Sparks the Matchmaker

CHAPTER 14

“You’re really good with him,” Joy said softly, trying to keep from waking Greg.

“I’m glad you think so,” Ollie whispered. “I feel completely clueless still. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Some things just come naturally to some people. You’re a natural with him.”

“He still scares the tar out me.”

“He seems harmless enough so far.”

“Yeah, so far. That’s probably just because you’re here. Lynn said he behaves much better when a pretty girl is around.”

“You’ll figure him out. You’re going to be great with him.”

“I wish I had as much confidence as you do.” He looked at her.

“I’m trying to pay you a compliment,” she said, looking into his eyes. “Just say thank you.”

“Oh. Thank you.” They were dangerously close to one another, and thoughts of stealing that first kiss flashed into his mind. Not here. Gotta be somewhere special.

Silence overtook them as the ball game flickered on the TV screen, forgotten. Ollie’s eyes smiled as they met up with the light in Joy’s gaze. He hadn’t felt a woman’s eyes penetrate his soul like that in a long time. She broke off under the pressure though, tucking her head against his chest. Nestling herself there, her arms slid around his waist.

It had been only a short time since his last relationship had fallen apart, yet the deliciousness of his arms tightening around Joy made him feel like it had been forever since he’d felt the warmth of a true embrace. He was happy right where he was, doing exactly what he was doing, with exactly who he wanted to be with. Though his mind tried, through habit, to revert to thoughts of Anne, Ollie successfully pushed her out for the first time in Joy’s arms. Anne was there somewhere, waiting in the folds of his mind, but he wasn’t there with her. He was on a comfortable couch, calm and finally at peace with himself, without any need for those memories.

Feeling Joy’s body rest heavier against him as she slowly fell asleep in his arms was the only thing he needed in his world. The ball game that illuminated the dark room was unimportant. Time had expired on his shift and he could go home whenever he wanted, but that didn’t matter. He didn’t need to go anywhere else or do anything different with himself. He wanted time— all the world— to freeze and leave him right where he was. He closed his eyes and drank it all in.

They sat like that until the game was over. Then he whispered, “Are you ready to go?”

Joy nodded, sat up on the couch, and then waited as he gave Greg his evening medications and got him into bed. Ollie was a little embarrassed about leaving a mound of clean clothes on the living room floor, but he’d told Greg earlier that he wouldn’t help him unless he was willing to fold alongside him— and Greg had fallen asleep before that had happened. Ollie wrote a note for the morning shift to call him about the laundry when he arrived.

The afternoon shift had been held by the staff worker who had just quit, so Ollie volunteered to work that. He made sure to stick the note in the crack of the front door just above the doorknob so the morning worker couldn’t possibly miss it when he came in for his shift.

Joy held his hand as they drove back home, and she quickly slid her hand into his again as he walked her toward her front door. Once there, Ollie pulled her in and held her close to his chest. He could tell that she was getting sleepy but he could also tell that she didn’t want to let go. It felt comfortable. Cold, but comfortable. And it was exciting, so natural.

It wasn’t time yet to kiss her, though. Not while she was half awake.

That night, as Ollie rested in his bed waiting for sleep to come find him, he watched the numbers on the clock. He heard every tick and every tock of the clock on the wall call to him as the numbers glowed orange in the light of the heater. Circus tomorrow. And maybe a kiss…