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“Heartbreak can’t be measured.” She turned toward him more. “I’m sorry for what she put you through.”
“I always thought I’d meet someone a lot earlier in my life and marry. You know, the traditional life.”
Anita smiled. “Nothing’s really traditional in life. At least not for everyone.”
“True.” Wyatt ran his fingers over her shoulder, and goose bumps dotted her skin.
In this moment, she wished they weren’t surrounded by other people at a hotel pool. She wished it were just the two of them. On the other hand, she wouldn’t trade these moments of Carly enjoying herself on a weekend trip and Sam finding closure on his past.
“WHOSE CAR IS THAT?” CARLY pointed to Phyllis’s house as Wyatt turned into their driveway.
They were finally home, and Sam had been dropped off. Both Anita and Carly had promised to visit him the next evening. It was strange how Anita missed him—as if he were her own grandpa.
“Oh, that must be Cameron’s car.” She squinted through the golden brightness of the setting sun. “I’ll have to go over and ask how everything is going.”
“Can I come?” Carly asked, nearly hopping out of the car before it was fully stopped.
“Of course,” she said. “We need to take our stuff inside, though, and thank Wyatt.”
“Oh right. Thanks Wyatt!” Carly grinned.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “And thanks to you and your mom for coming.”
She shrugged and said to Anita, “After we talk to Cameron, can I call my friends?”
“Sure.”
Carly shut the door and moved to the back of the car to wait for the trunk to open.
“She has way too much energy after being in a car all day,” Anita commented.
Wyatt smirked. “Probably because she napped about as long Gramps.”
“That’s true. It might be a long night for both of us if she’s not tired.”
His expression sobered. “Thanks again, Anita. I know I’ve told you multiple times, but it was really good to have you and Carly along. Helped both me and Gramps.”
Anita rested her hand on his arm. “I’m glad I got to meet Susan and her daughter.”
Wyatt’s gaze remained on hers, and she didn’t want to look away. But Carly was waiting. Reluctantly she opened her door. He stepped out too. Opening the trunk, he carried their bags to the porch.
“Anything else?” he asked, smiling at Carly, then locking his gaze on Anita.
“No,” she said breathlessly. “I—”
“Meow.” Sassy appeared, leaping onto the porch from the front flowerbed where she must have been lounging.
“Sassy!” Carly scooped her up and buried her face in the cat’s fur.
“Call when you have an update on your neighbor,” Wyatt said softly, his gaze intent on Anita’s.
His gaze said so much more, but there was too much going on for her to try to figure it out. “All right.”
She watched Wyatt walk back to his car until Carly said, “Aren’t you going to unlock the door?”
“Right.” Anita fished out her keys from her purse, then opened the door. Once they had their bags inside and Carly had set down food for the cat, they headed over to Phyllis’s place.
“It’s weird to be here when she’s gone,” Carly mused after she rang the doorbell.
