Gillian's Do-Over (5 page)

Hello,
Fortyandfab. The perfect name, as you certainly are that. I like your profile and your looks. You are really fab! I’d love to meet you. Or, if you’re not willing to do that just yet, how about a chat by phone? Sincerely looking for a woman friend. Niftyatfifty.

Quinn laughed. “He left his phone number for you.”

“Oh, heavens! I’m not ready for that. Besides, I’m not forty anymore. Why did you suggest that name for me, anyway? I can’t believe so many people contacted me in such a short time. I should probably admit I’m really forty-six.”

Quinn snorted. “Just play it cool. Why don’t you email that guy back? If he’s really interested, he’ll be okay with you not calling him right away. You have caller ID on your phone, right?”

“Yes, but I don’t always check before answering.”

“Always check, Mom,” Quinn cautioned. “That’s why I set you up with that feature.”

“What do you think of these others?” Gillian asked, her curiosity overcoming her initial judgment that online dating wasn’t something she wanted.

“Don’t ask me. You should check them out first. If you want me to look into any of them, leave me a note.” Quinn edged away from the desk and headed for his bedroom. “I’ll probably be gone by the time you get up
tomorrow. Extra-early meeting at the hotel, and it’s past downtown.” He kissed her cheek. “I want to wow them, to make them want me to be their new manager.”

“I know you will, honey. And I’m glad you made time to have dinner with me.” Gillian gave him a hug and returned to the desk to stare at the laptop screen, scanning several other messages. She exclaimed to herself at one message, blatant in its description of what the man was seeking, and punched the delete button.

Homebody had left a message.

Are you a homebody, too? This is my first exploration of the internet, something a friend suggested. In the interest of truth in advertising, I’m divorced—long time ago—and have grown children. Recently retired thanks to the downturn. Actually, I took the opportunity to retire early with a nice incentive package for doing so, but I’m bored with non-work life, unsure what to do with myself these days.
If you’re looking for a casual friend, perhaps I fit the bill.

Sincerely, Homebody

He seemed nice, not as threatening as some of the other messages, which were more specific in their language. His picture showed a man with a dark mustache and closely-trimmed beard. He was standing next to the mast on a boat. Was he a sailor? Gillian shook her head.
What
am
I thinking?
That he was safe? Probably not. He was likely some fast-talking schmuck who wanted her to think she could trust him. No way was she going to fall for that. She was
so
not trusting. Not after Owen, not after Nick Talmadge. And she was out of practice being with a man after so many years of being alone.

Alone and lonely. Maybe Lauren was right. It had been so long, maybe too long.

Her life really did need a do-over.

Chapter 3

Matt
closed the garage door and adjusted his bike helmet before heading onto the street on the first Saturday when he wasn’t overwhelmed with the details of Marnie’s care. Now she was sleeping and the housekeeper was cleaning the kitchen.
Time for a good long ride
. As he pedaled up a hill, the breeze cooled his forehead even as his heart rate rose. He slowed to cross the intersection, eased into the bike lane and headed for the trailhead of the interurban trail that meandered through town. His cell phone buzzed in his pocket as he swigged from his water bottle. He stopped pedaling and angled off the trail, out of the way of other riders.
Don’t let it be Marnie. Not so soon. Not today.
Relief tinged with guilt squeezed his heart when he saw who was calling.

“Heather.”

“Uncle Matt. You’re breathing hard. Did I catch you out jogging?”

“Cycling. Did you need something?”

“Just wanted to tell you Adelaide misses you.” She chuckled.

“Guess again, Twig. She was always trying to do her business when I wanted to walk, and wanting to run when I needed to slow down.”

“You two just weren’t used to each other.”

“Right. Well, I’m glad you’re home and she’s all yours again.”

“How’s Aunt Marnie?”

“She’s had better days.”

“Will you two come over for dinner tomorrow?”

“I’ll call you about that after my ride, Twig,” using the nickname his niece had hated as a teen but no longer seemed to mind.

“Okay. I have lots of great pictures from my trip. After we eat, I want you to see them. And I’m making your favorite dessert.”

“Are you trying to bribe me? You don’t have to.”

“Whatever I need to do to get you two over here. Love you, Uncle Matt.”

“Love you back, Twig.”

Matt shoved his cell phone into his pocket and looked around. The breeze was just brisk enough to cool him in the spring sunshine as he climbed the hill, braking abruptly as two children trotting near their parents suddenly darted in front of him. He swerved to avoid a collision and nodded when the parents apologized. “No problem.” The trail was too crowded for easy riding today. He dismounted and walked his bike up the rest of the hill, spotted a tree and decided to take a breather before heading for the high school.

Clusters of adults and children were scattered on the grass throughout the park. Across the way, a juggler was entertaining a small crowd of children. Closer to him
, some teenagers were setting up a volleyball net. How long had it been since he’d met with friends and batted a ball over a net?
Time to move on
. He rose and pushed his bike closer to the trail, entering near a small copse of trees that sheltered the trail. He rode under the canopy of larger trees that bordered the trail and headed for the exit onto the main road. Several people shouted as he reached the crosswalk. He glanced in their direction. Three kites were battling one another in the sky.

As he debated which trail to take to the high school
, a woman moved out of the crowd and headed toward the water fountains closer to where he was standing. Soft brown curls brushed her neck. She looked like the woman who’d been taking a break from her office in the downtown Seattle park a few days back. Similar figure, same great legs and slim ankles. But he was miles from downtown, near Heather’s place. Maybe the woman had a twin. She disappeared into the flower garden, usually tended by garden club volunteers, seniors mostly. The trail he intended to take bordered the flowers on the other side of the trees.

His curiosity piqued
and his pulse picking up, Matt pedaled toward the garden, dismounted and walked slowly behind a small group of chattering children accompanied by two adults. The woman who looked familiar was talking with a young mother. Her daughter, perhaps? The small child at the younger woman’s side pulled on her hand. Mother and daughter waved and angled toward the playground equipment, the child scampering ahead.

Matt walked his bike closer. “Hello,” he said, as he neared. “It’s Gillian,
right?”

The woman’s hazel eyes widened at his approach, the breeze ruffling her sun-kissed hair, its strands different shades of brown and gold. “Hello, yourself.”
A smile lit her face. “Where’s your granddog?”

“Adelaide’s moth
er is home now. You live nearby?”

She half-turned and pointed behind her. “About three blocks in that direction. You?”

“I’m several blocks over, more to the north. On Raven Avenue.”

“Oh. I assumed you were
a downtowner, perhaps living in one of those new high-rises.”

“Not me. M
y niece and her little dog.”

“My mistake. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“That it is.” He felt warmed by her smile. Matt’s pulse took another little hitch upward.

Gillian’s jeans hugged her
slender thighs. As he scanned her form, he thought she looked too young to have a son living on his own. Hadn’t she said he was in California? “I take it you survived going back to work last week.”

“You have a
good memory. Actually, I was fired.”

Shocked,
Matt leaned his bike on the nearby fence and removed his biking gloves. “That must have hurt. Because you suggested that
he
do the firing?”

The color in her cheeks rose. “He didn’t need any encouragement. I think it was in the back of his mind before I met you.”
Her mouth quirked up. “I’ve been beating up my boss almost every day since—on one of those rubber blow-up toys that don’t fall down.” Her eyes seemed to darken and she barked a short laugh. “I should probably be looking for another job, but I haven’t updated my resumé in years. I’m not quite sure what to do about that.” She paused before adding, “Maybe I’ll consider myself retired and figure out another way to fill my days. I signed up on a singles’ online chat room. My son says I might meet new people that way.”

Matt nodded. “Not a bad idea if you’re into the social media thing.” But it wasn’t his cup of tea.

Gillian continued. “I’m surprised at how many people introduced themselves, but some seemed kind of weird. I’m not sure I’ll stick with it.”

Matt gestured to the nearby bench that had been vacated. “Want to sit for a minute?” He joined her
. When his arm brushed against her, his pulse jumped again. “Is that what you’re looking for—companionship? Why you’re on the internet?”

Her gaze caught and held his own for a beat longer than he was expecting. Had she minded that his arm had touched hers? But she didn’t move.

“My son says I need to get out more. Meet new people. Not something I’m very good at, I’m afraid. I’m told people find jobs that way, too. He said I should set up an account on LinkedIn if I decide to keep working.” A wry smile worked its way across her face. “I’m mulling over that suggestion.” She hesitated before she spoke again. “I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that I’m unemployed. I’ve been meaning to neaten up my garden, maybe paint my house, but aside from that, I haven’t settled on what to do, now that my time is my own.”

Matt
forced himself to look away for a moment then took advantage to scan her curves when she turned her head to watch the children playing nearby. “Maybe you should give yourself permission to do nothing for a while. I’m sure how you want to live now—working again or not—will come to you.”

“
I can’t remember. Did you say you were retired?” she asked, squinting in his direction.

“I’m a lawyer. A couple of years ago, I was with a big firm, but when I needed more personal time, I opened my own office. Now I
have fewer cases to deal with—ones I prefer to take on—enough to pay the bills.”
After Marnie’s fall and subsequent stroke. Three years already?
He plucked a flower off a nearby plant and handed it to her. “I’ve always wanted to see Alaska, so I took a cruise there last summer, explored the interior a bit.” His guilt that he’d done so without his wife still nagged at him, but Heather had insisted on staying with her aunt, and things had been easier back then. “Now I’m happy to take one day at a time. You look surprised.”

“I always thought lawyers worked lots of hours and died at their desks.”

“Many do. That’s why I decided to change my life by taking control of my hours and the number of clients I see. It gives me more time at home.”
For better or worse, in sickness and in health.

“Control. That sounds like a good thing. If only I’d been able to do that.” She sniffed the bloom then stroked the petal on the rose he’d handed her. “Travel. Maybe that’s what I need to do. Take a trip. See
new places.” She tucked the rose stem into her shirt pocket and stood up.

“You have an appointment
?” he asked, unaccountably wanting her to remain longer. A woman who could hold a conversation that wasn’t related to a legal case. He hadn’t realized how much he missed that. He took a step toward his bike.

“No, but it’s time I exercised some of that control, even if it’s just picking up the house. And putting down ideas on
paper. My neighbor keeps telling me it’s time I created a bucket list so I can focus on things I might consider important. You know—new experiences. Maybe even adventures.” She gave a little chuckle. “That and clear out my email—dump all those inappropriate messages.” Her eyes seemed to shine at him when she smiled. “Perhaps I’ll see you around, Matt.” She waved to him as she angled across the park.

Gillian was the first woman he’d talked to in a long time who
sparked his interest. He smacked the handlebar with his right hand and his wife’s face flickered into his mind’s eye. He was thinking of another woman when he needed to get back to tend to Marnie, spell the housekeeper. Guilt that he could even consider wanting to get to know another woman fell like a heavy cloak around his shoulders. What was he doing? Something he’d never forgive himself for, something his sons would never understand. Or maybe they would, now that they were grown.

Time to work off some energy.
He headed the bike onto the street again, toward the high school and the new bike track the city had recently built, its sides angled upward, like a professional velodrome. “On the left,” he warned and sped up to go around a pair of joggers.

He picked up speed in an effort to forget about Gillian and concentrate on the canting sides of the
velodrome track. Time to exorcise his demons. Then he would go home to relieve the housekeeper and call the nurse about those new medications the doctor had prescribed.

Gillian reached for a grape and popped it into her mouth as she sat in Lauren’s backyard. “What do you think of this internet dating thing?”

Her friend tossed her head and laughed. “I think it’s cute that
you’re looking. If it helps you get past being fired, so much the better.” Lauren placed a piece of brie onto the cracker on her plate. “I figure that’s the first step in your do-over.” One eyebrow rose as she chuckled. “Not you. Your life. You finding an internet friend might be just the ticket.” She leaned across the table. “Have you spotted anyone interesting yet?”

Gillian snorted. “Of course not. Most of the
men who contacted me sound like perverts or lonely old men unable to get out of their chairs. It’s a colossal waste of time, if you ask me.” But that Homebody guy came to mind and then the man she’d run into in the park—twice now. Matt. He seemed nice. And he wasn’t online.

“Well, if you aren’t going to find someone online, who
would
you be interested in—if you could create your perfect man?” Lauren poured more iced tea for each of them.

“As if I were even looking.” But the idea was intriguing.
Why now and not earlier, when I was younger?
Gillian closed her eyes. “Well, he’d have to be divorced or widowed. I’m not sure someone who’s never been married would work.”
Or married. That eliminated Matt. Too bad.

“If he’s past forty and never been married, he’s probably a Mama’s boy—needing to be taken care of. Ugh,” Lauren concurred.

Gillian chuckled. “He couldn’t be living at home, with Mama, either—although if his mother was ill, he would definitely visit her frequently.”

“Of course. How old? Fifty? Sixty?”

“How about no older than sixty-five? And college-educated. Or am I being a snob?”

“
I remember all those night classes you took when Quinn was a baby. You’ve got a degree. If he did, too, you might share interests in common, maybe even the same university.” Lauren snorted. “This is fun. Maybe after you’re done creating your ideal man, I’ll do the same. Does your guy have kids?”

“He could have kids, but if he’s as old as I am, they probably aren’t living at home anymore.” She reached for another grape. “Maybe like Quinn. Who, mostly, doesn’t try to run my life.”
Especially with own his life turned upside down right now.

“Got it. What else?”

“Let’s see.” Gillian sipped her tea. “My ideal man would like animals, but he doesn’t have to have one, and he should own a car.” She giggled. “It wouldn’t be all that convenient if we had to ride a tandem bike everywhere.”