“Why doesn’t she shake your hand at the end?” Thomas asked. “Everybody does.”
“She always walks between her grandparents and carries her son with two hands and doesn’t let go of him. I touch the boy’s head and bless him, but she doesn’t acknowledge me. No smile, no nothing.” In fact, tonight was the first time he had seen a smile from her.
“She had a kid? Is she old enough for a kid?” Thomas leaned back on the door behind them.
“Yeah, he’s only like three. I don’t know how old she is, but she hadn’t been in high school during the time I was there. She farms with her grandpa.”
“No baby daddy?” Thomas raised an eyebrow.
“Not that I know of. But then again, I see her on Sunday and maybe once a month around town. Not enough to know a lot about her.” Ruston looked at the two shoes in his hand. Right now, he wished he was more into listening to the gossip around town, but then that wasn’t him.
“So, you literality knocked the boots off her and then left?” Thomas chuckled.
“No, she left me. I was unable to catch her.”
“Do you want to do it again?”
“What?”
“It. With her?” Thomas wiggled an eyebrow at him.
Ruston sighed. “In a heartbeat.”
“Because she was so good and it was so hot or because she was Hazel?” Thomas knew the perfect questions. Maybe that was the reason he was a high school counselor.
“Mostly because she’s Hazel. She fascinates me. There’s something about her. When we were dancing upstairs, we could only hear the music the band was playing, not the words, so she sang the words to us just above a whisper. And a few months ago, I ran into her at a restaurant in town, and she nearly had a panic attack right in the middle of the place and nobody even acknowledged it. Everyone knows something, but I don’t know it.” Ruston knew he was rambling, but he continued anyway.
“Well, I guess you’re going to have to date her then. It’s the only way to know,” Thomas said from behind him, leaning against the door.
“Know what?”
“Know if you’re already in love with her. You have it bad.” Thomas pushed Ruston’s back.
“I barely know her.”
“And you still have it bad, so wait until you know her better.” Thomas jumped to his feet. “I have to get home now that I know you’re alive. Very alive.”
Watching him head to his car, he wondered if Thomas was right. Should he try to date the blonde woman? Thomas was wrong about being in love with her, but maybe one day.
Looking around one more time, he realized that if he never saw her again, he couldn’t fall for her. Their only connection was church, and if she stopped coming, he was out of luck.
Walking to the front of the church, he welcomed everyone as he watched her grandparents walk in through the back door. Smiling for the first time that day, he watched her walk in behind them, carrying her son while wearing a sundress with large yellow flowers. Her hair was lying flat on her head, but it was styled nicely. He knew she was not wearing makeup. Taking their usual seats, she settled the boy on her lap and fussed over him a little as Ruston read the announcements.
For the entire service, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. But she didn’t look at him. She was fussing with the boy, keeping him busy and quiet, or she was just starting off in the distance. Once again, she just stood while the rest of the congregation sang. She didn’t even pretend to pay attention to the sermon, and when it was time for communion, she did not partake.
Church and religion had such an important place in his life, it hurt that she considered it a waste of time. He wanted it to be more to her than something she put up with for her family.
Shaking hands and greeting his parishioners was usually one of his favorite parts, finding out how everyone was, but today he just wanted to get through them as he waited for the May family to make it through the line. Twelve more people. Six more people. One more person, and there they were.
“Morning, Rose. How are you doing?” He shook her hand, smiling at the older woman who really looked nothing like her young granddaughter.
“Good. It’s a busy time now for John and Hazel,” Rose commented.
“Hopefully, you let them cut loose sometimes, Rose.” He teased her, but his eyes were on the hazel ones behind her. No smile, no acknowledgment, nothing.
Rose walked away, and he turned to Hazel, who was holding tight to her small son. Oddly, the boy’s hazel eyes smiled at Ruston. Touching the soft blond hair so much like his mother’s, he said, “Bless you, John.” Then he turned to his mother and also touched her head in the same manner, making her eyes meet his for the first time. “I want to talk to you, Hazel.” Not waiting for her to answer, he held out his hand to her grandfather, who shook it in greeting.
Trying to quickly to get through the remaining parishioners, he said good morning to the last one and headed down to find Hazel. Would she have waited for him? Searching the familiar faces, he didn’t see her or her grandparents. Turning, he looked out the window to the parking lot and saw her little yellow beetle driving out of the lot.