Jim Croce - I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song

Well, I know it's kind of late
I hope I didn't wake you
But what I got to say can't wait
I know you'd understand
Every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song

Yeah, I know it's kind of strange
But everytime I'm near you
I just run out of things to say
I know you'd understand
Every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song

Everytime the time was right
All the words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song

Yeah, I know it's kind of late
I hope I didn't wake you
But there's something that I just got to say
I know you'd understand
Everytime I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I"ll have to say I love you in a song

Natalie Wyatt walked down the bread aisle of the grocery store where she worked. As she began the mindless task of stocking bread, she went over chemistry equations in her mind. She had a test the day after tomorrow. Despite juggling the dual responsibilities of supporting herself and attending college as a biology major with a minor in anthropology, she made above-average grades. She really wished she could chuck this job and devote herself to studying, but the bills wouldn't pay themselves, and she didn't have anybody who could, or would help her out. She did have an older half-sister, Kathryn, but the two of them were definately NOT on speaking terms. Kathryn had done some things that Natalie found inexcusable, and Kathryn had not liked it that Natalie had made her opinions known. Kathryn also didn't like that Natalie was still on friendly terms with her ex-fiance, and had made that known. Personally, Natalie was glad Chet had found out what kind of a person Kathryn was BEFORE marrying her. She could have told him how selfish, manipulative, scheming, and vindictive Kathryn was, but she had known that he had to find that out for himself. Fortunately, he had borne his "little sister" no ill will. I wonder how he's getting on. We haven't talked in a while. In fact, the last time I talked to him was about eight months ago. Then Kathryn started harrassing me again, so I was dealing with getting the restraining order and all that. Maybe I ought to call him and see how he's doing.

A shadow crossed over her, and Natalie looked up into a pair of intense blue eyes. Almost unreadable, but an amazing color. You could drown in eyes like that, Nate. I wonder who put that pain in them. Giving a quick smile, she moved aside. "I'm sorry, sir. Can I help you find anything?"

The man flushed, gave a self-conscious smile, and said softly, "Actually, yes. Do you have any Italian bread in stock? It's my turn to make lunch today at work." Brilliant opening line there, Mike. No wonder women don't notice you enough to even give you the opportunity to ask them for their number or to even find out if they're single. Wish I had Gage's or even Chet's way with women. Of course, who'd want me anyway? Trish sure made a point of telling me that often enough. I wonder if she ever even loved me at all...Snap out of it, no use dwelling on that. You'll be gloomy all day, and you sure don't need that.

"I don't have any out here, sir, but I'll go in the back and check."

"Thank you." On an impulse, he added. "Call me...Mike." Sir sounds so...formal...coming from her. I wonder if she is single. There's no ring, but surely somebody like her has a boyfriend or something.

Natalie extended a hand. "Natalie. Let me go check on that for you, Mike. If you don't mind me asking, where do you work that requires you to prepare your meals?" I really am curious. Anybody's cooking has to be better than mine. I could probably even manage to ruin cereal. Anything I cook, I char to a crisp.

"A fire station. I'm an engineer." What? She already wants to know what I do? Next she'll be asking what kind of car I drive, how much I make...

"Ah. I have a...friend that works at a fire station. Hard work, that is. Takes somebody that really loves what they do to do it." She gave a quick flash of a smile and went to find the bread, which she found in a section that she hadn't gotten to. She brought two loaves out to the wating man.

"Thank you, Natalie. Have a nice day." He flashed a nervous smile and went back up the aisle.

"You too, Mike." And stay safe. I'll have to call Chet later and see if he knows you--if the last number I have for him still works. Between the demads of their separate lives, it had grown difficult to maintain ties. She didn't even remember what shift he worked, or know what station he was at now. She'd met one of his coworkers once, about a year ago when they'd needed a second female when the other guy's date had bailed. Nice enough guy, not that bad looking, good buddy material, but not really her type to date. Not that she'd dated much anyway. She rarely had time for an evening in where she didn't have to do something, much less a date, but she really wanted to get to know this guy if she could and see where it went. I'll try that number tomorrow morning. I'm off from work and from school, so I'll have time if he's available.