Christmas Home (The Coming Home #6)

16. Clyde

sixteen

Clyde

I didn’t think. I saw Ruther freaking out and instantly knew he was having a panic attack. I had no idea what had led up to it, but I’d had enough of them to know how to spot one.

I went over just as his partner said something about medication. Anxiety medication, maybe, but I doubted he needed meds as much as he needed an escape. He excused himself a moment later, and before I could let Mrs. Cole know I was going to check on him, he was gone.

Shit, he shouldn’t be alone , I thought, and rushed headlong after him. Ruther calmed down easily enough, and despite my curiosity, I forced myself not to ask questions. I didn’t want to risk sending him into another panic attack.

Personal experience told me he just needed someone to sit with him while he got himself back under control. I didn’t think about Mrs. Cole or the restaurant until after I started back. Crap, crap, crap, crap, will I lose my job? I mean, in most places, that’s all it’d take.

I slipped back in the front door, and instead of an angry boss, I saw kindness and relief. “Thank you, Clyde. You did good,” she said, patting my shoulder.

I should’ve known someone with a kind heart like Mrs. Cole would see what I’d done as a good thing, not a lack of work ethic. I sighed with relief as I grabbed the bussing equipment and returned to work. Lunch rush was around the corner, and the dining room was a total mess.

I tried not to listen to the table of men who remained as I cleaned up, but I caught bits of their conversation. Something about a fire years ago at the Crawford family’s house that the librarian now owned.

The poor guy was apologetic, and I felt sorry for him, but I felt worse for Ruther. I remembered the scars on his foot and figured they were probably from that. He was back in Crawford City, maybe to address his past somehow? I had no idea, but I hadn’t had such a strong sense to protect someone since my nieces and nephew were little.

I sighed as I collected the rest of the dishes, bussed them back to the kitchen, and brought out the vacuum. No use dwelling on what I couldn’t fix, and that probably included me. At least I wasn’t just lusting after the poor man. I felt a kinship with him and a need to help him get through his troubles.

I mean, I still felt attraction, but nurturing always overcame other feelings inside me. As I vacuumed the crumbs of the morning rush, I couldn’t help looking forward to tomorrow morning’s break. Maybe I could become friends with Ruther and his…whatever Corey was to him. Husband, boyfriend, other? The way Ruther reacted to me in front of Corey suggested that whatever the relationship, it was open. I didn’t intend to get in the middle of that, but I felt connected to Ruther, so whatever happened, I’d be here for him, at least in the short-term. Not that the man needed me. The need was in me, though.