Hope you manage to stay warm, too.
Sincerely,
S.
Randi had to read the email twice, surprised that S. had shared so much personal information. Then again, maybe she shouldn’t be shocked. She’d certainly poured her heart out to him about her foster parents over the last few months. Maybe he felt more comfortable. She hit “Reply,” somehow knowing he was waiting for her response. Sometimes it played out that way. They had a back-and-forth discussion when both of them happened to be on the computer at the same time.
Dear S.,
Where are you now?
She didn’t bother to sign the reply because they were in conversation mode at the moment. He answered within a minute.
Maine. And can I just say that it’s pretty damn cold here.
“He’s here,” Randi whispered, tracing her finger over his answer on the screen. His reply could have been creepy, since she lived in the state he was visiting, but it wasn’t. Whatever his reason might be for visiting Maine, it wasn’t because of her. He’d always known what town she lived in, and she’d been writing to him for over a year. “Don’t do it, Randi. Don’t ask him to meet up. He’s probably here on business or fundraising. Most likely in some rich area where donors can be found,” she reasoned to herself quietly. Her fear of meeting an unknown male overrode her desire to see him, no matter how much she’d like to know him in person.
Randi typed back a quick reply.
Why are you here? BTW . . . there’s a storm coming. I hope you don’t get stuck here.
His response came back quickly.
I have family in Maine. I’m just visiting. And no, I didn’t know we were expecting bad weather. But it’s not a problem if I have to stay here a little longer. I have a place to stay.
It made sense. He was in the area for a family visit, and he hadn’t said a word about meeting her in person. Seeing each other face-to-face would be as unlikely as it was inadvisable. With a major storm coming their way, they could hardly meet. She answered him for the last time, knowing she needed to get moving.
I have to get going, but I hope you have a good time with your family. Maybe we can talk if you get bored during the storm.
She moved her mouse to sign off the Center’s computer, but she saw a reply pop back into her mailbox almost instantly.
Hot date?
Randi laughed aloud, glad there was nobody else in the Center’s computer room at the moment. It was Friday night, and the two of them often caught up and went into conversation mode on date nights, razzing each other because they were both alone when most single people like them were out on the town. Unable to resist answering, she typed a response.
Actually, I do have a date, but whether it’s hot or not is still in question. A high school friend of mine wanted me to meet her brother. She thinks we’d get along well. We’re meeting up in a few minutes. So I have to go. Talk to you soon. Stay safe during the storm.
She really did have to go, so she shrugged her jacket on as she stared at the screen, almost wishing she didn’t have a kind-of-a-date with Liam Sullivan, her friend Tessa’s brother. She knew of Liam, but she’d only said a handful of words to him in the past. After months of Tessa’s nagging, Randi had finally agreed to have coffee with him at Brew Magic. If she didn’t move her rear, she’d be late.
She didn’t really expect a reply from S. since she’d basically said good-bye, but she got one anyway.
You have a date with a local guy on a Friday night? I think I’m jealous. I hope you have a lousy time while I’m sitting here alone working. Be careful and email me when you get home.
Randi smiled at the computer screen. She was used to her mystery man’s quirky humor. But the demand that she email him was . . . different. He didn’t know that she never sent him an email except when she was volunteering at the Center. It was more out of habit now than the concern about him tracking her down. It was kind of sweet that he was actually concerned about her safety.
Okay.
She sent the one-word email and forced herself to shut down her computer. She’d have to sprint down the street to Brew Magic or Liam would think she’d stood him up. From what she’d heard, he was a pretty nice guy, and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. How could he not be nice? He’d given up a promising career to move back to Amesport to watch over his deaf sister. Not that Tessa would accept any help. Her friend didn’t think she was any different just because she’d lost her ability to hear.
Randi was meeting with him mainly to get Tessa off her back; she had a feeling Liam had agreed for the same reason. Her friend Tessa might be deaf, but she was a master at manipulating people. She could be like a dog with a tasty bone when she wanted something, and she wanted her brother Liam to be happily settled with a woman of his own. Tessa loved her brother, but he was incredibly protective since she’d lost her ability to hear. Since Liam blamed himself for Tessa’s condition, he’d moved from California back to Amesport several years ago.
He gave up a career he loved to look after his sister. I know he’s a nice guy, but I’ve just never really felt a connection with him.
The few times she’d met up with Liam had been at his and Tessa’s restaurant, Sullivan’s Steak and Seafood. Randi knew a lot about Liam because Tessa talked about him a lot, but they had only spoken to each other in passing.
Maybe there will be something more if we have a private chat . . .
Randi was an optimist, and more than anything else she wanted to feel loved. Sure, she’d had boyfriends, but they’d never amounted to a serious relationship. She liked sex as much as any other female her age, but she was burnt out on meaningless relationships that involved nothing but sex. There had to be something more. She’d seen it between her foster parents, and she saw it every day between her married friends and their spouses. Unfortunately, she’d never experienced that white-hot connection with anyone except the one man she couldn’t stand: Evan Sinclair.