“I just don’t know if it’s smart to try to date someone who lives right across the hall. I mean what if it goes bad? And then you’re right there with that person. Running into them all the time. Seeing who else she might be going out with. She’s gorgeous, mom. There’s no way she wouldn’t have a new boyfriend that I’d have to battle the desire to punch them every time I opened my door.”
His mother’s lips quirked upward. “Okay, and what if it goes good?”
His brows lifted. “Goes good?”
“Sweetheart, if you really like this girl, not taking a chance on a relationship because you’re afraid it might go wrong down the road could make you miss something amazing. You know that Joe and I met at a group at church for divorced singles. Talk about pressure! If we started dating, everyone was going to know it. And if we failed at staying together, everyone was going to witness. But we both knew that life was precious and the opportunity to find that special someone wasn’t easy. Best decision I ever made.”
“Okay,” he nodded. “But what if it hadn’t lasted?”
Shrugging, she smiled. “It would’ve hurt. And it would’ve made it difficult in the group to have to admit that we tried and failed. But the most important thing is that we tried with the absolute hope that we’d succeed.” They sat quietly for a moment until they heard Joe’s truck pulling into the driveway.
“I should get back to the house after I say hello to Joe,” he said. They stood and he embraced her once again
She leaned her head back and looked up, smiling. “You were the oldest, the most responsible. You’re so used to taking care of everyone, but I’ve always hoped you’d find someone who wanted to take care of you. The problem is, Griffin, when you find that someone, you need to allow them to do so. But please, don’t turn away from possibilities just because you think they might not work out in the end.” Hearing the back door open and Joe’s boots on the floor, she squeezed him before letting go. “Remember, life is always about possibilities. You just have to be willing to embrace them.”
Joe walked in, his gaze soft as he greeted his wife, then smiled widely as he saw Griffin. Offering a back-slapping hug, the two men embraced. “You’re leaving? You don’t want to stay for dinner?” Joe asked.
“I’ve got to get home, but I’ve had some of the apple crisp. Gotta tell you, you’re in for a treat.” Waving goodbye, he headed out to his truck. Once inside, he glanced through the window where he could see Joe and his mom embracing. Glad that she’d found happiness after years of unhappiness and then loneliness, her words resounded in his head. Life is always about possibilities. You just have to be willing to embrace them.
Pulling up to the house, he now saw Caitlyn’s car parked on the side of the road. Glancing up to the second floor, he could see a light on in her apartment. As soon as he walked through the front door, Margaretha’s door opened.
“Good afternoon, Griffin.”
At the sound of his landlady’s voice, he forced a smile onto his face as he turned. “Good afternoon, Margaretha. How are you?”
“Oh, it’s a lovely day. I’ve had some delectable man-candy to watch as they worked on my house, and Bjorn brought over some tea. I’d say I’m doing just fine.”
At that, his smile was no longer forced. “I’m glad,” he said with sincerity.
Her wrinkles deepened. “I know you’re not here to do general maintenance, but could I prevail upon you to take a look at my hall closet door? It’s stuck and I can’t pull it open.”
“Of course,” he replied easily, stepping through the front door and into her apartment. It didn’t take long to realign the latch bolt of the door that looked like it had been misaligned for years. “This should make it open easier.” Stepping back, he opened and closed the door several times.
“Oh, you are so clever!” She sat on her sofa, sipping her tea. “My Harvey was also clever with his hands. He was a watch and clock repairer. He could work for hours over the tiny, intricate workings of a watch and always find a way to repair it. To relax, he created jewelry. We used to have a little shop on the east side of town. We worked so well together. I was his sales clerk and did the books for the business. Our kids were practically raised in that shop.”
She waved her hand toward the opposite chair, and he sat to listen even if his mind was on Caitlyn and not on Harvey’s watches and clocks.
“I was watching you turn the wood today,” she continued, drawing his attention. “It was fascinating. I haven’t seen someone work a lathe in many years and had forgotten how intricate the work was. It was intriguing to watch you take a long, rectangular stick of wood and create patterns on spindles that are things of beauty. And it got me thinking. You’re not changing the wood. Oak is still oak. Maple is still maple. You’re not even changing the functionality. A rectangle spindle would hold up the railing just as well as a decorative one. But just by being in your hands, the wood is simply enhanced.”
“You’re right, Margaretha. I guess I never thought of it like that, but yes, the wood and functionality are the same.”
“Unless, of course, you use too much pressure and make the spindle too narrow. Then, it becomes weak, doesn’t it?”
He chuckled, nodding. “Oh, yeah. I’ve done that before, especially when I was first learning. I’d try to get too creative and end up making the spindle very narrow, especially in the middle of the wood. Then it’ll snap if there’s too much pressure put on it.”
She sipped her tea and smiled. “You know, you and Caitlyn have a lot in common.”
At that pronouncement, his chin jerked back slightly. Having no clue what to say, he waited to see what else she would say.
“You handle wood with care, bringing out the best in it. She does the same with the young people she teaches.” She set her teacup onto the table and continued. “You know, my husband and I bought this house after it had already been divided, wanting just an apartment and the opportunity to have rent income after he retired. I was afraid when he passed that I might not be able to handle it by myself, but I’ve had such luck with lovely renters. I think my favorite renter of all would be our Caitlyn. I’ve never met anyone so generous with her time or her talents.”
His chest squeezed as he wondered if she had overheard his words from that morning. The last thing he wanted her to have heard was something vulgar in reference to Caitlyn. Sitting up straighter, he swallowed deeply. “Margaretha, I know. Believe me, I’m well aware of her qualities.”
“It’ll take a special man to be with her. The kind of man who knows how to handle her carefully, always bringing out her beauty without changing her or breaking her.” She held his gaze, her grey eyes pinned on him. “Someone… well, someone like you.”
His chest depressed, but it was hard to drag more oxygen back inside. “I… I’ve… I’m not sure that’s me…”
“Nonsense,” she declared. “If you give up at the first knothole you come to when making a spindle, I can’t imagine you’re the right man for the job.”
Leaving her apartment, he knew no matter what happened, he owed Caitlyn an apology. Climbing the stairs, he walked directly to her door and knocked. He wondered if she was going to answer, but after a moment, her door opened. His gaze was filled with the shadows in her blue eyes that were no longer twinkling, and she crossed her arms around her middle as though protecting herself for whatever might come.