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“How long is a long time and why didn’t it?”
Rick finished one half of his sandwich. “You’re getting nosy. Why is that?”
“I’m just watching out for my big brother like he’s done for me for so long.”
“I obviously didn’t do that great of a job of it for years,” he said.
“You did a great job and you know it. We were both entitled to our lives. You’ve always let me live mine without judgment.”
“That’s right,” he said. “I have. You can do the same and not judge Gillian.”
“I’m sorry,” Robin said quickly. “I’m not judging her. Don’t think that. I like her. There is even furniture in the house, which shocks me.”
“I was wondering if you were going to mention that.”
The formal living room furniture was delivered along with a dining room set on Monday. He hadn’t expected to get it so fast and the place did look much better.
“It looks great. Are you going to put furniture in the basement? Anything in the bedrooms upstairs? We know money isn’t an issue.”
He laughed. “Nothing downstairs just yet. I only go down there to work out. I did buy one bedroom set for guests if I get them. Which I don’t, but it felt like the thing to do at least.”
“The house is coming together. Gillian has good taste,” she said. “See, I complimented her.”
“You did,” he said. “And she helped me pick everything out.”
Gillian hadn’t wanted to have any say, but he was clueless as he’d never bought that much furniture at once before and didn’t want his house to look like a bachelor lived in it.
“She did a good job.”
He was almost done with his second half, Robin hers, and he finally said, “She dated her college boyfriend for about ten years. They lived together most of that time. They didn’t see the same vision for the future and she finally had enough and left. I think it takes a lot of courage to do that, but she feels like she was an idiot for holding on for so long.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re right. It’s hard to leave when you’re comfortable. Or you’re in love, but you don’t see things going anywhere. I’m younger than her and wanted kids and didn’t see myself getting them with Alex. If I didn’t catch him cheating, I’m not sure how long I could stay if I didn’t get what I wanted when he knew that and wasn’t honest with me.”
“I think that is what happened with Gillian. It was a few years ago and she hasn’t had much luck dating since. Or so she said. Maybe she was trigger shy, I don’t know.”
“As long as she hasn’t found a great guy to latch on and rush things,” Robin said.
He sighed again. “I’ve got it covered. She’s not rushing anything. Trust me.”
He wasn’t going to tell his sister it took so long for them to end up in bed. It wasn’t anyone’s business. Nor the fact that it seemed he wanted to go faster than Gillian and had to figure out how to rein it in.
“I know we always think we’ve got it covered,” Robin said. “I’m the first person to say that. I just want what is best for you.”
“Like I have with you,” he said. “I’m home and I’m happy and I’m healthy.”
She frowned when he said that, but then said, “We are all in the same place right now and may we stay there.”
“Exactly,” he said. “And you can come visit me anytime you want and I can do the same.”
“Which is great,” she said, getting up and hugging him. “I’m thrilled you are home if I haven’t said it before.”
“I’m thrilled to be here,” he said, shocked those words were coming out of his mouth. He couldn’t wait to leave years ago and yet being home was probably the best decision he’d made in years.
18
Good For Me
“I’m so excited to do this,” Gillian said on Saturday. She never got to do things like this with another guy. Mike didn’t want any part of it and she’d given in when she shouldn’t have.
