“You don’t have to…”
He picked up the drill again, working on the screws. “I’m a mechanic. And a cop, although I’m not sure I’ll be one for much longer. I grew up in El Dorado. My parents still live there. My little sister lives in Little Rock.” He looked up, his eyes pleading with me to listen. “That’s where I live, too, in Little Rock. I have an apartment there.”
“Joe.”
He put the drill down, stood up and took my hand in his. “Here’s the thing. I met this girl, this beautiful woman who’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She’s funny, and brave and has packed more into her life in the last few weeks than most people do in their entire lives.”
My eyes started to burn.
“I find myself thinking about her all the time. But I hurt her. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I’d do anything to take back the pain I caused, but I don’t think she’ll listen to me. So the only thing I know to do is start over, then maybe she’ll give me another chance.” When I didn’t say anything, he pulled me into his arms, looking into my eyes for a sign that I forgave him. “Do you think there’s any way she can give me another chance?”
I’d wrestled with myself all afternoon. I knew Joe was doing his job, that it wasn’t personal. I had to look past my own feelings and look at the bigger picture. But how did I know what was real and what wasn’t, especially in regard to his feelings for me.
I cleared my throat, trying to dislodge the lump that had formed. “This woman, perhaps she doesn't know what to believe. Maybe she forgives you for doing your job but feels like everything else was a lie.”
The soft pitter-patter of raindrops beginning to hit the leaves and the cars caught me by surprise. The dark clouds that had shrouded the sky all day finally let loose.
Joe cupped my cheek carefully with his hand. His thumb ran under the bruise on my cheekbone. “My feelings for you weren’t a lie. But that’s why I wanted to wait to sleep together, so there wouldn’t be any doubt in your mind.” He paused, searching my eyes. “I would do anything to prove it to you.”
The corners of my mouth lifted into a small smile. “I’m Rose. I’ve not done much living in my life, but I met this guy who makes me want to live it. He doesn't even think it’s strange I have visions, but he wasn’t who I thought he was.”
Joe’s eyes clouded.
“I hope to get to know the real him. And besides, he promised to help me fulfill my last wish, play in the rain.”
Joe’s face lit up right before he kissed me, almost making me forget about the rain. He was always making me forget things. He didn’t forget anything though. He grabbed my hand and pulled me outside. He kissed me again as the gentle rain seeped into our hair and clothes.
“Joe McAllister, I thought we were supposed to be playing in the rain.”
“I am playing.” He laughed before kissing me again, happiness radiating from him.
Just when I was about to suggest we go inside before Mildred got more of a show than she wanted, Joe whispered in my ear.
“One more thing. My name’s not Joe McAllister.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I didn’t want to go to work the next day, but I’d already taken two weeks off and couldn’t afford to take off any more days. I was out of vacation time. I had all of Dora’s money, but I hadn’t figured out what to do with it. So, for the moment, I pretended it didn’t exist.
I almost called in sick anyway. I looked like a domestic-violence victim with the bruises on my cheek and slightly swollen eye, making me wish I had gotten concealer when I bought my other makeup. It didn’t help that I was sleep-deprived. Between giving my statement to Hilary, who showed up around nine, and Joe keeping me up half the night, I was beyond tired.
But happy. For the first time, I felt like I actually had a life worth living.
I still hadn’t gotten my car back, so Joe drove me to work. I suspected he would hold off getting it as long as possible. He was trying to find a way to spend every minute he could with me before he went back to Little Rock in a few days. Neither one of us wanted to talk about it, but we also knew our relationship was too new to promise each other anything other than the vow to see each other as often as possible. It hung over our heads like a big cloud of loneliness.
At work, I settled into my desk and turned on the computer, making sure the drawers were stocked with forms, the printer full of paper. Suzanne sat down next to me a few minutes later and was surprisingly quiet. I expected her to mock my bruises or be hateful that I had just taken off another week, but she sat at her desk, subdued.