Yeah, he wasn’t used to being alone. Guess he’d start learning immediately and not bitch. He had a job. He’d just do it.
3
Charles finished off the last bite of the best macaroni and cheese he’d ever had, followed it with a sip of red wine that paired strangely well with it, and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. It had been a day full of unexpected things, which was refreshing after months of—yearsof knowing exactly how his days were going to go.
For starters, he hadn’t expected a cowboy. That was an unimportant detail, but an interesting one. Something to wonder about, to occupy his thoughts for a while.
He hadn’t expected to have dinner served for him, especially not such a delicious plate of soul-soothing comfort food.
And he hadn’t expected to feel so relieved to know there was someone else in the house. Tad hadn’t been much company, but he was someone to talk to. Even though Tad couldn’t carry on a conversation, Charles had known he wasn’t alone.
Lonely, but not alone.
He picked up his wine, dialed Brady on his cell phone, and wandered over to the window to watch the last of the sunset.
“Charles. How are you?” Brady always sounded so pleased to hear from him.
“I am stuffed, my friend. A cowboy just fed me the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had, and I’ve called to thank you for that business card.” He patted his belly. He’d eaten so much he felt like it might pop.
“A cowboy? As in yee-haw, y’all? Honestly?” Brady sounded as shocked as he’d felt when he saw the man walk up to the door in that hat and pointy-toed boots.
“Maybe not quite that stereotypical, but he was wearing lovely, expensive-looking, fancy boots. I probably insulted him with my own surprise.” Ryder was well-dressed for the first day on the job. He was sure he owed the man an apology.
“He’s there to keep you comfortable and taken care of. He’ll be fine. Did he complain?”
Charles wasn’t sure the man had spoken a dozen, polite, gentle words to him.
“No, not at all. He made a funny joke actually, about not cooking bugs when I asked him if making dinner was in his job description.” Keep him comfortable and taken care of—that made it sound like he was helpless.
“Oh, that’s good. That service is supposed to have incredibly well-rounded assistants.”
“I’m not entirely sure I understand what I can and can’t ask him to do, but I assume he’ll tell me.”
It occurred to him that in a perfect world, he wouldn’t have to ask, the cowboy would just know. But it didn’t work that way in reality, and he needed to figure out what he actually wanted from the man.
More macaroni and cheese would be a good start.
“Be honest and open, right? That’s the most important part. I imagine he’s just looking to make you happy.”
He hadn’t been the best at being open in his marriage. Honest yes, always. But totally open? He’d probably fail that litmus test.
He thought maybe it would be easier with a stranger, there was nothing to lose.
“That feels incongruous, being open with a man I don’t know the first thing about.”
“I imagine so, but I feel better knowing someone is there for you. Maybe he loves to watch TV or play cards or…uh…knit.”
He snorted. “That would be something, if my personal assistant was a knitting cowboy.” Cards were an idea. Maybe a whiskey. The cowboys on TV were always drinking whiskey. “I’ll try, Brady. I’ll…talk to him about…something.”
He had nothing to lose in talking. Literally nothing.
“Go for it. There was a reason the service sent him. You had to be a good fit.”
He didn’t see it, but then again, he’d said three words to Ryder and got the world’s best mac and cheese in return. So maybe there was something to it after all.
“You know this is difficult for me, Brady. I don’t know how to be just me anymore. But I’ll try.”
“I do, and I’m proud of you, man. You’re a survivor.” He loved how Brady’s voice rang with truth.