Shoe Strings

into it now, but, trust me, she needs some
help.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”   Cal laid a hand on Jesse’s tense
shoulder and squeezed.   “Look, Jess,
I know you’re upset about her leaving, but you can’t just shuck your
responsibilities here and run after her.   You two barely know each other.”
    Cal saw a muscle in Jesse’s jaw clench.   “I’m in love with her.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.”   He regretted the words as soon as he saw the angry look in Jesse’s
eyes.   “Don’t you think you’re
rushing things a bit?”
    Jesse glared at Cal.   He had to work at not squirming under the weight of his stare.   “How many times do you think I’ve heard
the story of how you and Mom met?   What did it take you, Dad?   Two hours to fall in love?”
    “That was different.”
    “You’re right, I’ve had about three hundred more hours to
figure it out.”   He pulled the hands
he’d angrily stuffed in his pockets out and held them in front of him.   “Look, if you can’t help, that’s
fine.   I’m sure Kerri Ann would
understand.”   He started off toward
Cal’s house.
    “Wait just a minute,” Cal called, surprised when Jesse
turned around right away.   Maybe he
wasn’t the only one who wanted to make up.   “What kind of trouble is she in?”
    “Something to do with her father and her company.   I can’t get into the details.   I just need to go see for myself that
she’s okay.”  
    His pleading look said it all.   “Go on, then.   Just call me when you find her, let me
know you’re both okay.”
    He rushed back to the car.   “I will.   Thanks.”
    Watching Jesse’s relief, his eagerness to get to Lita, made
him realize how little credit he’d given his son.   He’d fallen in love with a wonderful
woman, someone who could make him happy, someone he could build a life
with.   Hell, he was half in love
with her himself.   “Wait just a
second,” Cal said before Jesse closed the door.   “I’ll be right back.”
    He rushed into the house, back to his bedroom to the carved
wooden box next to the picture of his own beautiful woman.   “I think it’s time, Ellie,” he said to
her smiling face.
    Jesse sat in the car, his fingers impatiently tapping the
steering wheel.   He hopped out when
he saw Cal running.   “What is it,
Dad?   I need to get going.”
    Cal stretched out his hand and uncurled his fingers.   Ellie’s rings sat in his palm, still as
bright and beautiful as the day he’d given them to her.   “These were your mother’s.   She’d want you to have them.”
    Jesse stared at Cal, his hands jammed into his pockets.   He cleared his throat before
speaking.   “I’d be honored.”
    Cal smiled and stuffed them into Jesse’s palm.   “Go get our girl, then.”

 

 
    Chapter 30
    Sophie sat behind the counter, collected the checks from the
register, and scrolled through the names at the top of each check.   It was a habit she’d picked up lately,
in the last three weeks to be exact, to try them out for size.   “Amanda?”   She scrunched her nose and moved
on.   “Carlyle?”   No way.   “Sarah?”   Classic, she thought, and Steve would
approve.   Definite maybe.   When the door chimed, she stuffed them
back under the cash drawer and looked up.  
    It was strange enough to see a guy walk through the door of
Angelita Feet, but to see one so clearly out of his element put a smirky smile
on her face as she stood to greet the customer.   He had windblown dirty-blond hair, a
chiseled jaw, and enough character around his eyes to make her queasy stomach
tingle.   He walked into the store
the way she imagined him walking into any room, his loose limbed gait relaxed
and yet purposeful enough to make every head turn in his direction.   She may have been married and pregnant,
but she sure as hell wasn’t dead.
    “Can I help you with something?” His hazel eyes homed in on
her like a laser.  
    “I’m looking for Angelita Barros.   Is she in?”
    My, my, my…where did Lita stumble across someone
so…manly?   “She’s out at the
moment.   Is there anything I can
help you with?   I’m her business
partner.”
    “Sophie?”
    “Yes, Mr…?”
    “Jesse.”   He held
out his hand.   “Jesse Bloodworth.”
    The name didn’t sound familiar, but the pieces of the puzzle
started clicking together in her brain as she placed her hand in his calloused
one.   This had to be Lita’s