Page 435 of A Matter of Time

“I’ll see you at home.”

“Thank you for listening to me and loving me even though I’m difficult.”

He made the familiar rumble that was just for me. “It’s not actually that hard.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, baby. You kill me.”

It was all I needed to hear.

After I took a long, hot shower, I called Dane before I started making dinner. He wasn’t sure I knew what I was talking about, but to humor me he promised to call his lawyer and see about talking to his mother. I told him I was sorry for being wrong, again, but as he wasn’t absolutely convinced that I was yet, he said he would hold off on accepting my apology. If nothing else, he assured me, my heart had been in the right place.

I was in the kitchen making soup, having tossed together a salad, when there was a knock on the door. My hands were full, and it was open, so I called out the invitation to enter. I was surprised when Steven Warren, my next-door neighbor, poked his head in.

“Oh, hey.” I smiled at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, I don’t know if you knew, but Lisa and I moved to Downers Grove.”

“No, I had no idea.” My life had been much too busy lately to even be aware of what was going on around me.

“Yeah, so since I didn’t really get a chance to say goodbye—seemed like you had a lot going on—I drove by tonight and saw your light on and figured I’d stop.”

“Great,” I said cheerfully, motioning him inside. “Come in, come in.” He closed the door behind him and stood there, looking nervous.

“Please, when you get settled, call me. I’d love to see the new place—bring a gift, see Lisa.”

He nodded. “Sure.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Oh, no.” He smiled quickly, putting up his hand. “I can’t stay. Lisa’s got dinner for me, I’m sure. I just wanted to say goodbye.”

“Thanks.” I smiled at him, wiping my hands on the dish towel before starting across the room to him. “I’ll miss you guys.”

“Me too.” He smiled at me, and it was a strange smile; bittersweet.

I walked into him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I rested my head on his shoulder. His sigh was deep, contented, and when I shifted to step back, he clutched me tight, his face buried in my shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just… There was always stuff I wanted to say that I never got a chance to.”

“Like what?”

He shook his head. “It’s too late.”

I smiled as his hands slipped down my back, sliding up under my T-shirt. I heard the door click open at the same time.

“Who the fuck are you?”

I lifted my head and smiled at Sam. He looked like some angry Norse god standing there, larger than life, his face a study in fury. “This is Steven—you remember, from across the hall? He just came by to say goodbye. He and his girlfriend moved to Downers Grove.”

He nodded, turned, and held the door open. “Better get going, then. That’s a long-ass drive.”