Page 16 of Picking Pismo

Smiling, David leaned back further, crossing his ankles too. He shifted, tilting his head toward her, he said, “I had no idea how many people go to garage sales in this town.” Removing his hands from the back of his head, David tapped the tops of the chair’s armrests with both hands. “I think I’ve seen at least ten of my patients’ parents.”

Shrugging, Claire replied, “Everyone likes a deal.”

Claire didn’t want to think about the items from her childhood home scattered across Pismo. The thought made her sorrowful. It was hard enough to watch her mom’s precious things go. She was grateful Alexis was at ballet, so she didn’t have to witness people haggling over her mom’s clothing and trinkets. The air in her lungs became tight and shallow. Grief pushed its way back into her being. Claire looked away, blinking rapidly. Her eyes tickled with the forming of tears.

David sat straight up, shifting closer to her, without saying anything he placed a hand on top of hers. The minutes ticked right on by. No new customers came to interrupt them. Instead, they sat in the quiet stillness. Claire focused on regaining control of her emotions.

Claire finally broke the silence. “I wish I didn’t have to sell most of my mom’s things but, I’ve no choice.” Her voice cracked. “We need the money, and it won’t all fit in my apartment in Los Angeles.”

Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, David said, “I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you. I’m sure the burden you’ve been carrying can’t be easy. I wish I knew what else to say.” David squeezed her hand once more. “But you’ll get through it.” He dropped his hand, folding his arms against his body.

Claire wanted to scream—impossible. Her life felt too shattered to ever get easier.

David brought his foot up, propping it on his other knee. “Please let me know what else I can do to help you. I’ll wait while you think of something...”

Claire paused, closing her eyes for a moment. After a few deep breaths, she replied, “You’ve helped more than you know.”

During their exchange, Claire hadn’t noticed a neighbor approaching. A voice asked for the price on a birdhouse, startling them both. Claire flinched then sprang into action, jumping up and moving to the end of the driveway where her neighbor stood. She told them the amount and collected the payment. Soon her neighbor was on their way, and David and she were alone once more.

Shoving the money into her pocket, Claire put her hands on her hips. “I think we should call it a day.” Claire faced David. “What do you think?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Whatever you say, boss.” David stood up all businesslike. The moment of intimacy from prior dissipated with the cool ocean breeze. “What should we do with your remaining stuff?”

Claire took in the smattering of things left out. It wasn’t much, but if she thought about it too long, she’d start to cry. Mom’s quilting supplies, her water skis, along with lots of her clothing. “Let’s put it back into the boxes, and I’ll take it to Goodwill. Sometime…” Her voice faded, hoping she’d find the courage to follow through with the last step.

“I brought my truck in case you needed help moving anything.” David fiddled with the bill of his baseball cap, tipping it up a bit. “How about we load the things directly into there? It’ll save you time if we take the things over today. One less thing to worry about.” He waited for her to answer.

Gnawing on her bottom lip, Claire checked her watch. “It might be tight.” She ran a hand over her hair. “Alexis is getting dropped off in an hour from ballet. Do you think we can make it?”

“If we load everything up, and you don’t have time to go with me…” David rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “I can take the things to Goodwill for you. I don’t mind.”

Claire wanted to argue, but David had a point. And she needed his help. His kindness made her like him even more than before. She wished to find some sort of fatal character flaw in David, anything that would make it easier for her to not be attracted to him. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t have any romantic interest in her.

“Thanks…” Claire managed. Her voice came out shaky. “You’d save me a lot of time and trips.”

With a nod, David replied, “Okay then, let’s get to work.” He walked toward his truck and opened the back.

David moved first, walking back toward the driveway, grabbing her mom’s old skis. Claire grabbed a box and took it to the truck, placing it on the bed. David and Claire worked in silence, packing up the remaining items. After a few trips to his truck, the driveway and the garage were cleared.

Claire wiped her sweaty and dusty hands on her jeans. “I certainly owe you for your help today. A million thanks.”

“It was my pleasure.” Warmly, David smiled, making her middle a gooey mess. “And…” His eyes twinkled with mischievousness. “It’s like Kelly said, I really don’t have anything else going on.”

Claire chuckled, forcing the nerves in her stomach to settle. “I think you’re only being modest.” She popped a hip, putting a hand on it. Without thinking, she waved a hand over the length of his body. “A single good-looking guy like you, I don’t believe that nonsense for a second.”

Smirking, David took a step closer, their bodies two inches from grazing each other. Electricity buzzed between them. “You think I’m good-looking?” He locked eyes with her.

Her cheeks burned. Claire shuffled her feet, shoving her hands into her pockets. She half stumbled a step backward. “Come on.” Claire regained her balance. “It’s not anything you haven’t heard before.”

David blinked. He spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. “You’ve got it completely wrong. If anyone is good looking here, it’s you.”

Heat wiggled its way down her spine. “I— I—” Claire stammered. “Thanks?”

Her phone in her pocket rang, interrupting their flirtatious exchange. Claire shifted away from David. With a shaky hand, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and saw Alexis’s name light up across her screen.

Answering, Claire ran a hand over the top of her messy hair. “Hi, Alexis. Are you on your way home?” She gnawed on the inside of her cheek. Her daze darted to David then away again.

“Can I go to the outlet mall with Juliet?” asked Alexis. “Her mom says it’s okay if I go with them. Please?” she pleaded.

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