It had been a couple of days since Stevie returned from Europe and already she felt rested, her brain was almost making up another project. Although, the one thing she loved about not having an every day schedule, was that she could lie in bed for as long as she liked. Her huge bed and white cotton sheets were too comfortable to get up early.
While in bed, Stevie also spent a lot of time thinking about the most random of things. Now though, there was just the one - Chad. She couldn't stop daydreaming about him. Even if she was completely alone in her bedroom, Stevie hid her face under the covers, as she started blushing. She said it herself, she was soon to be seventy, why was she acting like a schoolgirl with the biggest crush? Stop, she kept repeating it to herself like a mantra, he would never be interested in you anyway, you're way too old for him, he could have any woman he wanted!
Stevie jumped a little, when she heard a knock on the door, as if she was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. "It's Karen. Can I come in?"
"I, um... Sure."
"You're still in bed?"
"What does it look like?"
"You had to have slept half of your life away. Anyway. Your crush called, something about wallpapers. We have to get to Malibu."
"Don't call him my crush."
"It's only the truth." Karen shrugged. "We'll make a stop for some coffee. Now go get ready, okay?"
"Fine." Stevie sighed and reluctantly got up on her feet, heading for the bathroom.
It had only been three or four days since the first visit, but Stevie was surprised at how much more was done, when they walked inside. What seemed like no more than a minute later, Karen's phone went off and she said it was important and she would have to leave for about two hours, give or take.
Soon, Stevie was joined by Chad in what would be the kitchen. She swallowed hard, at the sight of him wearing tight dark blue jeans and a plain black shirt, it was almost halfway undone, his broad chest on show.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I didn't hear you-" Chad spoke, fixing his shirt, but Stevie interrupted.
"It's okay. And please, don't be so formal with me. Just call me Stevie."
"No, I can't." He was a perfect gentleman. "How does Miss Stevie sound?"
She laughed softly, nodding. "Alright. Karen tells me there was some type of problem?"
"Unfortunately. I got a different wallpaper for the bedroom by accident and like a fool I didn't check with that huge file, where you had everything chosen with examples. Only when the work was done I did that."
"Oh well, let's go see?" Stevie suggested.
"It doesn't look bad or anything, just that it's not what you wanted." Chad rambled nervously while they were climbing up the stairs. He opened the bedroom door and Stevie walked in, looking around.
"You're right, it looks just fine. Maybe even better then what I had picked."
"Are you sure? I could just tear it all down and-"
"It's okay." She reassured, placing her hand on his shoulder for a second. "Don't worry about it. If only all of my problems were as little as this one."
"If you say so." He breathed a sigh of relief. "I mean... I know I have a reputation to live up to, I don't want some silly wallpaper to cost my future jobs."
"It's exactly what it is - silly wallpaper, Chad. It looks great. Now... come on down with me, you look like you could use a break."
"That bad, huh?"
"Stop that, you're a handsome man!" Shit!, did you seriously have to say that out loud?!, Stevie turned away immediately, so he wouldn't see her burning cheeks.
There was a small coffee maker in the kitchen and a fridge, after all Chad did spend most of his day working around the house. Stevie saw the appliance and offered to make coffee, while he rested for a bit.
"This seems wrong. You shouldn't be doing that for me."
"Hey, this is my house, I treat people around here the way I want to. And to you I feel thankful, so you sit and I'll make you a cup."
"You're really sweet, Miss Stevie."
"I feel about a hundred years old when you call me that."
"We did agree, didn't we?"
"We'll work our way up I'm sure."
"Oh God! I just realized I'm all sweaty and I probably smell..."
"I'm used to sweaty men." Stevie shrugged her shoulders as it didn't faze her at all. "When Fleetwood Mac finish a show, I have Lindsey on one side and Mick on the other and they're both drenched, and I have to hug them! Imagine that!" She joked, putting him at ease again.
They were interrupted by Chad's phone buzzing and he didn't want to answer, because he didn't want to appear rude, but when he saw who was calling, he was dying to pick up as well.
As if Stevie could read his mind... "Answer it, it's fine."
So he did.
"Hi, Amanda! Sorry I took a minute. How is everything?... Oh, I miss her too... Sure, yes pass the phone to her!... Hey, sweetums! How's your day been?... That's great, I'm glad you had fun... I, um... I wish I could baby, but Daddy's gotta work... I know, I know. But I promise to be in time to ready you a bedtime story, deal?... Good. See you then, sweetie."
Stevie obviously heard everything. She placed a cup of coffee in front of Chad and one for herself too. "You're a Dad?"
"Yes. I have a four year old daughter, Greta, after my mother, well close to it, her name is Margaret."
"A four year old?"
"I know, I look too old to have such a young daughter."
"I didn't say that. I don't even know how old you are."
"Forty seven, although, my gray hair might suggest differently." He half smiled, before returning to the topic of his daughter. "It took me so long to find a woman I could see myself getting married to or having children with. But then I met her. She was younger, we fell in love, we had Greta, but... she passed away about two years ago."
"I'm so sorry." Stevie reach for Chad's hand and he did slightly tighten his grip.
"No, it's me who's sorry, you only asked about my child, not my life story." Then he thought that them holding hands might not be appropriate either, so he let go.
After a short pause, Stevie said. "Take the rest of the day off. Go be with your baby."
"What? No, I couldn't..."
"Yes, you can and that's what I'm ordering you to do." Stevie smiled and so did Chad, as he stood up and pulled in for a hug.
"Thank you so much! I haven't been spending much time with her, it will make her so happy."
"Great. That's what we want." They stepped back from each other, as he thanked her again and in only a few more minutes was gone.
While waiting for Karen to return, Stevie was thinking about the things she found out. The pull was even stronger, since she and Chad got to actually chat a little, and he melted her heart with Greta, but what had her worried was that the only woman he claimed he had ever loved was younger, so now Stevie knew she really had no chance and it was quite upsetting, because it had been a long time since she met someone like Chad. Someone she might actually want to get to know better...
