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“It’s okay.” I rubbed Adam’s arm reassuringly. “We can spend the day together tomorrow. There’s a brunch place downtown that I love.”
“That sounds perfect.” Adam kissed the top of my head. And I was wondering if maybe you wanted to split Christmas between my grandma’s house in Virginia and here in Asheville?” He watched me nervously, like he thought I wouldn’t like the idea.
“Sounds perfect. And if we both work Thanksgiving Day, maybe we could have Grandma come to us for dinner.”
“She’d love that.” Adam slipped his arm around my waist. “So would I. Oh, um, can we take a quick picture? My family is anxiously awaiting news of you, and I know they’d love to see us together. And Grandma sends her love.”
“That’s so sweet. Are they doing okay? Nicole and I exchanged numbers, but she never texted.” Which I’d been half-relieved about, since I wouldn’t have been able to give her any updates on her brother while we were separated.
Adam held his phone away from us and snapped a picture. “Sounds like she’s been occupied with a new relationship of her own.”
“So you’ve talked to her?” I patted his chest. “Look at you. Brother of the year.”
“One phone call.” He shook his head. “I know: it’s astonishing.”
I managed to protect Adam from getting pulled into the Cotton Eye Joe, the Electric Slide, and the Hustle, but I couldn’t shield him from my dad’s direct questions when he spotted us on the side of the dance floor.
“You ever been married? Any dependents?” Dad grilled him as if he were performing a tax interview. Next, he’d ask if Adam had received any 1099s for contract work.
“Bill,” Mom protested ineffectually. I squeezed Adam gently with the arm I had around his waist, sorry he was being interrogated.
Adam squeezed back. “None.”
Dad nodded once. “You play golf?”
Adam and I glanced at each other and smiled. “Yeah, I’ve played.”
“What’s your handicap?”
I was about to clarify that Adam was skilled only on the putt-putt circuit, but he answered first. “It’s been a couple of years since I’ve played on a course, but it used to be six.”
Dad boggled at Adam. “For nine holes?”
Adam shrugged his shoulder. “Eighteen.”
I didn’t have to be a golf pro to know that was a pretty amazing handicap. I snuggled closer to Adam, wondering what other surprising things I’d discover about him. Grateful I was going to have the chance.
“That’s wonderful!” Mom said encouragingly.
Lisa interrupted Dad’s attempts to drag Adam off and discuss the ins and outs of Pebble Beach, a famous Californian course Adam had played. “We can’t find the sparklers for the send-off!”
Mom gasped and raised a hand to her mouth. “They were so important to Beth!”
“I thought we assigned Aunt Kathy to bring them?” I asked.
Lisa made a face. “She claims not to remember anything about it.”
I sighed heavily. If she hadn’t picked them up, they were probably still in a bin on my parents’ porch. If I left at once, I could make it back in time for Beth and Chase’s departure.
Dad had a hand on Adam’s shoulder, completely oblivious to the conversation. “I’m taking you to Grove Park tomorrow. It’s private, but my buddy’s a pro at the club. If we get there early, he’ll let us go out before the scheduled tee-times. And if we’re fast, we might be able to get into Springdale in the afternoon.”
“Oh, no, we have all the relatives coming over for a wedding breakfast,” Mom interjected. “I hope you can join us, Adam!”
“Um... morning might be okay.” Adam looked at me, beseeching me with his eyes to give him some direction about what to do. “But I have to start the drive back tomorrow afternoon so I can be at work Monday morning.”
My shoulders sank. Forget spending time with Adam. I’d spend the rest of my night fetching sparklers and helping with the cleanup, and Adam’s morning would be gone playing golf. Maybe they’d let me drive the cart and Adam and I could steal kisses while my dad was lining up his shots.
I’d see Adam back in Philadelphia next week, but we’d lost the entire last month, and I didn’t want to waste any more time apart.
