Page 32 of Guarding Over You
The satisfaction rushes through me now that the long-awaited plan is finally in motion.
10
TUGGED AT HIM
Blaze rounded the turn toward home.
As expected, his “three-hour fill-in” shift had stretched past six. Normal.
He passed the first row of townhomes before his and caught sight of Arden sitting on her front step, a glass of wine beside her, but no Gracie in sight.
He lifted a hand in greeting. She waved back, but even from the car, he could see the smile didn’t reach her eyes, her grin more forced than natural.
Nothing like the woman he’d shared lunch with earlier.
He parked, debated going through his front door to shower and change because his gut had other plans. Instead of heading for his own door, he walked the few units down to hers.
The sight of her hit something soft in him. Her shoulders slumped, fingers tracing the rim of her glass, that quiet defeat people tried to hide when they thought no one was looking, even with the same forced grin on her lips.
It tugged at him in a way he hadn’t expected. The same protective pull he always felt when his sister tried to act tougher than she was.
It hit him then. Arden reminded him of Gale. Fiery, composed, always pretending she was dry in a hurricane even if she was holding a toddler’s turned-inside-out umbrella.
But he knew better.
He’d seen that look before. The one that said a person was holding it together by sheer will and that maybe they didn’t have to anymore.
“Nice day to sit outside,” he said. “A little hot though.”
“Not as bad as it was and the sun being in the back makes the front more tolerable.”
“Gracie in bed?” he asked.
It was a little after seven. Last week Gracie was still outside running around at eight.
“She’s watching a movie in bed.” She held up the monitor behind her. He’d wondered what that noise was and thought it was just someone’s TV playing loudly with the windows opened.
“Needed a break, huh?”
“She was tired and barely keeping her eyes open at the table. Didn’t even have the energy to fight me on dinner, which was nice. We both had spaghetti and meatballs. Used to be one of her favorites, but lately, she doesn’t want much.”
“Sounds like a good dinner to me.”
“I’ve got leftovers if you want some.”
He found that sweet but wouldn’t impose. “I’ve got food from my mother from Sunday still. Family dinner and we all get leftovers.”
“That’s nice. My mother used to do that too. When I was closer.” She picked her glass up and took a long drink of the amber liquid. There was a touch of red to it.
“That kind of a day?”
“Yeah. Tell your brother I really like his cider. This is his berry one.”
“It’s new this year. A little sweet for my liking. I’m more a beer guy, but of course, got to support the family also.”
“I can see you as more of a beer drinker. I’ll admit that I checked out your brother’s site more once I realized who you were. You two look alike, but I don’t see him as a hard cider drinker either.”
“Looks more like a moonshine type guy, doesn’t he?” he asked, laughing.
