A Fresh Start by Trisha Grace

only gotten back recently. That was why Victor and I were saying how much of a coincidence it was for the two of you to meet.”
    “So you haven’t seen him for 10 years?”
    “Oh, we have. Every year he’ll send us some tickets for a cruise or to some place for a holiday. He’ll pick us up at the airport. I don’t know what brought him back this time.” Mr. Seymour turned into the lane and parked the car.
    Justin’s car was right in front of Paige’s house. At least someone is utilizing the space.
    She stepped out of the car and saw Justin on the Seymours porch, lying lazily on the swinging two-seater, his legs hanging out by the side.
    “Hadn’t slept enough?” Mrs. Seymour chided as she walked across the deck to the door.
    “I was up early, running errands for Miss Watson over there,” he said as he pushed himself up on the chair.
    “Running errands for me?”
    “We forgot to buy the paint for the front porch.”
    “Oh, I was thinking we could use the paints that I already have.”
    “It’s not suitable. You need tougher paints; otherwise it’ll start peeling very quickly.”
    “You should’ve told me, I could’ve gotten them.”
    “I wanted to buy something else anyway.”
    “That’s nice of you,” Mrs. Seymour said. “But it’s no excuse to skip church.”
    “I don’t mind going to church. I mind having to entertain the people after church.”
    “We’ll go cook. You kids go watch TV or something.”
    “I can help,” Paige offered.
    “You can help by accompanying him. Otherwise, he’s going to start looking around for things to fix or buy.”
    Paige laughed softly. “Okay,” she said, moving over to sit next to Justin. “Do you think I can have something like this over on my front porch?”
    “You like this?”
    “Yeah, it’s cute.”
    “Shouldn’t be too difficult to find. So, tell me. Who did you meet in church today?”
    “Mostly Mrs. Seymour’s friends. Oh, and Jane.”
    “Jane Cassells?”
    “Yup.”
    “Still shy?”
    “Very.” She chuckled. And rather afraid of Gloria, she thought. “What else did you buy?” she asked before Justin could ask her another question.
    “Another paint sprayer. It’ll be faster with two.”
    “I should pay for that.”
    Justin shrugged. “It doesn’t cost much, and I can use it in the future anyway.”
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “And, I just found out that you haven’t been in town for 10 years. So I’m not the only new-in-town; you’re sort of new.”
    “Someone has been gossiping after church,” he teased. “I’m not new in town. I left, then I came back.”
    “Why?”
    Justin leaned forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know.”
    She bent forward and waited for him to turn his gaze toward her. “Welcome home,” she said softly and stood. “I, for one, am glad that you and your paint sprayers are here.”
    Justin broke into a grin.
    “Can I ask another favor?”
    “What do you need?”
    “We have some time now. Do you think you can practice driving with me? Like reversing up the slope and down. And parking.”
    “How did you survive before you got here?”
    “There are subways and taxis.”
    He shrugged. “It is impossible to find parking space in New York.”
    Her smiled grew wider. She could tell he was fairly certain of his deduction and was merely teasing her. She promised Andrew she wouldn’t tell anyone what had happened and why she had to leave New York so suddenly, but surely not denying was fine.  
    “Please?” she said, already going down from the porch.
    He stood and followed. “New York. And the ex-boyfriend?”
    “Stop it.” She laughed, but bit down on her lips when she saw the hint of seriousness in his eyes. “I didn’t move here because of my ex-boyfriend. I moved here for a fresh start over something I’d rather forget.”
    “Okay.”
    “Okay?” She arched a brow. “So no more fishing?”
    “I’m sure you found out more than the fact that I haven’t been