Page 82 of Gravity

“They are both good. Pop is doing okay considering.”

“Good. We must come around sometime. I’d love to catch up with them both, especially Fiona. Working crazy hours means it’s hard to keep up with each other like we used to.”

“Yeah, sure. She’d love that. They both would. I’m having dinner with them and Grayson later, so I’ll mention it to them then.”

She turns to her daughter. “You see, it’s not so bad having family time now and again.”

“The difference is, Mom, Nora’s family are so much cooler than mine,” she jokes.

“Makenna Dixon, I sometimes wonder where you get your sarcasm from.”

“Well just look at my parents and you’ll have your answer,” she says so casually, placing a fry into her mouth.

I laugh just as Charlie turns back to me. “Anyway, Nora. It sounds like you have a fun evening planned. I hope you enjoy it.”

“Thank you, Charlie.”

“Oh, I’m sure she will enjoy it,” Makenna says, and I have to stop myself from kicking her under the table when a wicked grin tugs at her lips.

* * *

“Yes, Pete!” Grayson cheers as Dad carefully places another wooden block on top of an already small pile of them. They are both sitting at the dining table, playing one of Dad’s therapy games while Mom and I finish up the dishes after having dinner.

“Can you manage to do another?”

I watch as Dad grins, picking up another block and lifting his arm a little higher to place it on top of the pile.

“You can do it, Pop,” I encourage, thrilled that he’s managed to place six blocks on top of each other unaided. “He’s getting so much more strength in his arms,” I say quietly to Mom who has now turned to watch him, too.

“I know. Wade is really pleased with his progress.”

“Yes, my man!” Grayson cheers, “Another?”

“Easy.” He does another and the same excitement from Grayson plays out, causing us all to laugh as he grabs hold of Dad’s arm in pride. I can’t help but smile at them both, and I’m unsure who is benefitting most from our evening together. It’s great for Dad, but I know it means so much to Grayson having this family support back again after being closed off from it for so long.

Grayson’s eyes find mine, and I wink, itching to go over there and lay my hands on him, but know I can’t. It’s one of the reasons I offered to help Mom with washing up: I needed to escape the sexual tension that was smoldering between us, my parents oblivious. Dinner had been torture: trying to engage in conversations while Grayson’s free hand was under the table and dangerously close to my panties as his fingers danced circles up my thigh.

“Yes. Well done, Pop.” I beam. “Grayson is sure pushing you to work harder.”

“I think I’ve missed my vocation in life. I need to be a physical therapist.”

“He. An… Ass.”

We all laugh. “Come on, Pete that’s no way to talk to your best neighbor. Now, another.”

“Drink. First.”

Grayson helps Dad with his water, guiding the straw toward him so he doesn’t have to move from his position, and Dad picks up another wooden block.

“I’ve seen a change in him,” Mom says quietly.

“Yeah. And it’s great that he’s building his strength back up, considering how crazily life has changed for him.”

“You’re right,” she pauses. “But I wasn’t talking about your father.”

“Oh.” I turn my head to look at her to find her eyes already on me. A soft smile graces her beautiful face—the kind of smile that tells me she knows, or at least that’s what my head is screaming as she studies me.

“Before Sandie passed, I saw a rapid decline in the young man I once knew. He became withdrawn, tired and I could see the strength that Sandie was slowly drawing from him. He stopped coming for his early morning breakfast and the only way Asher could communicate with him was at the club because he wouldn’t let anyone in his house. When Sandie died there was no one that could break the seal to the cocoon that he hid himself in. Not even your brother. And as you know, it was hard because your father wanted to be there for him, but he couldn’t. Eventually, we had to watch from the side lines as he fell further into grief and walked around as if he were oblivious to others around him.”