Not Broken: The Happily Ever After(9)

Brenda extended her hand toward Ginger. “Nice to meet you, dear. I’ve heard so many great things about you already.”

Ginger gave a tight smile in return while they shook hands.

“Okay,” Brenda said, walking toward the door. “Calida, I think you’ll love this place. The location can’t be beat. Malcolm says you have a young son.”

“I do. He’s a little over one.”

“Then, yes, this location is wonderful. The park is walking distance from here, plus the botanical gardens. Not to mention Fernbank. Perfect location for a growing family.”

Ginger gave Brenda a nod, but said nothing.

“The home has four bedrooms, four and a half baths, and sits on a fully finished basement,” Brenda said, starting in on her sales pitch. “These beautiful hardwoods are found throughout the home. I love the warm, rich color. I prefer the darker woods like these.”

“Yes, they are nice,” Ginger replied.

“Do you cook? Malcolm told me he only used the kitchen to hold take-out menus.”

Ginger glanced over at me and rolled her eyes with a small shake of her head. “That sounds like him. I cook some. I’ve gotten better than I used to be.”

“Then you will probably appreciate the professional line range and oversized refrigerator more than Malcolm did.”

We followed Brenda through the house, and Ginger looked around and nodded while Brenda rattled off all the finer points of the home. Ginger loved the double staircase and the oversized secondary bedrooms. My favorite room in the basement was the media room that even had the old-fashioned red velvet curtain operated by a remote. Both women made comments about me acting like a big kid over that feature. Once the tour was complete, Brenda led us back into the open-concept great room area.

“Tell me what you think?” Brenda asked, looking over at Ginger. “Malcolm keeps coming back to this house, so I know he really likes it, but wanted your opinion.”

Ginger turned toward me. She seemed a little shell shocked, but then she smiled before lacing her fingers with mine. It felt good to have her reach out for me.

“It’s a stunning home, Brenda. Even though there’s lots of space, it doesn’t feel…overwhelming.” She turned and looked at me. “I like it, Mal. I think you should put in an offer.”

“Well, I have the paperwork with me if you are ready to do it now,” Brenda said.





Chapter 4


Calida





I stepped outside while Malcolm and Brenda went over the paperwork. Leaning against my car, I pressed my palms to my eyes and tried to wrap my head around things. I told him I wanted to check on Shawn, but I really needed away from him. He was buying a house, setting down roots here since his company only required him in the office once a month. He said he didn’t expect me to move in right away, but it was a lie.

Everyone told me I needed to sell my house, that I needed a fresh start. Now he was in there making an offer on a place for the future he saw. He’d said our house. Sharing a room with him, being with him; my chest tightened at the thought. I needed to tell him I couldn’t do this. No, I can’t do that. I told him to make an offer. I gave him more hope. Shit! I was digging myself a bigger hole.

“…you allowed the choice to be made…” Dr. Carr’s words replayed in my head.

Malcolm and Brenda strolled out a few minutes later talking and smiling. His smile broadened when he saw me. Malcolm was a good man. He deserved better, but he was intent on being with me.

“In forty-eight hours, I’ll know if I’m a homeowner,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist.

I tensed. His large frame swallowed me. Being trapped between him and my car amplified the fearful, claustrophobic thoughts that were always in the back of my mind. My hands went to his chest. I needed some sort of a barrier. Brenda waved goodbye to us as she climbed into her BMW.

“Congrats,” I replied, fighting down the urge to push him back. Breathe, just breathe. “I need to go pick up Shawn.” I prayed that excuse would gain me freedom. It didn’t.

Malcolm placed his fingers under my chin, lifting my face toward him. His hazel eyes searched my face. His thumb ran across my lips, and he looked as if he were debating his course of action. He frowned and took a step back. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry about earlier. I don’t want you to feel rushed or pressured.”

“It’s okay. And I’m sorry too. I know yesterday, last night, you weren’t implying, or trying to—”

“Hey, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” He gave me that boyish grin I’d loved so much. A different time in my life it would have given me excited butterflies.

“So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?”

“I’m going to go pick up Shawn, then after that nothing.”

“Are you up for some company later? Dinner and a movie at my place?”

“I’ll have Shawn. My parents had him last night,” I replied in the hope that would be enough. He’d looked hurt when I turned down his invitation last night, and I didn’t want to do that again.

“He’s invited,” he answered, demolishing my objection.

Shit! If I turned him down again, then we could get into another argument, and I didn’t want to fight with him.