“Oh my,” I say, as Ron returns to his seat across from me. “Sorry about that.”
He chuckles. “Are you apologizing for choking?”
Yes. No. I’m apologizing for mentally freaking out about meeting your son so much that I almost died here at this table. I’m apologizing because everything about that and the way I feel for you scares the living daylights out of me.
“No, I suppose I’m a bit on edge. Lindsey’s not feeling well,” I say, changing the subject. “She was in rough shape last night. She has…well, she has some health issues, and when they flare up, it can get bad fast. To add insult to injury, she and Oliver had a little row. I think it was all just a big misunderstanding, but I’m worried about her. I didn’t see her this morning. She left for work before I got up.”
Ron’s forehead creases. “Well, of course, you’re worried. No matter how old she is, she's still your kid. Do you want to try to call her?”
“Actually, I think I should swing by the clinic and check on her.”
“You should. It’s still lunchtime. Maybe you can catch her while she’s not too busy.”
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I hate to leave so soon, but?—”
“Don’t you worry about me,” Ron says, cutting me off. “Family comes first. Go on and get out of here. Make sure Doc is okay.”
“Thank you.” I reach across the table and squeeze his hand before rising to my feet, shrugging on my coat.
“I’ll give you a call later. I’m going to take June Bug for a walk around the block while it’s sunny out.”
“Give her kisses for me,” I say, already starting for the door.
Outside, I suck in a lungful of cold air before striding toward my car to make the short drive to the clinic.
I need to make sure Lindsey’s okay. That’s theonlyreason I’m leaving my date with Ron early. It has nothing to do with the fact that he wants me to meet his family or any feelings I may or may not have for him.
Nothing at all.
“Knock, knock,”I say, tapping on the open door of my daughter’s office. My chest tightens because I can almost see Henry hunched over his computer at this exact desk the many times I brought him lunch over the years.
“Mom,” Lindsey says, placing her uneaten sandwich back on a plate on her desk. “What are you doing here?”
I glance around the room at the office that feels so familiar but also different. “I was in the neighborhood having lunch with Ron and thought I'd stop by and see my girls.”
“Lucy stepped out for lunch with Willow,” she says, furrowing her brow. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course, it is.” I smooth invisible wrinkles from my cream-colored slacks. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
Her chair creeks as she shifts her weight, leaning forward. “It’s just…you never come by here anymore. Not since…well, you know.”
“It’s about time I start, don’t you think?”
I move to the shelves hung on the wall and run my finger along the framed photo taken of Lindsey and her father at her veterinary school graduation.
I chuckle softly. “He was so happy that day. Remember how he almost got kicked out?—”
“For bringing in a cowbell,” she finishes for me. “He said, ‘if you can’t bring a cowbell to a vet school, wherecanyou bring one?’”
“He’d be so proud of you, kid. You know that, right?” I ask, taking a seat in one of the chairs across from her.
“You came here to check on me, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes,” I answer. “How are you feeling? I didn’t get to see you before you left this morning.”
“Not great,” she admits. “The rest helped a little, but I still feel like a terrible person.”
“Have you talked to Oliver yet?”
