Page 75 of Full Contact

“We were together nearly three years.”

Mark moved his mug away from the toaster as I reached past him.

“When was that?”

“Ended about five years ago. He lived here for the last year.”

I put two slices of bread in. Mark waited while I pushed the lever down.

“He was good with people,” I said. “Not just at work. We’d get in an elevator with a stranger, and by the lobby he’d know why they were in town. People told him things.”

“Did you like that?”

“Usually, but buying groceries took forever.”

I could still picture Andrew beside the apples, listening to a woman explain what her grandson would and wouldn’t eat. I’d gone through the rest of the list and come back for him.

“He got me through a shoulder injury one summer. The team handled the rehab, but he was the one who dealt with me at home.”

“Were you difficult?”

“I was bored and couldn’t put on a shirt without help.”

Mark smiled.

“Once I could drive again, he handed me a grocery list and told me not to come home without everything on it. There were three things he knew our store didn’t carry.”

“Bought himself an afternoon.”

“He needed it.”

“What ended it?”

I took the butter out of the refrigerator. It was too hard, and I cut off a few thin pieces to soften on the plate.

“He got tired of waiting for the season to be over. Then the season would be over, and I’d be resting or training or going to see Russ. There was always something coming.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“Yes. More than once.” I rested the knife on the plate. “He asked me to go away with him in June. He wanted to rent a house near a lake. Nothing elaborate. His sister and her husband were coming for part of it.”

“Did you go?”

“No. I wanted to stay here and work with the strength coach. There wasn’t an injury. I just hadn’t liked how I’d finished the season.”

“At the time, two weeks seemed like a lot to give up.”

Mark watched me spread the softened butter.

“Do you still think that?”

“No.”

It was easier to answer him while looking at the toast.

“He went without me. Came back with a sunburn and pictures of a dock he’d helped his brother-in-law repair. I asked about the dock. He said he’d wanted me there.”

“Were you surprised when he left?”