Page 11 of A Simple Love
“So where are you taking her again?” Tim throws the sandpaper in the trash as he saunters over to the wash bin to clean his hands.
“Becker’s food truck over in Littlerock. My brother reminded me of it the other night, and I know Vic loves it there. It’s a bit of a drive, so I know she doesn’t go often. I’m gonna woo her with some of her favorite food, spin her around on the dance floor, and hopefully secure a kiss before the night is over.”
“I’m rooting for you, Mike. You deserve to be happy and finally get your girl. Hell, if you get your happy ending, that means I might have a chance at mine too.”
I look over at Tim, his blond hair curling around the sides of his baseball cap, his brown eyes gazing down into the sink as the water flows over his callused hands. When he looks up to me as he shuts off the water, I see the same longing in his eyes reflected in mine for years every time Victoria is around.
“I’m gonna try, buddy. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for your help this week. There’s no way I could have completed those orders without your help.”
“No problem, Mike. I appreciate this job more than you know. Dad’s hours got cut, so the extra money has been a blessing. I’ll see ya Monday then.” Tim grabs his keys from the table by the door and ushers his way outside, leaving me alone to finish building this table in front of me before I clean myself up for my date. I’ve barely eaten today, nervousness ruling my stomach. I’ve waited years for tonight. I know what I feel in my heart. I just need to get Victoria to give in to what I know she feels too.
Hammering in the last nail, I stand back to admire my work. The legs on this farm table are strong and sturdy, just the way Mrs. Brady asked them to be. With four kids, she needs furniture that can take a beating.
I lock up the shop and make the small trek back to my house, the sound of gravel beneath my boots the only background noise besides the beating of my heart in my chest. The home on this property isn’t as big as the one I shared with my brother, but it still offers plenty of space for a single guy like me, and hopefully, my family one day.
Making my way over the fridge, I grab a bottle of water and down the entire thing in one attempt while staring out to the backyard through the kitchen window, admiring the view and everything I can see in my future. All I envision is Vic standing here one day, the same look of adoration on her face as she watches our children play on the grass. Her long black hair tied back off her neck while she cooks us dinner at my stove wearing nothing but my t-shirt. The arch of her back as I lay her on the counter and worship her while dinner burns on the stove. I want that all. And tonight is the beginning of the road I must travel on to get there. Here goes nothing.
I shower, shave, and change my outfit more times than I care to admit before landing on blue jeans, a black shirt, and my Ariat boots. Clean and simple I decide, honoring the theme of the evening and the goal of this entire endeavor. Keep. It. Simple.
The drive to Victoria’s house is about thirty minutes, giving me plenty of time to get my game face on. My cologne filters through the cab of my truck, stronger than I intended it to be, but one extra spray was guaranteed to cover up any sweat stench I may develop throughout the evening from the abundance of nerves I feel.
In all honesty, I think I’m more worried about seeing Victoria’s dad tonight than her. Given that the last time I saw him was her graduation, and before that, the morning he told me to stay away from his daughter, I’m sure he will have an opinion about the two of us dating. Then it hits me. Has Victoria even told her dad that I’m taking her out? Maybe she hasn’t since I haven’t had a run-in with him over the past two weeks. I’m sure if she had told him, he probably would have shown up at my doorstep to beat my face in. Or maybe he’s finally realized that his daughter is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions and needs to live her life. Taking a deep breath, I mentally prepare myself for each scenario as I pull into her driveway.
The dusty brown farmhouse coming into my view hasn’t changed much in the years since I’ve known the Baker family. Tan wood-paneling and dark brown trim cling to the structure of the house that Victoria has called home her entire life, the garden flourishing to the right that I know her mother spends every waking moment in that she can find. There’s a porch swing bolted to the patio that she used to swing on while singing at the top of her lungs. There were days where I would hide in the grass a short distance from her house just to listen to her voice. Yeah, even at ten, I had it bad for her, borderline stalking my schoolgirl crush at her house.
I used to envy her family so much, desperate for the love I knew her parents have shown her throughout her childhood. With a father who favored booze and gambling over his family, my mother took sole responsibility for raising my brother and me. I will never discount my mom and everything she did for us, the woman who has undoubtedly made me the man I am today. She loved Dean and me enough for two parents, making sure we understood the consequences of our actions and the importance of honesty and hard work. But deep down, I always questioned what it would have been like to grow up with two parents, a team of unity and love whose sole purpose was to raise self-sufficient and model human beings together. What would it have been like to see my dad look at my mom the way Vic’s dad looks at her mom, or the way Dean looks at Pauline, or Tyler looks at Hayley? I want that. I want that love. I want my children to know that love. And my heart knows that Victoria is the woman I am meant to have it with.
Killing the engine to my truck, I glance in the rearview mirror one last time to check my appearance before descending from the cab and making my way to the front door. Three strong knocks and twelve seconds of waiting (yes, I counted), I’m greeted by Mrs. Baker.
“Mike, please come in.” Leslie Baker opens the door and waves me inside, her stature similar to Victoria’s in every way. Looking at her provides me a glimpse of what my future could look like with Victoria, and it’s not disappointing.
“Good evening, Mrs. Baker. I’m here to pick up Victoria for our date.” I reach out to shake her hand, but she pulls me in for a hug instead, whispering in my ear once we’ve enveloped together.
“I know, Mike, and I’m so happy. My daughter has been smitten with you for years, and I know you feel the same way. I just hope everything works out for you two.” She releases me before winking, her smile a crook on her face.
“Believe me, ma’am… I’ve been waiting for this just as long as you have then.” I wink back at her when I hear a throat clear behind me. Turning rapidly, I’m met with Mr. Baker himself. The fierceness of his narrow eyes makes me clear my own throat and stand to full height, my shoulders pushing back as I stand my ground. I will not let this man shove me away again.
“Mr. Kelley.” He greets me, his words laced with disdain.
“Mr. Baker,” I reach out to shake his hand, my hand stalling in mid-air waiting for him to reciprocate. “It’s nice to see you again.” I lie through gritted teeth, but my intentions are pure. As much as I say I don’t care about what he thinks about me anymore, I know it would be so much easier if he would at least accept me and we could remain cordial. I drop my hand after realizing my gesture will not be reciprocated.
“I’m confused as to why I’m seeing you at all.” He questions his wife as he looks over to her, his eyebrows shooting up while he awaits her reply. I focused the heat back on me where it should belong. Mrs. Baker doesn’t deserve his misplaced anger, especially when I know she’s on my side.
“I’m here to pick Victoria up for our date,” I answer confidently, while his eyes shoot fire in my direction.
“Like hell you are,” he growls just as Victoria walks up behind him.
The woman that steps around from behind her father takes my breath away. Blue jeans hug her curves, her cowboy boots adorn her feet just as I requested, and her long black hair curled at the ends falls over her shoulders, ending just above the hint of cleavage her black tank top shows off in a tasteful but downright tortuous way. Those hazel eyes look me up and down, taking in my appearance just as a mile-wide grin stretches across her face.
“Hi, Mike,” she greets me, clearly more excited about our date than she was the night I corned her in the bar. Even though she fought me on it, I knew this was what she wanted just as much as I did.
I hand her a folded piece of paper, the same one I had in my pocket the night at her graduation party. I figured, even though I didn’t get to give it to her that night, I still needed to pay homage to our history.
“Is this what I think it is?” Her hands maneuver the paper until she’s reading my words.
Will you please go out with me, Victoria? Check Yes or No.
“I figured you couldn’t say no if I asked you this way,” I shrug with a sly grin.