“I did. It was a long road to get there. I hadn’t planned on taking ten years to finish, hadn’t planned on staying home for college in the first place, but life had other ideas.”
He leaned in and rested his chin on his hands. It was a bit disconcerting to have his undivided attention. “What had eighteen-year-old Erin planned for her life?”
“I had so many dreams. My mom and I did. But then she died.”
“I’m so sorry. That had to be rough for you.” He reached out and rested his hand over hers for just a minute but then pulled it back. His touch comforted her and she missed it when he folded his hands in his lip.
“Yeah, well, my sister had it worse. She was only eight. And it’s like my father died with my mother. He’s never been the same. He doesn’t leave the house often anymore.”
Jake’s gaze remained locked on hers. His eyes drew her in, their depths showing comp
assion, and comfort. She could read every emotion swirling in his gaze.
“Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. From the day of her diagnosis to the day she died, we only had three months with her. It wasn’t enough time. There was so much left undone. Left unsaid. And when she died, my father just shut down. He drinks more now. Not a sloppy drunk, just a sad one, moping around the house every day.” She couldn’t believe she was talking about her father with a stranger. But Jake didn’t feel like a stranger. His eyes engendered a trust that washed over her and gave her a sense of rightness that she hadn’t felt with a man… or anyone… in a long time.
“At least you were eighteen and could take care of yourself.”
“Yeah, but my sister couldn’t. Over time, she became my responsibility. I’m the one who braided her hair. I’m the one who checked her homework and talked to her teachers. I had to talk to her about sex and boys. I was her mother and her father after Mom died and Dad shut down.” She loved her sister and her father. But having to step in and be a parent to her younger sister robbed her of ten years of her life. Her friends had moved on with their futures, many married and settled in their careers, and she was just starting out on hers.
It hadn’t been fair, but they were family and that was the most important thing.
Jake’s eyes shifted to watch her rub her wrist. She didn’t even know she was doing it most of the time. She pulled her hands into her lap.
“Wow, Erin. You did all that and went to school at the same time. I’m impressed.” Jake leaned back, his arms stretched out over the back of the chair.
“Thanks. I just did what had to be done. What anyone would have.” Her cell phone chimed in her purse. “I’m sorry. I need to check this. It could be my sister or my father.”
She pulled her phone out. A text flashed from Ashley: Operation Savior in effect. Do you need rescuing?
She smiled, unable to believe it had been forty-five minutes already. Their conversation had flowed easily, comfortably. No rescue needed. Thx.
She tucked her phone back in her purse. Just because she’d used Dad and Melissa as her excuse this time didn’t mean either of them wouldn’t have a real emergency tonight. She could only hope they didn’t.
The corner of Jake’s mouth quirked up like he knew what the interruption was about. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s great. No emergency.”
The waitress arrived with their dinners and she thankfully escaped additional questions about the text. They’d talked enough about her childhood. She didn’t resent her father for being unable to handle his grief. She didn’t begrudge her sister needing a mother figure at the most important time in her life. It was that Erin had to give up her life for her family, before her life had even begun.
But ten years had passed, her sister graduated high school last month and Dad was functional enough to make do on his own. This was finally Erin’s time and she was going to be selfish for a while. Do what she wanted to do, not what was expected of her, or what someone else needed.
She steered the conversation in a new direction. “So, tell me about your houses.”
Jake straightened up from where he’d been concentrating on his meal. His shoulders relaxed and a comfortable smile formed on his lips, one that flooded his eyes with happiness.
“We build custom homes, four and five bedrooms. Our current project is in Crystal Cove.”
He loved what he did. It showed in every word out of his mouth. “That sounds really interesting. What’s your favorite part of the process?”
He didn’t hesitate before jumping in with a quick response. “Well, I love every aspect of building a home. I love turning the first piece of dirt and the moment I hand over the keys. The last few minutes in the house before the owners take possession, those are for me. Alone. I walk through, imagining what the owner’s life will be like. I love being a part of their future.”
Excitement filled his words as he described all the personal touches he added to each house to make them unique. His excitement was contagious and she grinned along with him. “Why, Jake, I do believe you’re a dreamer.”
He laughed. “I think you’re right. I have a lot of dreams and hope to fulfill every one of them.”
He focused on her, his look intent and piercing. She shuddered. It was as though he could see right through her, straight to her soul. She couldn’t look away. She understood his enthusiasm and intensity. She had her own dreams that were about to be realized.
Thankfully or regretfully, the waitress arrived to clear their dishes. Jake made quick work of paying the bill and before long, they stood on the sidewalk along Coast Highway.