver's side door open. "Hi, Birdie," he said with a smile.

I forced a small smile on my own lips and waved. "This is it."

He glanced back at the restaurant. "Looks like a good local haunt."

Well, that wasn't quite a compliment. But not an insult either. "I know the owner," I said. "And the food is great."

"Looking forward to it," he said, walking alongside me toward the door. "And honestly, I'm thankful for another chance with you." He crossed his fingers. "Here's to hoping I don't blow it."

It was kind of adorable, all the effort to make amends. Maybe I could set aside his opinions about high school sex ed. After all, he'd probably change his mind once he heard all the facts and figures about how important it was.

The diner was bustling with customers when we arrived, and we found a booth near the back. I smiled at the waitress, Betsy, as she walked by in a hurry and said, "I'll be with you shortly."

"They need more help," Walter mumbled. "Maybe you could make that suggestion to the owner?"

I gave a noncommittal shrug. Grandpa had the best help. He didn't let just anyone into the family if he didn't think they'd care about his customers as much as he did. And besides, there were usually two waitresses during the lunch shift. Someone must have called in.

"So," I said. "What inspired you to want a second chance?"

"Well, first of all, you're beautiful."

I found that hard to believe in my undone state.

"And clearly opinionated." He chuckled. Like my opinions were cute. God, this guy was already rubbing me the wrong way.

"Mhmm."

"And you come from a great family," he continued.

"Spoken like a true Melrose Insurance employee."

"It's a great place to work," he said. And apparently that encouragement was all he needed to launch into a spiel about work and how it was going and how much he looked up to my father.

I was thankful when Betsy came and took our orders, just for the brief reprieve it gave me from hearing about my family.

They surrounded themselves with people who worshipped them—employees, friends, business partners. I wondered when the last time was anyone had disappointed my parents. Or if I was the only disappointment in their life.

"Tell me about your job," he said.

I took a deep drink of the soda in front of me. "I got fired."

"Oh, wow." He raised his eyebrows at the table and tilted his head, as if he were mulling over the news. "But you know, that might not be the worst thing. Now you have an opportunity to be who you were meant to be."

That was surprisingly astute for Walter. "I guess it does give me the chance for a fresh start."

"Exactly. Now you can get more involved in the family business. That would make your parents awfully happy."

I looked toward the ceiling for a moment. I didn't even have it in me to argue. Because he was right. My family would take me back with open arms—probably even let me work as an assistant or something until they could get me married off to someone as vanilla bean as Walter. And they would pat themselves on the back thinking about how much they'd helped, not caring how miserable I was along the way.

For the rest of dinner, he asked me about my skills and what I'd learned in college. It was like the worst possible combination of a job interview and a date.

"You know," he said. "I'm actually looking at getting an assistant. Maybe I could put you in to your father?"

A weathered hand gripped my shoulder, and I looked up to see Grandpa Chester. He was like sunshine bursting through rain clouds. I stood and hugged him tight, already near tears. "Hi, Grandpa."

"Hi, sugar. How are you?"

"Great now." I grinned at him, then spotted Grandma Karen behind him.

I gave her a hug, and she kissed my cheek, surely leaving a red lipstick stain that always drove my own mother insane. "It's so good to see you."

"You too," she said. "Why don't you introduce us to your friend?"

"This is Walter," I said, gesturing toward him.

He stood, wiping his hand on a paper napkin, then said, "I should probably get back to the office, but it was nice meeting you folks."

Grandpa Chester waved with an amused smile, but as soon as he walked away, his lips settled into a frown. "Beatrice Karen Melrose. What in the hell was that?"