What was Griff thinking?

This scene is from chapter thirteen of A Well Constructed Murder. In this scene, Karla and Griff lay eyes on each other for the first time since her return to Bellbrook, and for the first time since they last spoke almost twenty years ago.

First we have the scene as written in the book from Karla’s point of view. Then, we have the re-written scene from Griff’s point of view.

From Karla’s point of view…

Most of him was hidden behind Bellflower. He wasn’t facing her, but she’d recognize his strong back and broad shoulders anywhere. He wore a grey and white plaid flannel shirt––untucked––black jeans, and work boots. Karla swallowed hard. Her heart somersaulted inside her chest. 

Schwuuup! The sound of a retracting tape measure snapped her out of her thoughts. 

He turned toward her, tape measure in hand, adjusting his backwards baseball cap until the brim was in front. His hair was still short and messy on top. Like it used to be. 

He stopped. 

Though his eyes were shielded by the brim of his hat, she felt him looking at her. His gaze had its own weight and temperature. Karla felt like she was in a fog. This was it. The moment she had been looking forward to and dreading since she drove past the Welcome to Bellbrook sign almost a month ago. She sucked in a shaky breath and held it. Her heart pounded against her ribs like it was trying to escape. 

His smile pulled at her insides like a magnet. She resisted the urge to walk toward him. He was harder to resist than gravity. 

Twenty years ago, Karla had only wanted two things. She wanted him, and she wanted them. 

He wanted Bellbrook. 

She returned the smile and swore she could smell him. But that would be impossible, right? He was fifty feet away. And who still smells the same after twenty years?

He walked toward her, rolling up his sleeves. He had the most amazing forearms… and his hands. OMG, his hands! Don’t think about his hands, Karla. Don’t even look at them. 

“Hey, stranger!” His voice sent a familiar rumble through her body and made her heart race. 

“Hey!”

His grey, downturned eyes were exactly how Karla remembered. Except now, there were creases in the corners that made him look more mature and distinguished than the lanky, still somewhat awkward, nineteen-year-old she had waved goodbye to in this very driveway twenty years ago. 

His wiry body had filled out since then. He was solid now. Muscular. He stroked his dark, stubbly chin, and Karla swooned internally at his big, strong hands. Don’t look at his hands, Karla. Look away! 

“H––” 

“Y––”

They started to speak at the same time, laughed at the coincidence, and said, “You first,” at the same time again, and laughed again. 

With the proverbial ice broken, they asked about each other’s lives, families, and jobs. Karla listened as Griff gushed about his three kids. She thought about how different her life could have been if she hadn’t left. 

“Bellbrook hasn’t been the same without you. Welcome home.” He chuckled. “I never thought I’d say that to you. I can’t believe I’m standing here talking to Karla Bell.” 

“In the flesh.” She smiled. “I can’t believe Griff Dixon made a special trip to Bellcroft to welcome me home.” 

“I didn’t make a special trip,” Griff explained. “Harry asked me to come by and talk to him about renovating the cottages.” 

“I see.” Karla nodded. “Where is Harry?”

She wondered if Harry had intentionally arranged for Griff to come over today, when he knew she would be there, then made himself scarce so she would have to face her past whether she wanted to or not. She also wondered if Lynn and Harry had concocted the scheme together, and that’s why, conveniently, they were both missing. 

“He said he’d be right back,” Griff replied. “We already looked around Mirabel, but he forgot the key for Bellflower and went back to his cottage to get it.” He jerked his thumb behind him toward the gap between the cottages. “I was just getting some outside measurements until he gets back.” He shook his head and grinned. “You look the same.” He reached toward her then stopped himself, shoving his hand in his pocket instead. “You’re as gorgeous as the day you left.” 

“You’re just as charming,” she said with an awkward laugh. 

Woof! Woowoo!

Clancy announced his arrival with a low bark and deep howl as he emerged from the trees. 

Karla bent to greet the large grey hound, and Griff gave the dog’s side a friendly pat. 

“Found it!” Harry called, holding up a keychain between his thumb and forefinger as he stepped out of the thicket. “Finally.” 

Griff and Clancy jogged and trotted over, meeting Harry halfway. 

From Griff’s point of view…

I was behind Bellflower taking measurements so I could calculate a quote to renovate the cottages. I retracted my tape measure and turned to look for Harry. He had gone to his cabin to retrieve the cottage keys that he had forgotten. It was sunny. I adjusted my ball cap so the brim would shade my eyes. 

That’s when I saw her. She stopped me dead in my tracks. 

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was like a mirage. I knew she was back in Bellbrook, but somehow we’d managed not to run into each other, despite living in what felt like the smallest town in the world. Was she avoiding me? I had assumed she was, and, to be honest, I didn’t blame her. 

I smiled. 

She smiled back. 

I smiled harder, thinking about how different my life would have been if I had kept my word twenty years ago. If I had chosen her over Bellbrook. 

My steps were tentative at first. Cautious. Would she turn and walk the other way? Yell at me? Order me off her property? My mouth was dry. Heat radiated through my body. I rolled up my sleeves and wiped my sweaty palms on the thighs of my faded jeans. 

“Hey, stranger!” 

“Hey!” Her smile and voice were the same. They still made me weak. 

Her green eyes were different now. Still captivating, but more confident. Karla had always carried herself with confidence, but now that confidence radiated from the inside out, shining through her eyes and smile. She was more gorgeous than I remembered. Lord help me.

“H––” 

“Y––”

We started to speak at the same time, laughed at the coincidence, said, “You first,” at the same time again, and laughed again. 

She asked about my life, my family, my job. I asked about her life, her business, her dog. 

I told her about my three kids and how proud I am of them. She told me about her business and the life she had left behind to come back to Bellbrook. The life I could have had if I had gone with her like we planned. 

“Bellbrook hasn’t been the same without you. Welcome home.” I chuckled. “I never thought I’d say that to you. I can’t believe I’m standing here talking to Karla Bell.” 

“In the flesh.” She smiled. The wind blew a stray hair toward her face. She swatted it away as I fought the urge to tuck it behind her ear. “I can’t believe Griff Dixon made a special trip to Bellcroft to welcome me home.” 

“I didn’t make a special trip,” I told her, not admitting that I’d been hoping for any excuse to see her. “Harry asked me to come by and talk to him about renovating the cottages.” 

“I see.” Karla nodded. “Where is Harry?”

I was wondering the same thing. I was wondering if Harry intentionally arranged for me to come over today, when he knew Karla would be here, then made himself scarce. If he did, I owe him one. 

“He should be right back,” I replied. “We already looked around Mirabel, but he forgot the key for Bellflower and went back to his cottage to get it.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder, toward the gap between the cottages. “I was just getting some outside measurements while I wait.” I shook my head, grinning. “You haven’t changed a bit.” I caught myself reaching toward her and stopped myself, shoving my hand in my pocket before it made a fool of me. “You’re as beautiful as ever.” 

“And you’re just as charming,” she said with a laugh. 

Woof! Woowoo!

Clancy announced his arrival with a low bark and deep howl as he emerged from the trees. 

Karla bent to greet the large grey dog, and I gave his side a friendly pat. 

“Found it!” Harry called, dangling a keychain between his thumb and forefinger as he stepped out of the thicket. “Finally.” 

Clancy and I trotted over, and met Harry halfway, with me trying to hide from both of them how flustered I was in the presence of my first love. 

Are you ready for the next Bellbrook Murder Mystery? Click here.