Page 25 of The Heart Remembers

“What exactly do you do in Florida?” she finally asks me.

“I’ve already told you I work in IT. It’s nothing special. I collect data, analyze it, and report back to the boss.” It’s a little more complicated than that, but the long version would sound just as dull.

“Do you enjoy your job?”

“It’s a job. I think that’s clarified in the word job.”

“What would you do instead? If you could do something different, what would you like it to be?”

The question surprises me as it’s not something I’ve thought too much about. I like my job well enough, but I meant what I said, it’s a job. It pays my bills, barely. I hate to admit I’m more qualified than what I’m doing. I have to take into consideration that I need the flexibility offered in my position because of daycare. I’d love to find another job, but I can’t give up the benefits of what I have where I work.

“I’d love to do something more meaningful, I guess. It isn’t that an analyst isn’t important, it’s just not . . . fulfilling.” I pause a second. “I don’t know how to explain it,” I mutter when I find I don’t know how to tell her that I miss the thrill of working for the military. Processes felt more relevant, more in demand, more necessary. Lives depended on what we learned and how we applied it. It’s a little different than analyzing purchase patterns or collecting email addresses.

“I get that. It’s why I love physical therapy. I feel like I’m really making a difference in someone’s life.”

She’s so incredible. “Why did you go into physical therapy in the first place?”

“I thought I’d be a speech pathologist. I wanted to work with children who had speech impediments like I did as a child, but then I just switched. I took a PT pre-rec in kinetic energy, and I was just hooked on how the body moves. We’re amazing machines.”

My eyes drift to her keeping pace next to me, and I want to tell her how her body is an amazing machine. She has it all—firm abs, sweet breasts, long legs—but it’s more than her body that makes her perfect. I like how she thinks, how she loves her family, and how she’s accepting of others. She’s been good to AJ and me all week, and I don’t want to give up how I feel when I’m around her.

“What else do you do in Florida?”

I shrug. “Like what? Hang with friends?”

“Sure. Do you have a large friend base there? Do you date often? Are you tied to the place?”

My head completely turns in her direction for a second. “Katie, I don’t date.” Period. This needs to be clarified. “There hasn’t been a woman in my life since Alicia left, and that was months ago. Before that, we were at odds with each other, so we weren’t physically involved, in case you were wondering.” I tease a little, and she smirks at me.

“Just in case,” she mutters with a short laugh.

“As for friends, it’s kind of hard with AJ. I have a few buddies with kids, but it’s awkward being the single guy with couples, and then it’s awkward being the dad guy with single friends. I don’t exactly have a fit, but every once in a while, I go out.” It sounds kind of pathetic when I think about it. I work a forty-hour week and come home to my quiet apartment with my baby boy. We don’t have a large friend base, and no one in the group matches us—single dad with an infant.

“If you could live anywhere, where would it be?”

“Easy, a small farm with some land. Give me a horse or two with it, and I’d be a happy man.” I’m smiling as I tell her my dream. I look at properties all the time and think, Someday.

“What about you?” I ask. “Want to live someplace other than where you’re at?”

She chuckles lightly. “I actually like Grand Rapids. It’s a nice mix of city and country. I could deal with a smaller town, though. Especially after being up here, I find I miss the slower pace, but I love my job. I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

I don’t need to ask about her dating life. I already know where she stands.

“You probably have tons of friends, party girl.”

“I have close friends but not a big friend group. I’m also close to my family.” I already know this about her, and she admits it freely. She’s tight with her parents and good to her siblings despite their age difference.

“Speaking of family, what’s the plan today?”

Katie chuckles. “Another girls’ only day. Mom, Daisy, and I are going shopping in Traverse City. Mom wants a little time with just us. Aren’t you guys planning something for the afternoon?”

“I can’t keep up.” I laugh. “Tricia has things planned down to the minute.” She’s a teacher, and she works by schedules and charts. It’s something I love about her.

“So you’ll be gone most of the day.” The unspoken question lingers. When will I see her? When can I spend time with her?

“Yeah, but we’ll be back for dinner. I know the parents are going to Town Tavern as if that isn’t already a thing they do every Thursday.” Some twenty-plus years and the older siblings still meet up on Thursday nights to have a drink. They claim it left Friday nights free for families and Saturday open for date night. I like the tradition although I was too young to participate when I lived here. “The rest of us are going to Half Rack.”

Half Rack microbrewery has become pretty popular over the years. They have a factory in town and a patio with outdoor service, while their main bar, restaurant, and store are in Liberty.