A Few Flowers Part 6

At first, Erins boyfriend freely joined in with the banter, but when Erin commented on Montys car, Monty noted a change in him. He was silent so long, that both women froze and stared when Troy finally spoke again.

So thats your Mercedes parked out front. I was wondering what a car like that was doing in this neighborhood.

Monty faced Troy. Hed noticed the status of the neighborhood when he pulled up. The houses were getting old, but most of the homes were in fairly decent condition, although a few yards looked a bit shabby and some of the homes could have used a fair amount of repair, not to mention a few coats of paint. While not completely run down, this was definitely a neighborhood for the less affluent. He suspected most of the occupants of the houses were elderly and had lived here most of their lives or were young couples with children, unable to afford anything better.

Looks new. Troy glanced out the window, his eyes narrowed.

Seeing Cindys humble home and meager furnis.h.i.+ngs, he didnt want to make an issue of his expensive car. Yes, Ive only had it a couple of months.

Troy didnt comment further, but Monty felt Troys eyes almost burning into him. Monty didnt want to feel selfconscious or have to worry about Erins boyfriend. He was there to get to know Cindy better.

He turned to Cindy. This lasagna is a real treat. Its not very interesting cooking for one and by the time I get home, its the last thing I feel like doing. This is delicious. Thank you, Cindy.

Why do you put in such long hours? she asked.

He shuffled in the chair, deliberately disregarding Troy. I dont know. I guess I have nothing better to do. As he concentrated on Cindys face, he wondered if that was about to change.

Troy lounged back in the chair, but his stony expression denied any impression of leisure. What do you do for a living, Monty, that it keeps you working late so often?

Monty turned in the chair. While they were ordinary questions, something in Troys voice made him feel like he was being interviewed, although he didnt know for what. My job is kind of hard to describe. At the moment Im preparing a project for Robert, Cindys boss.

Troys lips tightened. Is that how you met Cindy?

Monty saw Cindy squirm in her chair. He didnt want to discuss that night not so long ago, and Cindy didnt look like she did, either. Besides, the first time he saw Cindy wasnt exactly what he would term meeting her. Yes, we met through Robert.

How do you know Robert?

The questioning had just crossed over the line from interviewing to interrogation, and Monty didnt like it. However, he didnt want to show his irritation in front of Cindy. He wasnt sure how to answer Troys question, nor did he figure he should have to.

Just through business. Why do you ask?

Troys brows knotted and he crossed his arms. What kind of deal do you have cooking with Blackmore?

Monty crossed his arms as well and leaned back in his chair. He didnt want to try to figure out what was going on or why Erins boyfriend was acting like a jerk. He wanted to put an end to Troys cross-examination and spend his time with Cindy.

He put on his best business smile. Hopefully Ill be re-designing the computer networking system and reconfiguring the database. Monty started contemplating reconfiguring Troys database.

Troy eyed him up and down, his gaze lingering on Montys favorite tie. In other words, youre a computer geek. He glanced out the window toward Montys car. It figures.

Before Monty could respond, Cindy stood. I think its time to clear the table.

Monty stood as well. Ill help you do the dishes.

At the mention of work, Troy and Erin disappeared into the living room and the television came on.

Cindy and Monty chatted amicably for a short time, but after a short silence, Cindy spoke again. Her voice lowered, and she wouldnt look at him. Im so sorry about Troy. Hes not normally like that.

Its not your fault. Its okay.

Its not okay. I dont know whats gotten into him.

I was wondering if he was your brother or something.

I dont have a brother.

Do you have a sister then? Tell me about your family.

Cindy stared out the window above the kitchen sink. I was an only child. My parents were killed in a car accident when I was young, so my grandmother raised me, and then she died when I was seventeen. I have no other relatives except for an aunt and uncle in Arizona. I send them a letter at Christmas.

Im sorry. If you were only seventeen, who did you stay with when your grandmother died?

No one. She scrubbed a dish far more than necessary and wouldnt look at him. I only had a few months until I reached legal age, so instead of going into a group home, some people from my church vouched for me and offered sponsors.h.i.+p. As soon as I reached legal age, I managed on my own.

His gut clenched. He knew what it was like to be young and alone, only he hadnt had anyone to help him.

This duplex belonged to my grandmother. There wasnt much money, so when I graduated from high school, I took the first job I could get. Ive had a few tough breaks, but through G.o.ds grace, everything is really coming together. Im still not sure how I got this job, but Im managing to save enough money to take a few night school courses in the fall so I can learn all I already should know.

She turned to him with such a big smile that the words he was about to speak caught in his throat.

I still dont know what a systems manager does, but youre obviously into computer programming. I guess you had to go to school for that, too.

Monty smiled. Actually, yes, Ive taken a few courses, but I made the t.i.tle up. I started the company when I was twenty-two, and I had to think of something to encompa.s.s all that I did when I was a one-man show. Even though Ive expanded, the t.i.tle still fits.

Her smile dropped. You own the company? How old are you?

Im twenty-nine.

She plunged her hands back into the soapy water. For only twenty-nine, youre doing very well for yourself.

Things havent always been this way. I come from what people in this end of town still call the wrong side of the tracks. Ive worked very hard to get where I am.

Youd get further if you didnt spend so much on all those flowers.

Not really. He grinned.

Cindy didnt return his smile. Im being serious, you know.

He didnt want to talk about stopping the flowers. Now he wanted to keep sending them more than ever. He couldnt do much for her, but continuing to send her flowers showed her how special she was and that seemed like a good start.

Monty reached to put a plate away in the cupboard. We need to talk about our hike. Im tied up this Sat.u.r.day, and of course Sunday is church, but Im free next Sat.u.r.day. If we leave early, we can take our time, have lunch on the trail, then when were done, we can treat ourselves to a greasy burger and fries for dinner.

Finally, he managed to get a smile out of her. I dont know why that sounds good, but it does. Whos driving? You may not want to take your nice new car on the gravel road.

If youre offering, sure, you can drive. Got a pen and paper? Ill give you my address.

With her hands still immersed in the soapy water, Cindy nodded to her junk drawer. My address book is in there, right on top. Just write it in.

Monty pulled the drawer open, laid her address book on the counter, pulled his gla.s.ses out of his pocket, and paged to the S section. I see you already have my office number in here. Im flattered. He neatly wrote in his address and home phone number.

Cindy studied the suds. I took it off your business card, she mumbled.

When he finished writing his address in her book, Monty stood and returned his gla.s.ses to his pocket. Im afraid Ive got to be heading home. I still have a lot of work to do before my meeting tomorrow morning, and Im also working on an accounting program for a new client. I have to get it done while its fresh in my mind.

They walked out of the kitchen, through the living room, where Erin and Troy were on the couch, still smooching.

Cindy retrieved Montys suit jacket from the closet. Now if I could only get Troy to leave, she whispered.

Does this happen often?

No. Even though Erin has known Troy almost as long as I have, they only recently started dating.

Monty wondered if an earthquake would separate Erin and Troy, but he was grateful they were so engaged. This way he could say good night to Cindy at the door without interruption or distraction, or worse, knowing he was being watched.

Before he left, Monty grasped her hands in his, then backed up a bit and craned his neck slightly backward, annoyed as never before by his lousy vision. Good night, Cindy. Thank you for dinner, especially on short notice.

She smiled back. Youre welcome.

Monty would have liked to kiss her good night, but they didnt know each other well enough for that. Hopefully, however, that would soon change. He nodded and left, closing the door gently behind him, and walked out to his car, doing his best to minimize his constant limp.

As he started the car, he wondered what kind of flowers he could send her tomorrow.

Cindy couldnt help herself as she peeked through the blinds, watching Montys stilted walk to the car. Despite the knowledge that anything he felt for her was a misplaced sense of obligation, she couldnt help but like him. She wondered if they had met any other way if things could have worked out between them.

Part of her looked forward to their plans for some quiet time in the forest, away from the hustle and bustle of crowds and business. Another part of her mentally kicked herself for getting so distracted that she hadnt told him that seeing him again wasnt a good idea. She didnt want to think of what would happen when reality crashed in on him and he saw her for the person she really was. Plain, ordinary Cindy, the ex-forklift driver.

She didnt want to compare their lifestyles. She didnt care what area of town he came from. The here-and-now was what mattered most, and now he owned a successful business, wore expensive clothes, and drove an expensive car. She didnt want to guess at what kind of home he lived in. Most of all, he no doubt hung around with people who enjoyed the same social status, and that didnt include her.

She owned half a run-down duplex"only because she had inherited it. And the old place was mortgaged to the max because of all the financial trouble shed been in for so long. What little furniture she had was old, and she drove a car that was in such poor condition that her mechanic planned his next vacation every time he saw her coming.

Cindy continued to watch through the blinds until his tail lights disappeared around the corner. She was too mad to look at Troy, so she walked straight into her bedroom and shut the door.

Since she couldnt sleep, she pulled out her latest Heartsong Presents book and stretched out across the bed to lose her troubles in a story she knew would have a happy ending. She was just getting to the good part when a tap sounded on the door.

Erin stepped in, raised her arms in the air, twirled on her toes, hugged herself, then flopped backward to lean against the wall. Oh, Cindy! she sighed. Im in love!

Cindy rolled her eyes. I dont believe this.

Its true. I can barely believe it myself. Erin sighed again.

Cindy smacked her open palm on top of the page. In love or not, I couldnt believe the two of you on the couch. Ive never been so embarra.s.sed.

Im sorry. Erin stared at her feet and rubbed one toe into the carpet. Really.

Cindy sighed. If we must discuss this, do you have any idea how Troy feels about you?

He feels the same way. What about you and Monty? Erin tipped her head to the side. Hes cute. Seems your type, too.

My type? Cindy crossed her arms. And what type would that be?

You know. So serious about things. Just like you.

Hes not my type, and you know it.

Erin snorted. Really? Look at what youre going to do. You and your new beau have plans to trudge through the damp and dirty bushes battling the bugs to go have lunch in the middle of nowhere. Erin raised her hands up in the air, then dropped them to her sides with a slap. I couldnt think of a better place to go on a date.

Hes not my beau and its not a date.

Erin snorted again.

We both thought it was a great idea.

See?

Cindy snapped her book shut. Go to bed, Erin.

Another vase of flowers awaited Cindy as she arrived at work. This time the arrangement consisted of a sprig of yellow b.u.t.tercups, a row of red snapdragons, and a white gardenia. Cindy was beginning to see a pattern. She was also beginning to see that Montgomery Smythe didnt listen well to instruction.

As the week progressed, since she hadnt seen or heard from him except for the daily arrival of the flowers, she no longer felt the urgency of telling him she wouldnt see him again after their hike. However, she couldnt stop thinking about him.

Each day a different variety of flowers arrived, but every day the flowers were the same colors. Red, white, and yellow. If he had a point to make and was trying to pique her curiosity, by Friday, hed succeeded.

Robert buzzed just after her afternoon coffee break and handed her a large manila envelope marked Smythe Computer Systems. Our lawyer has drawn up this contract for their proposal and I need you to deliver it to Smythe. Go now, and have a nice weekend.

Cindy nodded. Since she hadnt spoken to Monty all week, her worries appeared to have been in vain. Strangely, although she knew it was best, the thought caused her some regret.

As she packed up her desk for the weekend, including todays flowers of one red tulip, one white zinnia, and something that looked like an oversized fluffy dandelion, she felt the eyes of the four secretaries on her back.

It looks like courier has just been added to my job description. Bye, all. Shed heard enough razzing about the flowers every day, so she deliberately didnt tell them where she was going. As it was, the receptionist downstairs was on a first-name basis with the florists delivery man.

The address brought Cindy to a downtown high-rise office tower, which held a number of businesses. Inside the door boldly marked Smythe Computer Systems, Inc., she found two younger men and a gray-haired lady busily working. Computers, printers, and other high-tech equipment that she didnt recognize lined the walls. Across the room, Monty sat behind a desk in a small private office with windowed walls.

His suit jacket hung across the back of his chair. His tie was pulled open to a wide circle draped around his neck, and the top few b.u.t.tons on his s.h.i.+rt were undone. His loose cuffs rolled up halfway to his elbows showed the dusting of dark hair on his arms.

A coffee cup sat on the corner of the desk, along with a half-eaten sandwich. Wearing his gla.s.ses, he studiously concentrated on his computer screen as he typed. Watching him type so fast, Cindy suspected that Monty typed better than she did.

The woman folded her hands on her desk. Can I help you?

I have an envelope for Mr. Smythe.

The lady smiled curiously and eyed Cindy up and down, leaving Cindy to wonder if maybe Monty didnt get many visitors. The woman dialed Montys office and spoke to him. He removed his gla.s.ses and turned toward her as he hung up the phone. Walking out of his office, he smiled warmly and pulled the knot on his tie tighter.

This is a pleasant surprise. What brings you around this side of town?

She handed him the envelope and followed him back into his office, where, once inside, he closed the door. He held the contract at arms length and craned his neck backward at the same time as he patted his s.h.i.+rt pocket with his other hand. Looking around, he then picked up his gla.s.ses off the desk. Once they were perched on his nose, he relaxed and held the paper at a more comfortable distance. This is good. Except for a few concessions, its exactly what I wanted. He signed the doc.u.ment and handed it back to Cindy along with a pen.