Page 58 of It's a Widow Thing

“It’s more than that. I hate my job.”

“Then why do you keep doing it?”

“Not sure.”Because I’m an idiot?He’d been complaining about his career for years, but hadn’t done anything about it, unsure of how or where to pivot. “I’ve been thinking about making a change. Just not sure what.”

“If you ever want to sell commercial real estate, I’d love to work with you. That would be fun.”

Michael nodded. “I’d like to work with you, too. Not sure if real estate is my thing, though.”

“Well, think about it. And I’m here if you ever want to bounce something off me.”

“Cool. Thank you.” Of course, it came down to more than indecisiveness about a career change. This was about his future, and everything he was focused on had nothing to do with money or a job. It was all about Sabrina. He was eager to get back to the city so they could get fully back on track. Even if it was a return to that slow pace she needed, he was on board. Hell, it might even be good for him.

“You still haven’t told me why you keep looking at your phone.”

“I’m waiting to hear from Sabrina. She was supposed to call me after the meeting with her widows group. Sometimes they go past nine or ten, and it’s only eight. It’s fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.”

Michael drew in a cleansing breath. He wasn’t fine, but he was doing his damnedest to keep from stressing about it. He was not going to undo the good the doctors had done yesterday. “I told her that I love her. While I was in the early stages of a heart attack. We talked about it a little in the hospital, but I still feel like there’s a lot that went unsaid. I worry that I pressured her. Again. I need to make sure she knows that I’m sorry.”

“Wow. Okay. You didn’t tell me that.” Brian reached for the remote and lowered the volume, then slid it back onto the coffee table. “Look. I think you’re doing your best, and Sabrina seems like a very understanding person. So even if it put pressure on her, and even if it upset her or bothered her, I’m sure you can work it out.”

If only Michael was so convinced. “Are you saying that because you don’t want me to stress?”

“No. I’m saying that because you’re my brother and I love you, but I think you spend a little too much time in your own head. Not everything is a problem you need to fix. Some things just need to get ironed out.”

“I’m not sure I understand the difference.”

“Youdon’t need to solve it. Youbothdo. ”

From the other room came the sound of the door off the garage closing. An instant later, Alyshia rushed in from the kitchen, breathless. “Hey. What are you two doing?”

Confusion washed over Brian’s face. “Watching basketball. What are you doing? I thought you were at your book club.”

“I left early.” Alyshia strode to the window that overlooked the front yard and peeked behind the curtains. “Brian, can you and I have a chat please? In the kitchen?”

Michael had no idea what in the world was going on, but he also knew better than to question Alyshia.

“Sure thing, babe.” Brian got up from his seat and started for the other room.

Alyshia hustled after him, but stopped halfway there, turning to look at Michael. “Need anything?”

“No. I’m good.”

“Glass of water? Altoid?”

Michael narrowed his sights on his sister-in-law. She was acting so strangely. Too many glasses of chardonnay at book club? Maybe. “Why? Does my breath smell?”

“No. I’m just asking. I’ll be right back.” She patted his leg, then flitted off toward the kitchen.

Michael grabbed the remote and turned the volume back up on the TV, but as soon as he settled back in his seat, a beam of light from the front window traveled across the screen. “Who in the hell is coming over?”

The doorbell rang. Michael got up from the couch, but did so slowly, hoping Brian or Alyshia would appear and he wouldn’t have to talk to whomever was at the door. “Bri? Alyshia? Do you guys want to get this?”

“We’re busy,” Alyshia called. “You can answer it.”

Michael reached for the knob, more than a little annoyed, only to be greeted by a vision he could not believe—a sight that made his heart stop. In a good way. “Sabrina.”