Chapter Nine

Kathy showed up as scheduled at nine a.m. the next morning. As soon as she stepped across the threshold, she beamed and turned to Karli.

“Karli,” she said, “we are not going to have any problems at all finding you stable renters, I can feel it.”

Karli’s shoulders sagged in relief.

“That’s so good to hear. How quickly would we be able to list it? And do I need to be out of here first?”

“Whenever you’re ready, we post it,” came the answer. “And yes, it’s been my experience that empty places tend to rent more quickly. People are more easily able to imagine their own belongings in the space.”

“And then what?”

“Then, we handle all of it. Screening tenants, completing the rental contracts, collecting rent, making repairs, the whole nine yards. It’s all included in our monthly rate.”

“Which is?”

When Kathy told her, Karli’s jaw dropped.

“Wow,” Karli exclaimed. “That’s… that’s a lot more reasonable than I was expecting, I’ll be honest.”

Karli swiveled to look at Jordan.

“Sarah said she’s got space for me whenever I’m ready,” she said. “How soon can we get me moved out of here?”

Jordan grinned.

“Let me see if I can line up some free labor, and we can have this place ready to rent out by the weekend.”

“Really?” Karli answered, her face flush with excitement.

“Really,” he confirmed, then staggered back a step as she rushed over and slammed into him, hugging him tightly.

“I feel like I can breathe again,” she whispered against his chest. “Thank you.”

He closed his eyes in contentment as he returned her embrace.

Anything for you, Karli, he almost said, but amended it just in time.

“It’s what friends do, right?” he told her instead. “Now, we need to get more boxes, and line up a storage unit.”

“I’m on it,” she said, releasing him and wiping away a happy tear as she went into the living room to grab her cell phone.

Jordan’s aunt looked at him carefully once Karli had left the room.

“How long have you loved her?” she asked softly, so Karli would not hear.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he muttered.

Kathy stared at him, a hand on her hip, eyebrow raised, waiting patiently for him to drop the act and confirm what she already knew.

“That obvious, huh?” he finally confessed quietly. “Years, Aunt Kathy. I’ve loved her for years.”

***

By Friday morning, the move was in full swing. Jordan had used pizza and beer to bribe some of the guys down at the station who had the day off.

Seven of them, including Tim, took him up on it, and it was all Karli could do not to clap with excitement at how quickly the house was being emptied.

By lunchtime, the rental truck containing items destined for storage was pulling out of the driveway headed to Karli’s unit, with Tim behind the wheel. He was leading a convoy of helpers to go unload it all. The only things remaining were what she needed with her at Sarah’s – namely clothes and personal items, since Sarah’s second bedroom was already fully furnished.

“I think all that’s left after I get my stuff to Sarah’s is a deep clean around here, and then tomorrow, Kathy can come take pictures and post the listing,” Karli announced with satisfaction.

“Yep,” Jordan agreed. “Glad my guys pitched in with this.”

“The pizzas should be here by the time they get back from the storage unit,” Karli confirmed as she glanced at the order tracker on her cell phone. “Beer run?”

“On it. Be right back,” he answered. “Want to come with me?”

“I’m going to start putting stuff in my car,” she told him with a grin.

“You know,” she continued, as they each carried a box to her SUV, “for the first time since Evan died, I feel hopeful about the future. I am still scared brainless about being a single mom, but I’m hopeful. Thanks to you.”

“You’re a strong person, Karli. You can get through anything. And you are going to be a great mom,” Jordan said sincerely.

But she noticed that look was in his eyes again, hinting at something that he was unable - or unwilling - to share with her. Just for a fleeting moment… and then, the moment was gone, before she could form the question.

Next time I see that look, I am going to ask, she resolved, as she watched him leave to go get the beer that he’d promised his co-workers.

Sighing, Karli headed back inside to grab another box.

***

Friday evening.

Karli and Jordan stood in the front doorway, the empty pizza boxes and beer bottles in the trash bag in Jordan’s hand.

“Back door locked?” she asked.

“Yep. Everything out of here?”

“Yes, I just double checked every drawer and cabinet in this place, right before you mopped the kitchen,” Karli confirmed.

“This is it, then,” Jordan stated. “Let me text Kathy.”

A few quick keystrokes, and he hit send.

“Feel like celebrating?”

“I do, actually,” she nodded. “But I need a shower first.”

“Me too. I can meet you at Sarah’s in an hour or so if you want,” he offered.

“I’d like that,” Karli smiled. “See you in an hour.”

***

“So, tell me more about Jordan,” Sarah said as she watched Karli decide what to wear.

Karli glanced at her, a little confused.

“Like what?”

“You said he’s Evan’s best friend, right?”

“Yeah,” Karli answered. “But we never really hung out much until now. I always thought he didn’t like me.”

“Why would you think that?”

Karli frowned.

“Just… whenever Jordan would come around, it was always… I don’t know… like he wasn’t happy to see me.”

“Interesting,” Sarah murmured under her breath.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Sarah said quickly, and darted down the hall to answer the doorbell.

***

“Hi,” Sarah said, when she opened the front door to find a tall, well-built, brown-eyed man standing there. “You must be Jordan. Come on in, I’ll tell Karli you’re here.”

He smiled, and Sarah’s heart palpitated.

Wowzer. He is a hottie with a thing for Karli and Karli is clueless. But maybe I can help her with that.

“Thanks,” he said, and walked inside.

“Um, so… yeah. Have a seat,” Sarah gestured toward the couch, then hurried back down the hall.

“Oh my God,” she hissed in a stage whisper as she barreled into Karli’s room. “You didn’t tell me he was gorgeous.”

“I never really thought about it before,” Karli confessed. “I forget you’ve never met him. You were out of town for the funeral, and that would have been pretty much your only chance. Like I said, he seemed to prefer not being around me.”

“I still feel bad I wasn’t able to be there for you,” Sarah said. “But I couldn’t get back in time.”

“I know, Sarah. It’s okay.”

“So, back to Jordan,” Sarah continued, her eyes sparkling brightly. “I wonder if he’s single.”

“He’s not married, but I’m not sure if he’s seeing anybody,” Karli told her.

“Girl. Find out, and let me know,” Sarah urged. “Please?”

***

Karli was surprised to realize Sarah’s words had created a fierce surge of jealousy in her core, and she just stopped herself from shaking her head to rid herself of the sensation.

“Okay,” she responded in a clipped tone.

Karli finished dressing, and together the women returned to the living room.

Jordan stood as they entered.

Wow, Sarah’s right, Karli thought, seeing Jordan for the first time as a man, not a friend. He is gorgeous.

His faded jeans clung to his muscled legs in all the right places, and the blue t-shirt he wore showcased his impressively built arms and torso. His wavy, dark brown hair tumbled down just past his collar, and Karli’s hands suddenly itched to run themselves through it. She wanted to feel that hint of five o’clock shadow gently scrape across her throat, then her cheek, before their lips met…

Whoa… What the hell?

“Hi,” Jordan said softly in that deep baritone, and Karli felt her knees go weak.

What’s going on here? He’s your dead husband’s best friend, for God’s sake. You cannot do this, her conscience shouted.

And another part of her brain reached over and turned her conscience off as Karli smiled at him and said, “You ready to go?”

He nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Sarah.”

“Likewise,” Sarah purred.

***

As Sarah shut the door behind them, she smiled.

It is obvious they belong together, she thought. The way he looks at her… I cannot believe Karli has no idea. But maybe my feigning interest helped her see him better.

You’re welcome, Karli.