The Broken Fence
812 Words
The trouble started on a Saturday morning.
Which, in Amelia's opinion, was exactly the kind of betrayal Saturdays specialized in.
She had planned a peaceful day.
Sleep in, bake cookies with Lily, maybe spend an hour reading on the porch.
Simple.
Relaxing.
Normal.
Instead, she was awakened by a loud crash.
Amelia bolted upright.
"What was that?"
A second later, Lily burst into her bedroom.
"Mama!"
"What happened?"
"The fence exploded!"
Amelia blinked.
"The fence... what?"
"The fence exploded."
Lily nodded confidently.
Amelia threw on a robe and rushed outside.
The fence had not exploded.
But it had certainly suffered a tragic ending.
A large section of the wooden fence separating her property from Adrian's had collapsed completely.
Several broken boards lay scattered across the grass.
Amelia groaned.
"Wonderful."
Just wonderful.
The fence had been old for years.
She had planned to replace it eventually.
Eventually, being the important word. But definitely today.
Not when she had bills to pay and a bakery to run.
Lily stood beside her.
"Is it dead?"
"It's a fence, sweetheart."
"So that's a yes."
Before Amelia could answer, a familiar voice spoke behind them.
"Good morning."
Amelia turned.
And immediately forgot what she was about to say.
Adrian stood on the other side of the broken fence.
His dark hair looked slightly damp from a recent shower.
He wore a simple black T-shirt.
A very fitted black T-shirt.
A shirt that should honestly be illegal.
Amelia quickly looked away.
Because she was an adult.
A mature adult.
A mature adult who absolutely was not staring.
"Morning," she replied.
Adrian glanced at the damaged fence.
"I think your daughter believes it exploded."
"It did explode."
Amelia sighed.
"Please don't encourage her Adrian."
"Sorry."
He looked entirely unapologetic.
Lily pointed dramatically.
"The fence sacrificed itself."
Adrian nodded solemnly.
"A noble death."
"Very noble."
Amelia pinched the bridge of her nose.
This was her life now, apparently.
Adrian stepped closer.
"I can fix it."
Amelia immediately shook her head.
"No."
His eyebrow lifted.
"No?"
"No."
"Why?"
Because accepting help felt dangerous.
Because she had spent years learning how to survive alone.
Because every time she depended on someone, they eventually left, not minding how many broken pieces she was in.
"I can handle it."
Adrian studied her quietly.
The teasing expression disappeared and something more serious replaced it.
"You don't always have to."
The words hit harder than they should have.
Amelia looked away.
"I know."
Do you?
The question lingered unspoken between them.
Thankfully, Lily interrupted.
"Please help."
Both adults looked at her.
The little girl clasped her hands dramatically.
"Please."
Adrian immediately pointed.
"The tiny negotiator has spoken."
"Lily."
"Please."
Amelia sighed.
She was outnumbered.
Completely and utterly outnumbered.
"Fine."
Lily cheered.
Adrian smiled.
And for some reason, that smile made Amelia's stomach flutter... again.
She was beginning to resent her stomach.
An hour later, Adrian was hard at work replacing broken boards.
Amelia attempted to help.
Attempted being the important word.
Mostly she handed him tools while trying very hard not to notice the muscles in his arms, which was proving surprisingly difficult.
"Could you pass me the hammer?"
She handed him a screwdriver.
Adrian looked at it.
Then looked at her.
Amelia stared back.
Silence.
"That's not a hammer."
"I knew that."
"Of course."
"Don't."
His smile widened.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"I absolutely was."
Lily laughed from the porch.
"Mommy likes you."
Everything stopped.
The hammer nearly slipped from Adrian's hand.
Amelia nearly stopped breathing.
"What?"
Lily looked confused.
"What?"
The child was impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Adrian cleared his throat very carefully.
"I believe your daughter enjoys creating chaos."
"That makes two of us," she answered, rolling her eyes.
His eyes met hers.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to narrow.
No bakery.
No broken fence.
No responsibilities.
Just the two of them and the sudden awareness that neither seemed capable of ignoring anymore.
Then a black SUV slowly drove past the house.
Adrian noticed it immediately. His entire body stiffened. The warmth vanished from his expression.
Gone so quickly, Amelia wondered if she'd imagined it.
The vehicle continued down the street. But Adrian's gaze remained fixed on it.
Watching and waiting.
As if he recognized it.
As if he expected trouble.
"Adrian?"
He looked back at her.
The smile returned.
But this one felt forced.
"It's nothing."
Amelia wasn't convinced.
Not even a little.
Something flashed in his eyes.
Concern.
Worry.
Fear.
And for the first time since meeting him, Amelia realized there were parts of Adrian she knew absolutely nothing about.
Parts he was definitely hiding.
Parts that had followed him all the way to their quiet little neighborhood.
The thought should have warned her away, but instead it only made her more curious.
And curiosity, Amelia would soon learn, could be just as dangerous as attraction.
- Writer
