ChapterFifteen
Bobbie
Beau looked tired and worn out when he arrived at the diner. “Hey, Big City, bad day?” She looked at the clock that hung above John Wayne. “It's a bit early for quitting time, isn't it?” He didn't take a seat at the counter like usual. This time, he slid into a booth and stretched his legs across the bench.
“Crap day.” He placed the folder she'd given him on the table. “Can I have a beer?”
“Are you done with work?” She wasn't serving him alcohol if he was going to return to the site. Construction equipment and booze didn't mix well.
He gave her a what-do-you-think look and nodded. “I closed down the site for additional testing.” He pushed the folder toward the edge of the table. “All of this information planted a seed of doubt.”
She pushed his legs off the bench and scooted in to sit next to him. It was three o'clock, and there was only one other person in the diner, and he already had his pie and coffee.
“I'm so sorry, Beau. I never intended for any of this to happen to you.” She placed her head on his chest and listened to his heart beating out a steady rhythm. “What happened?”
“Grab me that beer, and I'll tell you.”
She rose, left the booth, poured herself a cup of coffee, and brought him a beer. She sat across from him so the feel of their bodies touching wouldn't distract her. He started his story with Kyle hitting his head and his initial thoughts about the flooring that had been loosened. He explained how he thought the tests were valid since they had come from a certified testing center. Then he told her how he had pored over her findings and how grateful he was that she'd taken a stand.
“If the results come back the way I suspect, I can thank you for saving the lives of everyone in that building. We were scheduled to start floor removal today.” He took a long draw of his beer. “The thing is, no one would have been the wiser until twenty years from now when they couldn't breathe, and they were racked by lung cancer.”
“I'm proud of you.” She reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
“Let's see how proud you are when I'm broke and sleeping on your couch.” He drank down the rest of his beer.
“I have the resources to help you.” She bit her lip. No man wanted to be cared for by a girlfriend, and she figured Beau was no different.
“Nope, that would make me feel like less of a man.”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “This coming from the man who told me to use my resources for good. I can't think of anything better than you.” She looked at his empty beer and slid out of the booth. “Did you drive your truck here?”
“Yep, one is my limit when I'm driving. Can you get me a diet soda?”
She walked away from him with a feeling of dread. Would he leave if he lost his job and wouldn't let her help?
* * *
Beau
He watched her walk away, and his lungs nearly collapsed. If he lost his job, there was no way he'd be able to stay in Colorado. He couldn't support his mom and himself on anything less than what he was making now. He'd have to return to New York and look for a job.
When Bobbie returned with his soda, she sat beside him and hugged his arm. The lump in his throat nearly choked him. He wanted to cry, but he wasn't the crying type and would never do that in front of her. He'd only cried twice in his life. Once when his father died, and once when he realized his mother would never be the same. He'd lost someone both times, which didn't feel much different. There was a real chance he'd lose Bobbie.
What a difference a day made. Yesterday he was riding high on his love for her, and today he felt her slipping through his fingers. Maybe he could persuade her to come to New York.
“It will all work out,” she said. “Trust me.” The bell above the door rang, and a large crowd entered.
Bobbie could use the booth for customers, so he put a twenty on the table and slid from the booth. “Hey, sweetheart, I'm going home to figure a few things out. I'll pick you up at nine.” He kissed her and left.
Once he had dropped his truck off in front of the apartment, he went for a walk. The city of Denver was growing on him. It had a slower pace than New York, but its tempo was perfect for the life he wanted. He closed his eyes and pictured himself in five years. In his vision, a little blonde girl held her mother's hand. That mother was Bobbie, and the little girl was his. Stuck in his daydream, he almost didn't hear the older woman calling him from the corner coffee shop across the street. He squinted his eyes and recognized Midge. She was flagging him down to sit with her.
“Hey, handsome. You're off early.” She patted the chair next to her, and he took a seat. “Why aren't you at Spurs seeing my girl? Or should I say your girl?” She studied him for a moment and then frowned. “What's the matter, son?”
Something hit him hard. He didn't know whether it was the day's stress or her calling him son. Tears slipped from his eyes, and Midge pulled him into her arms. He had been no one's son in years, and her mothering overwhelmed me.
“Tell Midge what's wrong.” She patted his back and continued to hold him.
The damn tears continued to fall. It drove him crazy that he appeared so weak. “I found out some stuff today that could change everything, and for the first time in a long time, I don't want change. I want Bobbie.” Thank goodness Midge and he were the only ones sitting outside. He didn't want an audience to witness his breakdown.