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She looks at me sympathetically. “Did he tell you?”
I shake my head and fold my hands over my short skirt. “No, but I knew he loved me. I believe he still does.”
She grips my hand, and hers is warm. “I believe he does too. He just needs time. Give him his space and when he gets back, I’ll see how he is.”
“And when is that?” I ask, tamping down my anger. I have no idea how long he’ll be gone. I know nothing.
“He said something about a six-month stint.”
Disappointment floods me. I had hoped two or three months and he’d get it out of his system. “So, I’m just supposed to wait?”
She shrugs and looks at me with her kind amber-colored eyes. “I don’t know. That’s a decision you have to make. My best advice is to just not contact him for now.”
My chin wobbles. “Isn’t he lonely and hurting though?”
Her eyes well with tears. “I’m sure he is, but he has to do this his own way. You’re such a chocolate heart. Always wanting to fix everyone. I love that the most about you.”
I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse, but she means well. “Thank you. I think.”
She laughs a little. “I mean it in the nicest way possible.”
Then, I think of something. “So, he just quit his new job at the hospital?”
“Carter said Declan told him a group of them were going to Kenya for this thing, and they knew he wanted to go, so he quit. Declan wasn’t surprised. He knows what Eric’s been through.”
“Makes sense,” I murmur.
“Do you need chocolate?” she asks. “There’s a chocolate shop near the food court.”
“You read my mind,” I reply, standing and hugging her.
After some delicious truffles, we put our bags in the car and go back into the mall to do actual shopping, instead of the retail therapy we had been doing. As I look at watches in the jewelry store for my dad’s upcoming birthday, I get an ache that I want to buy something for Eric’s as well, as he’ll be in Africa for his. I know it’s stupid. He doesn’t need a watch nor does he need me. Six months puts him there during the holidays, too. What is he going to do on Thanksgiving? Will he even have a celebration? I have so many questions, and I wish he’d just get back to me so I can hear with my own ears that he’s okay.
But he’s not going to.
“Give him space.”
Okay, Taryn. I will.
I look at her as she admires necklaces in another case and she glances back at me. “What?”
“Just wish I could buy Eric a gift. Dumb, I know,” I confess.
“It’s not dumb. I’m gonna get him a birthday present, but he’s not getting it until he gets back.”
This interests me. “Really, what are you getting him?”
She lifts one shoulder. “Not sure yet. Definitely not jewelry.”
I smile, staring at the watches, and ask to see one I think my dad will like. The clerk unlocks the case and shows me the watch.
Taryn makes a face. “I don’t think my brother would wear that.”
I chuckle. “It’s for my dad.”
“Whew. I thought I was gonna have to tell you that you obviously don’t know Eric very well if you thought he’d wear that.”
“Are you saying my dad has bad taste?” I ask, biting back a smile.
