Page 152 of The Blessings of Christmas
Josie glanced around. Sure, she was grateful for the pine trees edging the road that led from the square, now all decorated for the holiday season. The air was cool, as it usually was in December, with the smell of the marsh in the air. She'd be horrified to smell gasoline residue in Sweetwater Creek. And she should appreciate his sensitivity.
“Ready?” He finally turned toward her.
“Why not?” Her mascara would be lost on him. Josie jammed her damaged second-hand designer sunglasses into place and they took off.
“Looks like you're taking a different route,” Malcolm said after a block or so.
“After you left, I did some experimenting.”Because I was so miserable.
“Who do you usually run with now?” Malcolm asked as she picked up the pace.
“No one. I like to run alone.”Except when you're with me.
“But there must be other runners in town.”
“It's hard to work around my schedule.”
“I suppose so.”
They hadn't gone that far when she realized that Malcolm seemed to be dropping back. Must be her imagination. Was she going faster than usual? Josie slowed her pace.
They dodged down the streets that led from the square and out into the country. Their running shoes slapped the pavement in a comfortable rhythm. Every time her glasses slid down her nose, Josie pushed them back up. Her luminescent makeup foundation must be greasing their way.Great.
Determined that nothing would spoil this run with Malcolm, she closed her mind to everything but nature. Puffy clouds drifted past overhead, occasionally giving them some welcome shade. Malcolm still hadn't said anything about her new outfit. In fact he seemed distracted. With his head slightly down, his breath grew unusually loud. More like gasps, actually. “Are you okay?” she finally asked.
“Sure. Just haven't done...this for a while.”
Had his face always been this flushed when they ran? Josie didn't want to make a big deal out of this but she slowed herpace even more. Talking became difficult for him. That was obvious, so she zipped her glossy lips.
When they reached the outward loop that ran to one of the country roads, she moved ahead of him. To run side-by-side would be dangerous, even though in this flat area they could see a car coming a mile away. Soon they were passing in back of the strip mall that held the urgent care center. “Is this where Victoria's husband works?” He pointed to the big sign that said Urgent Care.
“Right. This is where she met him.”
“No kidding?” Malcolm grinned. “Sounds like...one of those...romcom movies.”
He was cutting in and out again. Maybe she should be the one doing the talking. “Victoria was cutting down pine boughs to decorate her shop and ended up with a splinter in her eye. The accident happened during the Christmas season. She went to that urgent care center. One look at Derek Darling did it.”
“That's all...it takes?” Still panting, Malcolm grinned down at her. “One look?”
Oh, if you only knew.She'd been attracted to him at his first interview. The sudden strong feelings had been unnerving. So when she heard about Victoria getting hung up on Derek the first time she saw him, Josie totally understood. “Right. She volunteered at his clinic, and they got to know each other.” They left the urgent care center behind and she took a right onto one of the country roads. But this slower pace was not what she was used to, not with him anyway.
“You might not...like me...saying this…,” Malcolm began, his breath labored. The day was warming up and she was beginning to sweat. But she wasn't having any trouble catching her breath. And he definitely was.
“What's on your mind?” She slowed down a little more, hoping he wouldn't notice.
“You shouldn't...run alone, Josie.” Turning slightly, he glanced at the empty fields that had held corn last August, followed by soybeans.
What was he saying? “Relax. This is Sweetwater Creek, not New York City.” She always felt comfortable on these roads. Safe.
“I know that.” Malcolm slowed a little and took a couple of deep breaths. “But if you read the papers, bad things...can happen on...country roads...to young women who run alone.” The last was said in a rush of words and a warm blast of breath. The heat shimmered from the asphalt road and she licked her lips.
“Are you saying that I don't stay up on the news?” She felt almost insulted. “After all I am a librarian. I stay up to date on things.” But granted, she didn't pay a lot of attention to grisly crimes.
Right now he was the one scaring her. Josie didn't remember Malcolm’s face getting so red when they ran together. “I know...I'm just saying...you might not be... reading articles about runners. Please don't run alone.”
Yes, he was gasping. Why hadn't she brought a small towel to loop around her neck? Even though they weren’t running very fast, perspiration dribbled from her forehead. Maybe this was sympathy sweat. She was really concerned about him.
Swatting at her cheeks, Josie drove her huge glasses higher on her nose. His concern for her was touching, but Malcolm hadn't even mentioned her lipstick or her eye makeup. Maybe all her efforts that morning had been wasted. In New York the women probably wore makeup by J Lo or Victoria Beckham, subtle and expensive. Her shoulders sagged. She had paid plenty for this “summer light foundation with luminosity” when she’d ordered it online. Now she couldn't even remember thebrand. Maybe it was Slip and Slide. Caught up in her thoughts, Josie didn't see the pebbles on the road until she skidded.
