Page 13 of You Found Me (The Meadow Springs #1)

Spencer

Since I can move into my new place Monday, I’m heading out to run a few errands.

Ms. Clara stops me in the lobby of the Inn, and since I’m not in a rush, I don’t mind talking to her. From the moment I arrived in Meadow Springs, she’s taken on a bit of a stand-in grandmother role for me—always so kind and compassionate.

When I got hurt at work a couple weeks ago, I ran into her that afternoon, and she fussed all over me. Started bringing home-cooked meals to my room and offering to pick up anything I needed, to avoid harming myself further.

Of course, I politely turned down having her run around town just for me, but the gesture was sweet. And then when I got the stitches out, she made sure to tell me that the scar was barely visible and that I was still as handsome as ever.

I walk up to her, and she opens her arms eager for a hug.

As I embrace her back, I ask, “How’s my favorite lady today?”

She pulls back, lightly smacking my arm. “Oh hush up you charmer. I just wanted to ask if what I read on the computer was true. Your last night here is Sunday?”

“You read right. I’m finally able to move into my apartment on Monday. ”

“That’s fantastic, Spencer. Which complex did you get into?”

“I’ll just be a little ways over at the Calla Lily Court complex. As much as I love staying here, I’m really glad to have my own space again. Thankfully, it was my first choice with how close it is to downtown.”

“My good friend Myrtle owns that building. Granted, she doesn’t run the day-to-day operations, but it’s a great place to live. All of the apartments are beautiful.” She pauses before adding, “I don’t mean to hold you up, just wanted to see if you’re really leaving me.”

“You could never hold me up Ms. Clara. I’m just going out to run a few errands.”

“What time do you think you’ll be back?” She quickly adds, “I only ask because I’d love to have your room tidied up and get you some fresh sheets before you come back.”

I check the time on my watch, going through my to-do list in my head. “I should be back around noon, but you don’t need to worry about my room. It got deep cleaned yesterday when I was out all day.”

“Silly me. I forgot your room was on the docket yesterday. Just ignore me, you know I’m an old lady.”

“You’re only as old as you feel, Ms. Clara. You’re just a busy woman.” Before I leave, I ask, “Do you need anything while I’m out?”

“No thank you, dear. Now get out of here and let me be so I can get to work.”

She’s interesting—most of the people in this town are—it’s part of why I like it so much.

All the older women who play their hand at matchmaker. The older men in town that sit at the coffee shop in the early mornings gossiping like hens. How most of the people in this town who are my age, are married with a kid or two.

The mayor of the town is this eccentric personality who hasn’t heard of a holiday he couldn’t plan an event for. It’s been so chaotic that I’ve not had a dull day since I moved here.

After running to a few different stores to grab curtains, bedding sets, towels, and kitchenware for the new place, I make my way back to the Inn. Inside, I see Ms. Clara speaking with a woman around my age. I’m about to walk past them when Ms. Clara calls out to me.

“Look at you saying you’d be back by noon and you’re exactly on time.”

“Sure am,” I answer her with a smile. “I didn’t need to stop by too many places.”

She softly pushes the woman standing next to her toward me. “Spencer, I want to introduce you to my granddaughter, Heidi. Heidi, this is Spencer, our most recent transplant.”

I reach my hand out to Heidi and watch as she shuffles what looks to be a picnic basket from her right to left hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Heidi.”

“Oh, it’s nice to meet you , too, Spencer. We were just about to head out to the garden for a little picnic, would you like to join us?”

Oh. My. God.

It’s a setup.

This sweet meddling woman planned all of this!

I’d smack myself if that wouldn’t make me seem crazy.

Actually, on second thought, maybe if they think I’m insane I’ll be less appealing to Heidi.

Nothing against her. She’s a very pretty girl, but there’s something in her eyes that has my brain screaming “danger ahead.”

“That’s very kind of you to offer, but I wouldn’t want to impose on a family lunch.”

Ms. Clara waves off my comment. “Nonsense. I’m going to miss having you around here. I just thought it’d be nice to spend lunch with you and my granddaughter—who’s visiting after a bad breakup.”

I don’t want to do this. Not even a little. But my mother raised me to be a gentleman, and I think hightailing it out of here would be considered rude.

“If you’re sure it wouldn’t be an imposition, then I’d love to join. As long as there’s enough food.”

Heidi smiles wide. “There’s plenty of food. I tend to cook and bake a lot when I’m upset.”

“Well, lead the way,” I tell them with a fake smile .

While they are talking to one another on their way out to the garden, I very quickly send off a text to Theo.

HELP! Call me with a work emergency. Ms. Clara set me up with her granddaughter. Save me! She has crazy eyes!

I put my phone back in my pocket and quickly catch up to them, finding that they’ve found a cute patio table to sit at while we eat lunch. My goal is to scarf down whatever she’s made and wait for Theo to call me.

They’ve already started to set the table with containers of food. Right when everything is out, the walkie-talkie clipped to Ms. Clara’s pants starts yapping about needing her in the kitchen immediately.

I watch as she winks at Heidi before looking over to me. “I’m sorry, I’ll be right back. Feel free to start without me.”

“Does she do stuff like this often?”

Heidi furrows her brows. “Stuff like what?”

It’s then that I realize Heidi doesn’t know this is a setup. She really thought she was coming here to spend time with her grandmother. Rather than burst her bubble, I move on. “I’m sorry that you’re going through a breakup. That’s always tough.”

“Thank you. It sucks, I was ready to get married, and he wasn’t. And instead of giving himself more time with me to come to the same conclusion, he broke it off.”

I see the unshed tears in her eyes and feel awful for her. “Not being on the same page is rough, but maybe he doesn’t wish to get married right now, or ever. Though, if you don’t mind me asking, how long were you together?”

“Three months,” she says with a sniffle.

Had I known that was going to be her answer, I wouldn’t have taken a drink of my sweet tea. Because right now, I’m fighting for my life as the too sweet, sweet tea goes down the wrong pipe.

Wanting to be married after three months seems wild to me. I know a lot of couples back in the day would get married rather quickly. Live and love fast and all that, but marrying someone underaged was also the norm then, so not really the best comparison.

Once I stop coughing, I clear my throat. “Wow. Three months is quick to know you want to marry someone.”

She pouts, but it’s not in the cute way Emmaline does when she’s trying to get her way.

“I know it was fast, but I loved him. And I thought he loved me.”

“I’m sure he loved you,” I say to placate her, “but sometimes men need longer to realize just how much. Maybe give him some space and he’ll come around.”

“Well, he never actually said the words. I just know that he did.” She shrugs and continues, “You’re right though, I’ll give him some time before bringing up the subject of getting back together.”

Sweet lord.

Trying to push marriage on someone who hasn’t even told you they love you is . . . a choice.

I almost feel bad for this poor schmuck—not bad enough to keep Heidi off his back though. I understand Ms. Clara likes me and wants to set me up, but she has to know that her granddaughter has a few screws loose.

I’m at a loss for words. So, when my phone starts ringing, I excuse myself from the table to answer. “Oh my god. What took you so long to call me?” I whisper shout into the phone.

The laugh that fills my ears is too loud. “I’m sorry. I was out back working in the yard and didn’t have my phone on me.” Theo jokes, “I guess it’s not a love match then?”

“It’s not funny. She’s insane. And you know I don’t like calling women crazy, but holy hell,” I exhale. “She wanted to marry her ex after three months of dating. I should also mention that he never once said he loved her.”

I hear him whistle. “Yeah, sounds about right. I’d say you need to get out of there. Just come over to the house when we hang up. Front door is unlocked and I’ll have a beer waiting for you.”

“You’re a lifesaver. See you in five.” I end the call and walk back over to Heidi who’s engrossed in her phone .

“I’m so sorry to cut this short but that was my boss. There’s an emergency at work with a project that’s due on Monday.”

“No problem,” she says, barely glancing up from her phone waves me off. “Nice meeting you.”

She goes right back to her phone, not waiting for my response. I walk out through the side gate in hopes of avoiding Ms. Clara, and a few minutes later I’m outside of Theo’s house. I walk in like he said, finding him lounging in an Adirondack chair with two beers on the table next to him.

He hears the sliding glass door open. “Well, if it isn’t Meadow Springs very own Romeo. I feel honored to be blessed by your presence.”

Walking to the chair next to him, I smack him upside the head. “Shut up. The only thing that saved me was the fact that she’s not over her ex. Pretty sure she was texting him when I left.”

“I met her a couple of years ago. I think she’s in love with the idea of being married because she was talking to Mia and me about trying on wedding dresses.

” He pauses, taking a swig of his beer. “When Mia asked her when she was getting married, she giggled and said, ‘ As soon as I convince my snookums to propose.’ My eyes bugged out so hard that Mia had to smack me so I could compose myself.”

“What is with the women in this town insisting on playing matchmaker? Just because I’m single doesn’t mean I can’t find my own girlfriend. Maybe I don’t want to date anyone. Did they think of that?”

“Dude, relax. They do this to everyone. I still get set up on dates by that group. I’ve been on dates with all of the single women in town, no matter the age.” He shrugs, “The only way to stop it is to get yourself a girlfriend.”

“I don’t have one now because I want to focus on work. Balancing two jobs is a lot.”

He turns to me, left eyebrow raised. “That’s the only reason?” At my nod, he pushes on, “Or is it because you’re waiting for someone special?”

“I’m single because work takes all of my focus. That’s it. I don’t have the bandwidth to give anymore of myself to anyone. ”

I look around at the neighboring houses and stop when I see a woman looking out her window. When we make eye contact, I wave and instead of waving back, she drops out of frame making me laugh.

“What?”

I point to the house directly across from us. “A woman was looking over here and when she saw me wave, she disappeared, like she actually dropped to the floor.”

He lets out a deep sigh. “That’s Colette’s place. She actively avoids being in her backyard when I’m out here.”

“Oh, that would explain why she didn’t wave back,” I tell him with a laugh.

“Maybe.” Theo shrugs, then asks, “So, how long do you think you’ll have to avoid the Inn?”

“I’m afraid I might never get my stuff back,” I joke. “Hopefully if I wait another hour or two, she’ll be gone.”

“You can stay however long you need but I’ll be leaving around four to head to my parents’.”

“I’m sure I’ll be good to go back before then.”

“There’s a spare key under the frog next to the porch swing out front. If you go and she’s still there, just come back. Were you at least able to eat on your date?” The asks, his grin coming back.

He’s enjoying my discomfort way too much.

“All I was able to inhale before you called was a piece of stale bread with no butter, or jam, and then some sweet tea that almost killed me.”

“I can throw a couple burgers on the grill really quick,” he offers.

“You’re already a better date than Heidi.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know I’m a catch,” he says, blowing me a kiss before walking inside.