I own none of the characters of October Road or the song Woman Like You by Lee Brice
Last night, outta the blue
Driftin' off to the evening news
She said, "Honey, what would you do
If you'd have never met me"
I just laughed, said "I don't know,
But I could take a couple guesses though"
And then tried to dig real deep,
Said, "Darling honestly...
I'd do a lot more offshore fishin'
I'd probably eat more drive-thru chicken
Take a few strokes off my
golf gameIf I'd have never known your name
I'd still be driving that old green 'Nova
I probably never would have heard of yoga
I'd be a better football fan
But if I was a single man
Alone and out there on the loose
Well I'd be looking for a woman like you."
I could tell that got her attention
So I said, "Oh yeah, I forgot to mention,
I wouldn't trade a single day
For 100 years the other way."
She just smiled and rolled her eyes,
Cause she's heard all of my lines
I said, "C'mon on girl, seriously
If I hadn't been so lucky, I'd be..
Shootin' pool in my bachelor pad
Playing bass in my cover band
Restocking up cold Bud Light
Forpoker every Tuesday night, yeah
I'd have a dirt bike in the shed
And not one throw pillow on the bed
I'd keep my cash in a coffee can
But if I was a single man
Alone and out there on the loose
Well I'd be looking for a woman like you."
She knows what a mess I'd be if I didn't have her here
But to be sure, I whispered in her ear
"You know I get sick deep-sea fishin'
And you make the best fried chicken
I got a hopelessgolf game
I love the sound of your name
I might miss that old green 'Nova
But I love watchin' you do yoga
I'd take a gold band on my hand
Over being a single man
Cause honestly I don't know what I'd do
If I'd never met a woman like you."
"Wow can you believe that?" Eddie asked his wife who was curled up next to him on couch, her head on his chest with his arm wrapped around her, holding her close while watching the news. "Janet…baby?"
"Hmmm…what?"
"Did you hear me?"
"Sorry. No."
"Where did you go?"
"I was just thinking."
"About?"
"It doesn't matter. It's silly."
"Now I really want to know." Eddie kissed her forehead. "What is going on in that mind of yours?"
"I was just thinking what our lives would have been like had we not found each other or more accurately, what you would be doing if you had never met me."
"And what did you conclude?"
"It wasn't pretty."
"I believe that's an accurate assessment." Eddie laughed. "I can't imagine what my life would be…what I would be without you."
"Good thing we don't have to imagine that."
"It's a very good thing." Eddie leaned down and kissed his wife softly. "Come on sweetheart. Let's go to bed."
"Sounds good." Eddie stood and pulled her to her feet and they went to get ready for bed. The last words they spoke to each other that night was the same that they spoke every night. They ended every day with "I love you."
"Pizza will be at my place at six thirty." Eddie informed his business partner.
"Oh crap Eddie, I forgot to tell you. I can't make it tonight."
"What the heck? It's Tuesday."
"I know it's Tuesday."
"It's our weekly poker night."
"Sorry man. It's Hannah's parent's anniversary. We are taking them out to dinner."
"Can't you reschedule?"`
"Come on Eddie. It's one week. We're lucky that Hannah let's me come to weekly poker night."
"Let's you go. What kind of crap is that?"
"It's called being married. I don't have the single luxury of coming and going as I please."
"Jealous, aren't you?"
"Honestly, no. You couldn't pay me to be single again."
"You don't know what you're missing. Tonight it's beer, pizza and poker; right Ikey?" Ikey another Tuesday night poker regular, walked into the shop at that minute.
"Not for me tonight dude."
"What? You're bailing on me too?"
"I've got a date."
"Come on Ikey."
"I've been trying to get Darci to go out with me forever and she finally agreed but she is only free tonight."
"Hey Ronnie, you want to come to poker night at my place tonight?"
"No can do. Aubrey and I got tickets to the hockey game."
"Well fine. More pizza and beer for me Owen and Phyz." No sooner were those words out of his mouth Phil was texting him to cancel. Later that same afternoon Owen called to cancel as well because it was parent-teacher conferences at school for his kids.
Eddie was bummed. He was really looking forward his weekly night in with the boys. Since they all got married, had kids or started dating they aren't as close as they once were and Eddie missed that. Most of the time Eddie lived his single life to the fullest and he loved it. He could come and go as he pleased; he didn't have to answer to anyone but himself; he didn't have to explain his whereabouts to anyone. When he wanted, he could easily find the "comfort" of a woman without all of the drama of a relationship. He was living the perfect life or at least he thought he was until he woke up, alone in bed the next morning.
"You're late." Nick grumbled when Eddie walked in to work.
"Suck it Nicky. I'm not that late."
"You look like hell and we have a meeting in fifteen minutes with the new principal of the elementary school. When was the last time you shaved?"
"I was running late this morning and decided to skip shaving today so I wouldn't be later than I already was." Nick sighed.
"Well, we need to go. Hopefully, she likes…" He motioned to Eddie's partial beard.
"Hang on a sec." Eddie went to his desk and grabbed his electric razor. "Let's go" Nick shook his head as the two of them walked out to Eddie's truck.
"So what did you end up doing last night?" Nick asked in amazement as Eddie drove and shaved at the same time.
"Well since everyone bailed on me I hung out with Morgan."
"Hung out huh?" Nick asked knowingly. He knew what Eddie's definition of "hanging out" with a member of the opposite sex meant. "She must have kept you pretty busy." Eddie shrugged.
"I woke up about three, went home and didn't fall back asleep until about an hour until my alarm went off and then I couldn't get up."
"You can sleep anywhere; anytime. What was so special about last night?"
"Nothing was special. Maybe that's the point." Eddie mumbled and Nick decided to let the subject drop.
Early this morning when Eddie was searching for his clothes on Morgan's floor, she woke up; thanked him for a good time, rolled over and went back to sleep, which is what Eddie usually preferred but for some reason last night he was disappointed when Morgan didn't ask him to stay, not that he would have stayed had she asked. It confused him and it was that confusion that kept him awake after he got home. For the first time in his adult life, he wondered what he was missing by not having a woman share his bed and his life.
"Nick Garrett and Eddie Latekka from Best Friend Windows. We have a nine thirty appointment with Miss. Meadows." Nick told the secretary through the window.
"Of course. I will buzz you in." The guys walked through the door and into the office. "She is with a student and will be right with you. Can I get you coffee?"
"That would be great." Eddie answered. As the secretary went to get them their coffee, the inner office door opened and out stepped a little boy and the principal.
"Aiden, next time you forget your lunch money, instead of taking someone else's money, what will you do?"
"I will come to you Miss. Meadows."
"Good boy. If it happens again, there will be consequences. Do you understand me?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Now get back to class and come and see me at lunch."
"I will." As soon as Aiden was out of the office, she turned to Eddie and Nick.
"Best Friend Windows?" She asked and they nodded. "Great. Come on in." They walked into the office and she motioned them to sit down. "I am Janet Meadows the principal."
"Nick Garrett." As Nick introduced himself Eddie couldn't help but staring at the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on, and he has laid eyes on many women.
"Eddie Latekka." Eddie held out his hand after Nick's introduction and shook her hand; her very soft hands.
"Janet Meadows. It's a pleasure meeting you both. Please have a seat." She motioned to the chairs in front of her desk. "I'm not used to having grownups in those chairs. It's kind of weird." She joked and Eddie noticed that her gorgeous blue eyes sparkled when she laughed.
"Excuse, me Miss. Meadows, but I have coffee for your guests."
"Come on in Samantha." The secretary entered the office and handed Eddie and Nick their coffee.
"Can I get you anything else?" She flirted with Eddie but he didn't even notice. He was too enthralled with the principal.
"No thanks. We're good." Nick answered.
"Are you from around here? I haven't seen you before." Eddie asked.
"Actually, I moved here a couple months ago from Maine."
"I'm surprised that I haven't seen you around."
"Probably because I have been cooped up in this office since I got here getting ready for the school year."
"Well welcome to Knights Ridge. We are glad to have you and if you ever need a guide I am your man." Eddie flirted and Nick resisted the urge to kick him.
"I will keep that in mind Mr. Latekka."
"It's just Eddie."
"Okay Eddie, let's get down to business. I am not happy that the school board is insisting that the window replacement take place now because I am told that the windows are so drafty that winter is miserable for the students and staff along with a fire hazard because of all of the space heaters."
"I think that windows are the same windows when we were students here." Nick told her and the three of them shared a laugh.
"Now since this has to be done while school is in session, I would like for you two to work after school is done for the day. Students are dismissed at two thirty and you can begin work at three. Is that feasible?"
"We are very flexible. If three is when you want us to start then that's what we will do; right Eddie?"
Eddie nodded in response even though he wasn't sure what was going on. He couldn't take his eyes off of the beautiful woman sitting in front of him. His mind was wondering; he knew she was an intelligent woman so he wondered what kind of conversations they could have; he wondered what it would feel like to run his hands through her long, dark curls; her hands were really soft and he wanted to hold them in his hand; he wondered what her lips would feel like under his.
"Sounds great." Nick said as he subtly kicked Eddie to bring him back to the present. He could tell by his lack of participation that he was a thousand miles away.
"Absolutely." Eddie agreed, hoping he didn't look like an idiot in front of her.
"Then I will see you both at three this afternoon." She stood and they shook hands.
"I can't wait." Eddie told her and she gave him a funny look.
"Eddie really loves his job." Nick told her.
"Glad to hear it."
"Thank you for meeting with us." Nick handed her a business card. "If you have any questions please give me a call."
"I will." Nick pulled Eddie out of her office and the school.
"Why didn't you give me a chance to give her my card?"
"Because you have no idea what we were talking about. Where the heck were you?"
"Just thinking."
"About her?"
"There is something about her isn't there?"
"Don't even go there Eddie. This is a job. You cannot sleep with the principal."
"Given the chance, I would sleep with her but right now I just want to get to know her; I want to know everything about her. Weird huh?"
"Just be professional." Nick warned.
"I will."
And he was. Over the following six weeks, he behaved in the most professional manner he could muster whenever he was around her but it didn't stop him from, talking to her every chance he got; trying to get to know her but it wasn't enough. He wanted to know if she liked, fishing, watching football, playing poker, drinking beer but they only briefly talked in passing so Eddie was unable to learn any real details about her life but he wasn't giving up. He knew the job would end eventually and then he could ask her out.
One Saturday afternoon, Eddie was heading to Sully's when he came upon a stranded motorist. He saw a woman next to a flat tire trying unsuccessfully to loosen the lug nuts on the tire and his heart began to pound when he realized it was none other than Janet and she looked like she needed him. He happily pulled over and got out of his truck.
"Need a hand?" He asked, walking over to her.
"I can't get the lug nuts loose. They are on really tight."
"I can probably get them." Janet stood and moved so Eddie could take her place.
"Thanks so much. I was just about to give up and call a tow truck."
"No problem." Within fifteen minutes Eddie had replaced Janet's flat tire with a doughnut tire.
"What do I owe you?" She asked.
"Don't worry about it."
"I am going to worry about it."
"I don't want your money Janet."
"How about dinner? Since you won't take my money, let me buy you dinner to say thanks."
"Now that, I won't say no to that."
"Where is a good place to go in this town? I haven't been out on the town since I moved here."
"Sully's. It's a great little bar and restaurant. Do you know where it is?"
"I'm not sure."
"Follow me and I will get you there."
"That I can do but remember dinner is on me."
By the end of their dinner, Eddie knew without a doubt, that he wanted to get to know this woman better. They spent the entire meal talking about Janet's job and laughing at the funny stories about her students that she told. Normally, it drove him crazy when a woman monopolized the conversation, but where Janet was concerned, he could have listened to her talk all night. He loved the sound of her voice.
The last month spent at the school went by way too fast for Eddie's liking and he didn't see Janet's nearly enough. The only positive thing about ending the job was that he could stop being professional and finally ask her out.
"Everything looks great gentleman." Janet told them after the final walk through of the school.
"We have a lifetime installation guarantee so any instillation problems we will take care of and the windows have a manufacturer guarantee and the school board has all of that information."
"Sounds great." She held out her hand. "It was a pleasure working with you both." She told them as she shook their hands.
"It was our pleasure."
"After every job, we go out and celebrate. Tonight we will be at Sully's. You should join us." Eddie told her.
"I'm not sure."
"My wife will be there along with a couple of our friends and their girlfriends and wives."
"So I won't be the only girl there?" The guys shook their heads. "Okay. I am in." Eddie was thrilled.
"Who wants another round? I'm buying." Owen asked.
"Not me. I'm afraid that I need to head home. I have an early meeting tomorrow." Janet reluctantly told the group of new friends.
"One more?" Hannah asked.
"Sorry. I can't." She stood and grabbed her purse. "I had so much fun tonight. Thanks for inviting me and I hope we can do this again."
"We will." Hannah told her with a hug.
"I'll walk you to your car." Eddie volunteered.
"You don't have to."
"I don't mind."
"Well okay then." She gave a wave. "Bye everyone."
"Bye Janet."
"You're friends are pretty great." She commented once they were outside.
"Yeah. That's one word for them." He said with a grin.
"Have you all been friends for a long time?" He nodded.
"Yep. Since we were kids."
"Wow. I wish that I was still friends with my childhood friends." They arrived at her car.
"It's not all it's cracked up to be." He laughed at his own joke. "I wouldn't change them for anything. They are morons but they are my morons and now, they are your morons too."
"Yay me."
"Yeah. Keep thinking that."
"Eddie, thank you so much for inviting me this evening. I really did have fun."
"I am glad you came." He stepped closer. "I am really glad you came." He leaned down and before Janet could react he was pressing his lips to hers but she didn't kiss him back. After a few seconds, she pushed him away.
"What are you doing?" She gasped.
"I was trying to kiss you. I thought that it was pretty obvious."
"Eddie, I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"Eddie….I'm engaged."
"What?" He glanced at her left hand. "You aren't wearing a ring."
"Last weekend, I flew home for the long weekend and my boyfriend proposed and I said yes. My ring is being sized right now."
"I…I have no idea what to say."
"I am so sorry if I have done anything to make you think that I was available." Janet's eyes filled with tears at the devastated look on his face.
"Surprisingly, you didn't. You are one of the only women in this town that never flirted with me. I just figured that you were holding back because you are a professional."
"I really, really like you Eddie but…"
"Do you love him?"
"With my whole heart."
"Then I am happy for you."
"Maybe if we had met at a different time in our lives than maybe…"
"He is a lucky guy; a very lucky guy."
"I hope we can still be friends."
"Yeah. We can be friends.
"I hope so." Janet stood on her toes and gave him a hug. "You're going to find the right woman for you"
"I already did but she is taken."
"Eddie…"
"There is no other woman like you." He kissed her cheek. "Congratulations on your engagement Janet. I wish you all the happiness in the world. You deserve it." Before she could respond he was walking away to his truck. Janet sighed, wiped her eyes and got into her own car.
Eddie was heartbroken. Granted, he wasn't in love with her; he didn't know her well enough for that yet. He was heartbroken over the loss of what he thought could have been something wonderful. Janet told him that he would find his own special someone but he wasn't buying it. At home, sitting in his recliner with a bucket of chicken, a cold beer and ESPN running down the highlights, he sat there thinking; knowing that he was never going to find a woman like her; ever again.
Eddie awoke with a start and a pounding heart; life without his Janet; what a nightmare. His gazed turned to the woman lying next to him sound asleep and he realized how lucky he was that life worked out for them to be together. He rolled over and gazed at his wife who was sound asleep a hand placed protectively on her growing belly. He linked his hand with hers, leaned over and kissed her awake.
"Eddie?" She mumbled sleepily. "What are you doing?"
"Confirming that you are really here." Janet opened her blue eyes, full of sleep and looked at him; confused
"Huh?"
"I had a nightmare."
"What was it about?"
"My life without you. It was horrible. I was lonely and miserable."
"Oh baby. It was just a dream."
"The worst thing was that I had found you…but I was too late. You were engaged."
"Oh really? Who was it? Was he sexier than you?"
"Baby, no one is sexier than me."
"In real life yes, but the dream world is another story."
"Does it matter?"
"No it doesn't."
"Good because I never saw him."
"Of course not."
"I wouldn't be single again for anything in the world. I love being with you; I love the sound of your name, your cooking, and the twelve throw pillows on our bed…"
"There are not twelve."
"I love wearing this gold band on my finger; I just love being married to you and I have no idea what I would do if I had not met you. I know that I wouldn't be here in bed with you every night and waking up next to you every day and I know that I wouldn't be starting a family" He rubbed her belly. And not having those things would be unbearable."
"It was only a nightmare sweetheart." Janet laid her head down in the crook of his arm and he rested his head on top of hers and as he drifted back off to sleep, he knew how really lucky he was that he didn't have to find a woman like her; he found HER.