Seaglass by Chris Bridges Read Free Book Online Page A

the counter. “There’s your sandwich. I’ll be right there with your soda.”
    Knox nodded to the woman and shoved his hands in his pockets.
    “Apparently we ordered the same thing.” Madeline offered, trying desperately to say something.
    “Is that so?”
    She watched as Knox’s mouth pulled up into a rare grin.
    The waitress came rushing back over with two drinks in her hands; one of which was in a to-go container. “Here you go, Knox. Dr. Pepper. And one for you too, young lady.”
    Madeline laughed. “Thanks.”
    “What are the odds, right? Two people ordering the exact same thing. Knox, it’s on your tab.” She said as she rushed back into the kitchen with a backwards wave.
    “Thanks Olive.” He called out as he reached for the bag.
    “I guess you’re a regular around here.”
    Knox laughed. “You might say that.”
    Madeline nodded. “Well, enjoy.” She gestured to his sandwich.
    “Same to you.” He smiled and then turned and left.
    It was only once outside in the cooling air, did he allow himself to fully exhale. He hadn’t even seen her as he approached the counter, but that had nothing to do with his eyesight, he told himself. Her back was to him. But then again, once she’d turned, he’d recognized that sable hair, which she currently had tied up in some kind of a bun on top of her head.
    His body had jerked when she’d landed those seaglass eyes of hers on him. He felt—exposed by her. Like she could see inside of him and everything he’d been so carefully trying to hide. Now, as he strode purposefully down Main Street and back to the safety of his home, he wondered how he’d let himself get so jumbled up by a woman. He tripped on the sidewalk as he rounded the corner and almost plowed into his neighbor.
    “Sorry, Mrs. Grandon.”
    “That’s okay, honey. Are you alright?” She asked as she reached out for his arm. “Do you need help?”
    Knox recognized the pitying tone immediately. She was really saying, ‘Are you sure you should be wandering around out here all by yourself?’
    “No, I’m fine, thanks. I’d better go.”
    “Knox, I can help—“
    “It’s okay. Gotta run.” He hurried past her practically jogged the last five hundred feet to the safety of his home. By the time he’d sat down at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, he’d lost his appetite. Knox flicked on the little TV on the countertop and tried to focus on the Rockies game, but his mind kept wandering. First to Maddie, sitting there on the end of the counter waiting for her food, and then to Mrs. Grandon and her misplaced concern for him. He tripped on the sidewalk. People did it every damn day.
    He tried to eat a bit of the sandwich. He remembered how hungry he’d been as he walked to the café. After a few more bites, he gave up the pretense and snapped off the TV. He pushed back from the bar and went to the one and only place that seemed to comfort him; his woodshop.

Chapter 3
    It was all hers. And it was totally disgusting. Madeline turned around a full three hundred and sixty degrees and smiled hugely at the grimy wallpaper, broken railing spindles and water-stained ceiling. Of course those weren’t the main source of happiness, no; the reason for her extreme joy was the beautiful, but severely neglected built-in hutch in the dining room. Gorgeous wood lay under many layers of paint and above them were three breathtaking stained glass windows. Or at least, there would be. Currently, there was one original, but broken window, and two plain glass replacements. The craftsman style was one of her favorites and in her mind’s eye; she could picture it in all its glory.
    She knew she needed to get started. This house had cost her just about every dollar she’d made from the condo sale plus a loan from the bank. She’d almost turned it down, realizing she’d have enough for the purchase of the house, but not enough for all the improvements she had planned. When she’d mentioned it to Ed one day in