Home in Montana

As Allie headed out the door in a casual summer skirt and top, she looked up to see Jake walking across the road to her house. She was surprised and smiled a contented smile as he approached, asking him how he and Sophie were doing.
Jake returned the smile, as he walked over to her. He was so tan and handsome that Allie felt flushed for a brief minute. Jake said that he and Sophie were fine and asked if Allie had a minute. Of course she did, and they sat on the steps again and talked.

Allie could smell the laundry detergent in Jake’s shirt and liked the way it smelled. It was so clean and fresh smelling. Then she realized how close they sat to one another on the steps. It was a wonderful feeling.

“Sophie really enjoyed helping you make lemonade a couple of days ago and talked about it non-stop,” he said. “And I really enjoyed drinking it.” He smiled a warm smile and paused.

“You know, her mom died two years ago due to a weak heart. You’re the first person that Sophie has ever opened up to since her mother passed on. Thank you for being so kind to Sophie, and to me too.” His eyes twinkled and the corners of his mouth turned up in a sweet smile as he thanked her. Allie felt a compassion for Sophie and Jake too.

“I never imagined I would have such a nice neighbor,” Allie said with a sweet smile of her own.

“Me neither,” Jake laughed good heartedly. He assured Allie that he wouldn’t let Sophie become a nuisance in visiting her. But Allie told him that she enjoyed Sophie’s company. Jake’s brown hair curled in just the right places, and his tan skin was smooth and even. He was wearing the light blue t- shirt again, and it reflected the blue in his eyes, and his perfect teeth showed in his natural smile.
Allie could tell he had loved his wife very much and that his love for Sophie was deep, as a father’s should be.

“Our church was very good to us during the first days after my wife died. They helped with Sophie when I had to make plans or work late. However, I wanted to be with Sophie as much as I could, to comfort her and make things as normal as possible.”

As he talked, Allie was taken with everything about him. She caught herself staring into his eyes and quickly looked away. She must not feel this way! She hardly knew him. She would just enjoy his friendship. He was her neighbor, and she didn’t want to complicate things. She enjoyed the easy way he talked and his humble confidence.

So, there they sat beside one another on the steps, their hearts both warmed by their conversation and exchanges of getting to know another person. Jake looked directly into her eyes as he talked. She looked into a sea of blue and felt her heart flutter, trying to calm it down. Jake wouldn’t know how she was feeling. She had learned to hide her feelings a long time ago. She had learned to protect herself and had become rather good at it.

Allie’s phone rang, and Jake said he would head home. He smiled again. “It was nice talking with you.” Then he disappeared as he crossed the road and entered his own house, his storm door closing behind him.