Love in bloom!
Thad had moved to a new town and was lonely . . . then he met Jennifer
You need to get out there. Find a date or two. Ever since Thad had moved away, his best friend, Bill, had been texting him with advice.
Finding a date. Not that easy! Thad pressed send and ditched the phone in his pocket while entering the bank.
The teller directed him to an alcove off the lobby, and while waiting, he began to pace, second-guessing his decision to move and open his own business. When he’d researched the town and potential client pool, this little coastal village seemed perfect. Now the dust had settled, and he was lonely.
The click of heels against the blue tile floor had him turning into an outstretched handshake and a sunny smile. “Welcome to Seacoast Credit Union. You’re here to open an account?”
Jennifer, with the dimpled smile, held out her hand
For a moment, Thad was speechless. More like frozen in space. He accepted her warm handshake. “Yes. Two accounts.”
“I’m Jennifer Hart, the accounts manager.” “Thaddeus Arnold.” “Have a seat. What type of accounts do you need?”
“Personal and business.” Why could he barely speak more than a few syllables at a time?
Jennifer, with the dimpled smile, held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Arnold.”
“Thad.” He felt a flush rise up his neck.
“Thad.” She spoke his name soft and sweet. “Call me Jen. We’re a friendly bunch here at Seacoast. Our customers are like family. I hope you enjoy living in Galway Cove.”
For some reason, his step seemed lighter as he left the bank. He still had an appointment to sign the lease for his new office, but Thad decided he would stroll downtown after. It couldn’t hurt to introduce himself as the new accountant in the community.
The shadows became longer as the sun lowered toward the mountaintops. By 4:30, Thad realized his energy level was running down, and he ducked into a coffee shop. “Why, hello, Thad.” He recognized the sweet, musical voice from the bank. When returning her greeting, he felt his own face light up with joy. “Ms. Hart.” He nodded. “Jen, remember? That’s what we agreed on this morning.”
They struck up a conversation while waiting to order. “I always seem to hit my low point in late afternoon, so I thought a cup of coffee might help.” She chuckled. “Me, too. I’m indulging in the 45 minutes before I have to pick up Emily from her gymnastics class.”
He tried to hide his disappointment. Having a child usually meant there was a significant other. “How old is she?”
“Eight going on 28. I don’t know how my sister does it.” “Your sister?” She nodded. “Doesn’t get off work until six, then dinner prep, homework, the whole nine yards. Emily is sweet but very energetic, even after gymnastics.”
Thad breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s nice you’re able to help. Do you have time to sit for a few minutes?” “I’d love to.” They chatted, each regaling the other with work stories. Then it turned to the personal. Thad’s divorce. Jen’s decision to move to Galway to help her sister.
“I live next door, so I can assist with Emily. Plus, it gives me a chance to get my hands dirty in her garden, which I didn’t have when living in an apartment. Gardening is my passion.”
Thad leaned back in his chair. “Any chance you could give me some pointers? I bought a little cottage, and it needs a ton of work, especially the yard.”
“Sure thing! I’d be in seventh heaven.”
“That’s great! How about Saturday morning? Come over early, assess the place, and then we can hit the lawn care center at Parsons.”
“It’s a date.” Jen’s captivating eyes widened. “I didn’t mean, well . . . you know.” A faint blush feathered her cheeks.
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a date. We can stop for breakfast on the way to Parsons.”
Her smile could have coaxed a daffodil out of the frozen spring ground. “I’ve got to go get Em,” she said, finishing her coffee. “You have my card. E-mail me your address and a time to meet.”
Thad couldn’t help grinning. As soon as she left, he pulled the phone from his pocket to text his friend the news. Hey, Bill, guess what? I’ve met the most beautiful woman!
— Charlotte More