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“No,” she said thoughtfully. “Am I bad if I want more than that, though?”
He looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I want you to feel as awesome as you are. Right now. And I can’t do that for you, and it makes my heart hurt.” Her voice broke on the last word, and Opal shook her head as her eyes grew watery. “It’s fine. I know you’re going to be fine.” She gave him a shaky smile. “I wouldn’t be anywhere but here right now.”
“Thank you, Opal.” His words barely had the oomph to leave his mouth, but he pushed them out and reached for her again. One moment into their hug, someone knocked lightly on the door.
They turned toward it together, and Opal swiped at her eyes. She was a strong woman, and Mike admired her on a lot of levels.
“I’m sure it’s for you,” she said. One sniffle, and she was calm and composed. Mike felt like his emotions had been put in a blender and someone had switched it to liquefy.
He went to answer the door as it opened. His gorgeous Gerty peered around the big, heavy, wooden door, apprehension in her gaze. “Mike?”
“Hey,” he said, everything in his life brightening. “I’m coming. Just talking to Opal for a minute.” He moved right into Gerty, who straightened as she entered the house and stepped around the door. He hugged her tightly too, taking a deep breath of her hair. “Mm, you’re looking and smelling good tonight.”
She held him tightly for only a moment, said, “Thank you,” as she stepped back. She looked up to the top of his head. “No hat?”
“I’ve got one.” He turned and walked over to the kitchen counter, where he’d set his hat earlier. He positioned it on his head and faced the women. “Yeah?’
“Totally a cowboy now,” Opal said in a deadpan. “Introduce me to your girlfriend, Mikey.”
He scrambled to do that while Opal approached Gerty. “This is Gerty Whettstein,” he said. “You’ve met her. I brought her to Coral Canyon one summer for the Fourth of July.”
“Yeah,” Opal said. “I remember.” She smiled at Gerty. “It’s good to meet you again.”
“You too,” Gerty said, a smile also fixed to her face. They shook hands, very formal-like, and Mike wasn’t sure what to do with the awkwardness.
She looked at him again, and Mike catalogued the color of her tank top tonight—a bright coral. She wore jeans—no surprise there—and cowgirl boots. Again, not a surprise. Tonight, she also wore a pair of earrings that didn’t dangle, as she’d told him she hated feeling them bump against the side of her neck.
“I just came to see if you were coming.” She tucked her hands into her front pockets, pushing her shoulders up. “Elise is ready to serve dinner, but they didn’t want to start without you.”
“I’m coming,” he said. He indicated she should leave first. She did, and he nodded Opal after her.
His sister stayed put. “What?” he asked.
She grinned at him and placed one hand against his chest. “You’re incredible, Mikey, really, but she is out of your league.” She giggled a little and started to leave.
“At least I date,” he said after her, which caused Opal to spin back to him.
“I date,” she said.
He scoffed again. “Right. When? Who? That guy you went out with twice before he told you about hisothergirlfriend? Five years ago?”
Opal wore a murderous look on her face. “For your information, Mister Nosy, I’ve been seeing another doctor at the hospital.”
His eyebrows went up. “Oh? What’s his name?”
“Miles,” she said without missing a beat, so maybe it was true. “I just haven’t said anything to Momma and Daddy about him yet.”
“Why not?”
Opal sighed, the fight leaving her body and face simultaneously. “Probably because he’s a little older than me…and has two kids.”
Mike’s surprise couldn’t have been more complete. “Wow, Opal. How old?”
“Six and three.” She sighed and ran her hand through her hair. Her bangs sprang right back into place, some wisps sticking up on the side. “He’s been divorced for two years, and he’s…. Let’s just say I don’t want to shock Daddy into a heart attack. The man’s eighty years old.”
Mike grinned at her. “He’s not the type of man you bring home. Opal, howscandalous.” He put his arm around his younger sister, and they left the generational house together.
