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Isla skipped off to Gloria’s bedroom, closing the door behind her, the sound of an opening drawer echoing through the room. Meghan carried on sweeping, biting down her own smile because she knew the onslaught was coming.
Nothing escaped Gloria. She should have been a detective.
“So you and Rich?” Gloria asked, shuffling the cards together.
“What about us?” Meghan asked casually, enjoying Gloria’s curiosity.
“I saw you coming out of his apartment on Sunday morning.” Gloria put the cards down on the table. “Wearing just a t-shirt.”
“Sunday?” Meghan stopped sweeping and tipped her head to the side, as though she was thinking about it. “Hmm, was that the day it was really warm?”
“Yes. It got up to eighty. Wasn’t it lovely?”
“It was,” Meghan agreed. “So lovely I had to strip down to a t-shirt. I was probably borrowing one from Rich.”
Gloria huffed, shaking her head. “Are you two a thing or what?”
M
eghan’s lips twitched at her neighbor’s sudden directness. She glanced at the bedroom door, relieved to see it still closed. “It’s complicated,” Meghan said. “And I don’t want Isla worrying about things.”
“Of course you don’t.” Gloria sat back, crossing her arms over her ample chest. She looked delighted to be proved right. “Anything you say will stay between us, I promise.”
Leaning against the kitchen counter, Meghan rested the broom in her palm. “You look awfully pleased about it.”
“All I can say is that every time I’ve seen Rich this week he’s had a huge smile on his face.” Gloria shrugged. “I haven’t seen him this happy in a very long time. I knew there had to be a reason behind it, and I was pretty certain that reason was you.” She rubbed her hands together. “I love it when I’m proved right.”
“I’m happy to be of service.” Meghan grinned. It was stupid how pleased Gloria’s words made her. She’d been pretty much the same. Floating through her days like her feet didn’t quite touch the ground. The memory of their weekend together was like a turbo boost to her happiness.
He’d been working nights, but he’d called her from the ER every evening before she went to bed. Just hearing his voice made her giddy, as she told him about her day and he regaled her with stories about the patients he’d seen.
And yesterday they’d bumped into each other in the hallway as she and Isla were heading out to school and Rich was coming home from his shift. He hadn’t bothered to change out of his scrubs and he was a little sleepy and rumpled as he walked out of the elevator, his lips curling into a lazy grin when he saw them standing there.
Damn if that smile hadn’t sent shivers down her spine.
“Mommy, what’s a copacksy?” Isla asked, scurrying out of Gloria’s bedroom with a bunch of postcards in her hand.
“A what?” Meghan asked, holding her hand out for the one Isla had close to her face. Isla passed it to her and Meghan skimmed the words.
“It’s Cotopaxi,” Meghan said. “A mountain in Ecuador.” She looked over at Gloria. “Is that where they are now?”
“It’s the last part of their trip. They’ll be home in a couple of weeks.” Gloria smiled. “I can’t wait for you to meet them in real life.”
It was going to be strange, having the fourth apartment on their floor occupied. She was so used to it being just the four of them. But from their postcards and emails Meghan knew she was going to like Kevin and Grant.
“Will they bring gifts?” Isla asked, her face serious. “My granny and gramps always bring me a gift when they’ve been away.”
“They threatened to bring me a new boyfriend.” Gloria wrinkled her nose. “They met some llama herder in Peru who they think is perfect for me.”
Meghan smiled at her. “I hope they got his number.”
“I’m too old to date.” Gloria shook her head. “They’re just teasing me.”
“How old are you?” Isla asked her.
“Sixty-nine years old.” Gloria smiled.
Isla’s eyes widened. “That is old.” She nodded seriously. “Even older than my gramps.”
