Next Door Neighbors (19 page)

              Jill couldn’t bear to look at Brian. As she sat on her side of the couch, she blankly stared off into space. She slowly shook her head, afraid that if she were to speak, she’d cry.

              A few brief moments went by in silence, Brian gazing down at Jill. He thought about her response and studied her eyes for any hope, any possibility.

              But there was nothing but misery. He had to accept defeat.

              With a deep, heavy sigh, Brian slowly nodded his head and quietly said, “Okay.”

              Not even waiting for a response, he walked past Jill and towards the door.

              After the door closed and Jill knew that Brian was gone, she let her tears fall. She hated that this was how they were leaving things before he left.

---------------

              Back on his mom’s property, Brian shed his own tears. Even his offer of moving up here didn’t effect Jill’s decision.

             
I just don’t know what to do!

              He took a seat in one of the few remaining chairs in the living room and buried his head in his hands as he leaned forward. Buddy came up to him and placed his snout on Brian’s lap, sensing his owner’s sadness.

              Looking at his dog, he grimly said, “Hey, Buddy.”

              He gently pet his dog’s head the way he liked it.

              “I just don’t know what to do. Unless a miracle happens, it looks like tomorrow may be your last day in Ashwin.”

              As if he didn’t like that news, Buddy took off running. Brian went after him, puzzled with his dog’s behavior. “Buddy? Where’d you go?”

              He caught up to him in what once was Elena’s bedroom. Most of the mess was gone, but right beside the spot Buddy chose to sit, panting, lay something Brian didn’t even think about since Jill and he were last in the room together about two weeks ago.

              Looking it over, he gave his mom a call. If she gave her permission, he’d use this as one final attempt to win Jill’s heart. 

17

              The next afternoon Brian put the finishing touches on what he was going to give to Jill. Everything was written out and put in order. He sealed the envelopes and placed them nicely in a tiny gift bag he had picked up earlier that morning when he went out to say goodbye to his mom.

             
If this doesn’t do it, I’m afraid nothing will.

              Gathering the last of his belongings and double checking to make sure he didn’t forget anything, he zipped his suitcase and brought it to his car. Then he headed back inside to turn everything off, shut any of the blinds that may have been open and turned down the thermostat. Seeing as no one would be back inside for a while, he took every measure to make sure everything was properly taken care of.

              “Come on, Buddy. Let’s go,” he called, and as usual, Buddy ran to his owner’s side. Both of them stepped outside, and Brian immediately locked up the doors.

              He opened the car door for Buddy to jump inside and then, as if his dog was a person, he explained he had to drop something off next door and would be back in just a moment. Buddy sat down nicely in the back seat as Brian shut the door, and there he waited patiently for Brian’s return.

              The small gift bag in hand, Brian walked to Jill’s side door. Jill didn’t appear to be home, but even if she was, he was just going to leave the bag on the step anyway. He didn’t see the point in bothering her.

              Slowly walking back to his car, he took one last look at his mom’s house, his childhood home. It was hard for him to imagine that someone else would soon be living there. Someone else would be able to find joy in the birds that gathered in the back yard. Someone else would be able to enjoy being close to the park that was just down the road; the park that held many fond memories for Brian.

              Someone else would be right there next to Jill.

              Brian sighed. He was going to miss being here. He was going to miss his house, his mom.

              Jill.

              Accepting this was his reality, being duty bound to his place in the south, he got into his car, backed out of the driveway and left.

              When he came back in the spring, it would be a short trip without his dog to deliver the keys to his mom’s home into the hands of the next owner.

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              Jill pulled into her driveway after a long, difficult day at work. Her attention was needed in every direction throughout the entire day, one department pulling her arm one way while another pulling her the opposite way. Though she was used to being on her feet all day long, today was out of the ordinary. She only got a fifteen minute break during her ten-hour shift, and that was to quickly eat the packed lunch she made for herself the night before. She was exhausted and definitely ready to relax.

              As she thought, Brian had already taken off. She felt bad the way things were left, that she couldn’t commit to him. She wished the best for him and truly hoped he’d find what he was looking for in the love department.

             
There has to be someone out there for him.

              When she got up to her side step, she saw the tiny bag sitting nicely in front of the door. Puzzled, she grabbed it and went inside.

              Though she was curious as to what was in it and who it was from, she didn’t allow herself to peek inside until she put everything away and changed into some warmer, more comfortable clothing. She even took her hair down from the bun she wore all day because she never felt more relaxed than being au natural in her appearance.

              Getting a quick drink first, she took the bag with her into the living room and sat on her couch. Glancing inside, she noticed three things: a set of keys, which she thought was odd, and two envelopes.

              Jill set the keys beside her on the couch and opened the envelope that read, ‘
Read first’
.

              It was a note from Brian.

             
Jill,

                            The keys that were in the bag belong to my mom’s

              house, as you may have guessed. She wanted someone to

              have a set seeing as I won’t be here for a while.

                            Like I told you last night, my mom is in a hurry to

              sell her home. I’ve met with the realtor and we have

              agreed that, come April when I give him the go ahead, he

              will put the house on the market. He told me he thinks

              it’ll sell right away seeing as the location is desirable and

              the market is blooming, but I guess we’ll see.

                            Anyway, seeing as there’s nothing I really have to

              do anymore, I don’t think I will be coming up until the

              house sells. And because that’s not for a few months

              probably, my mom thought it best you get this set of keys

              so that someone could look out for the home. You know, in

              case something happens while I’m away.

                            Go ahead and open up the other envelope now.

              Inside is something I know that you really liked. After

              talking to my mom, she agreed that you could keep it.

                            I guess that’s it. Perhaps I’ll see you come spring.

                                                                                                                Take care,                                                                                    Brian

             
Jill put down the letter, wondering what could possibly be in the second envelope. This one was larger than the first, but just as flat. Jill couldn’t possibly guess what was in there. She opened it slowly so that nothing would rip. Carefully she removed the contents. What was in front was blank, like its back was to her. Then what was behind was yet another letter.

              Flipping the first object over, she gasped.

             
I can’t believe he remembered!

              Jill brought her hand to her mouth and her eyes started to water.

              There before her was the picture of Elena and her husband, Ricky, looking madly in love. Jill adored this picture and everything it represented. Studying it yet again, her mind traveled to the night it was first found.

              That was the night Brian had opened up to her about his struggles with letting his mom, and the house, go. It was the night they had flipped through various photos of childhood memories. There were a lot of laughs, good cookies, some tears.

              That was the night she had revealed to Brian her deepest pain, something only a select few knew anything about. She didn’t even think her best friend, Amanda, knew as much as what Brian had found out that night.

              That was the night they had shared their first kiss. A very real, passionate, memorable kiss.

              Jill smiled thinking about what she experienced that one night. Was it anything remotely like what Ricky and Elena had? Jill honestly didn’t know.

              But Brian giving this to her, it spoke volumes.

              Not wanting to put the picture down, but desperately wanting to read what was in the letter included with it, she chose to do the latter. This time the note was on heavier-weighted paper instead of a plain notebook piece of paper.

             
Must be of value,
she immediately gathered.

              Opening it up to its entirety, she began to read.

              Dear Jill,

                            From the moment you bumped into me TWICE

              at the store, I knew there was something different about

              you. I didn’t know you were the one that lived next to

              my mom, the one she praised non-stop about every time

              we talked. But I noticed your caring eyes, gorgeous smile,

              and, yes, I’ll admit, your attractive body.

                            I could have gotten mad that you were in too big

              of a hurry and plowed into me more than once, one time

              spilling my drink.

                            But I didn’t.

                            When I noticed that you had forgotten your gravy

              packet, I could have just let it be. Instead, I put my stuff

              aside to get it out to you before you drove away.

                            I loved the way I saw your body move to the song

              you were singing while you planted your garden the day

              I returned your casserole dish. You were sweaty and

              dirty, but just as attractive as the day we met. Noticing

              a dirty smudge on your face, I could have let it be,

              possibly embarrassing you later on. I chose to save you

              from that and clean it off.

                            I invited you to my mom’s birthday dinner

              because I know how special you are to her. It could have

              just been a family thing – well, in some ways I guess it

              was because you are like family to her – but I knew you

              deserved to be there. You’ve done so much, and probably

              had more right to be at her table than me.

                            At dinner we grabbed for the last piece of bread

              at the same time. I really wanted that last piece of bread.

              It was a recipe that came from a couple of generations

              before me, and I don’t get it very often. But knowing it’s

              just food, I gave it to you. I wanted you to enjoy what my

              family has enjoyed for years and years.

                            I’m sure you’ll remember when I stopped over the

              day that your lawn mower wasn’t working. I got the hint

              that you weren’t quite sure you knew what to do, but even

              if you did, I wasn’t about to let you go through the hassle

              of getting it fixed. Seeing as I had to go to the hardware

              store myself, it was my pleasure to get what was needed

              so that I could take care of the problem for you.

                            Thankfully my mom told me about you needing a

              furnace tune up. That’s actually very wise of you to do

              every year. But just think, some other guy could have

              come into your home and may or may not have done a

              satisfactory job. You deserve perfection, and that’s

              exactly what I gave you.

                            I feel awful that I let Marble get out of the house,

              though. But instead of letting you fend for yourself, I got up

              in the tree and got him down. I’m not going to lie that I was

              afraid I might fall off the branch and break my back. But

              you come first to me before any of my own feelings.

                            The day I came home and saw you lying on the ice

              scared me to death. For a moment I thought you were

              seriously hurt. I’m so glad that you weren’t, but just to be

              sure, I helped you up and took you inside your home,

              watching for any signs of a brain injury. Bet you didn’t

              know that!

                            Two weeks ago is when things got tricky between

              the two of us. I’ll never forget that night when I opened

              up to you about everything I was dealing with. I allowed

              you to peek into my past by looking through family photo