Page 55 of Someone Like You
Don’t do this.He had to keep reminding himself. She belonged to some other guy. “I work with my dad here in Portland. We develop riverfront properties on both sides of the Columbia. Buy old buildings and fix them up. Then lease them out or sell them.”
“For more money.” She never looked away. “Sounds interesting.”
“It is.” Dawson hadn’t expected her to want to know about him. “We’re talking about expanding in the next year. Maybe moving into another city.”
A gust of wind caught the mist and made their faces wet. Dawson wiped his forehead and nodded toward the parking lot. “We better keep going. The tour isn’t over.”
On the drive back she asked about his family and he told her about losing his mother. She was quiet, maybe processing that. “I’m sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.” He smiled. “Just me and Dad now.”
Maddie told him about her cousin Amy losing her entire family in a car accident. “Doesn’t matter how many years go by, the loss still hurts.”
Dawson narrowed his eyes. It was like she had known him all her life. But he didn’t say that. He just nodded. “Yes … it’s always there.”
Next they went by the high school where Dawson and London first met. They got out of his truck and leaned against the side facing the entrance. The sun felt warm on Dawson’s face and he took a long breath. “I fell in love with London on Grad Night at Disneyland.” He grinned at Maddie. “She told me not to fall in love with her.”
Maddie angled her head. “No.” She shook her head. “She couldn’t have meant it. You two spent all that time together. I’m sure she was in love with you, too, Dawson.”
“Actually, she wasn’t.” Dawson shrugged. He was coming to accept the fact. “I always thought I could convince her.” The way they were standing, side by side leaning on his truck, Maddie’s shoulder was barely touching his arm. He moved a few inches away. This day wasn’t real. She’d be going back home soon. Where she belonged. He remembered what they were talking about. “London had this thing she would always say to me. Whenever the subject came up … you know, the two of us as a couple.”
“So … you talked about it?” Maddie angled her shoulder into the truck and looked straight at him. “And she still wasn’t sure?”
“No.” The story was complicated. “We saw faith differently. She … thought it was a crutch. Honestly, she wanted nothing to do with God.” He paused. “Till the day of her accident.”
“What did she used to say? When the subject came up?” Maddie was clearly curious. Like she genuinely wanted to know about whatever Dawson and London hadshared. “That one day she’d open her eyes and see … the guy right in front of her?”
He was flattered, but he didn’t want her to see that.Don’t fall for her. This isn’t real,he told himself.Be the tour guide.But Dawson couldn’t help himself. He had thought about London’s favorite comeback more than once since Maddie arrived. He just never planned to share the detail.
Until here. Now, with Maddie.
Against his own advice he let his eyes hold hers for a long moment. “She told me the right person for me was out there.” He paused. “And that one day I’d meet her and I would know.” He smiled. “She always said that this … girl I was going to meet … wouldn’t be her. But someone like her.”
Someone like you, he wanted to say. A girl with faith and a gentle spirit, but all the adventure and beauty of London. Maddie was that girl, no question. But she was taken and she was going home in a few days. Dawson caught himself and the moment broke. “We still have coffee to get.”
Maddie wasn’t in the same sort of hurry. She didn’t move, still leaning against the truck, her blond hair spilling over her shoulders. “Someone like her.” She nodded. “Because of your faith differences.”
“I guess.” Dawson couldn’t look in her eyes. Otherwise he’d never look away. “Come on. Louise is expecting us.”
But the change of topic did nothing to ease the way Dawson felt. The entire ride to the coffee shop, he could barely draw a full breath. They parked in the side lot next to the shop. Just out front Maddie stopped and looked at the sign. “London Coffee.” She smiled. “I like it.”
“The whole city does.” Dawson laughed as he held thedoor for her. Inside, they said hello to Louise, ordered coffees and found a table near the window. The place was bustling with people and theirs was the only open spot. “See what I mean?”
“Yes. Wow.” Maddie’s cheeks were red from the sun and wind. “And I see why.” She looked around and ran her hands over the reclaimed wood table. “I’d be here every day.”
Dawson studied her as she looked out the window at bustling Twenty-third Street. “Maddie … tell me about that day at the zoo. What happened … after you left.”
Her eyes found his and a chill ran down his arms. Again it was like he’d known her all his life. She put her hands around her coffee mug. “It was … one of the worst days of my life.”
“I hate that you didn’t know.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I never expected … I wouldn’t have come.”
“I believe that.” Her smile was warm with understanding. “You had nothing to do with what happened to me, Dawson.”
“And how about now? Are you … still upset with your parents?”
“Well …” she sighed. “They aren’t exactly my parents, you know? They’re my adoptive parents. And they lied to me all my life.”
Nothing about Maddie was hard or jaded. But that last revelation sounded bitter. Every word had an edge to it. Dawson looked at her for a few seconds before speaking. Maybe this was why he was here with her today. So he could help remind her who she actually was. “They’re still your parents, Maddie. Bloomington is your home and those people are your family. No matter where you came from.”
