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“I’ll be back in a minute,” Graham excused himself. After stepping out into the solace of the front porch, he released a deep breath and said a silent prayer of thanks. Even with his eyes closed, he sensed movement. When he raised his bowed head and opened his eyes, he wasn’t surprised to find Erin standing within arm’s reach.
“You okay?” She placed a hand on his lower back.
“I am now. I feel like I’ve dropped a ninety-pound rucksack I’ve been carrying around since she told us about the aneurysm. I didn’t know there was an option where they wouldn’t have to cut into my daughter’s brain. I can’t thank you enough.”
“All I did was make a call.”
“You did more than that. You cared enough about my daughter, whom you barely know, to think of how you could help. That call moved mountains. You also stood by me these past two weeks when I needed you and your positivity.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips lightly before resting his forehead against hers.
He wanted to tell her he loved her because that was the only word that accurately summed up his feelings. But love wasn’t part of their arrangement. How would she take it? Things were going smoothly in their relationship, but would a declaration of love make her run or bail now that she’d gotten access to one of his teams for research?
He swallowed the words. It could be some of the emotion of Megan’s situation. Better to wait. However, if she said it first, he wouldn’t have to think twice about telling her how he felt.
“Hey, are you two going to come in and fix your pizzas? Because if you’re going to keep making out, I’m going next,” Jace interrupted the moment.
Graham chuckled. “We’re coming. Sorry. We tried to teach him manners.” He pressed a quick kiss to Erin’s cheek before leading her back inside.
The vibe over dinner and two hours of games this week was much more relaxed. Erin participated in the conversation like she was family. That realization hit Graham like a round in the gut.
He hadn’t thought he was ready for a relationship. Their connection may have started as a way to help each other so he could stay here, but he’d never anticipated the way she’d slide right into his life. Would she glide out of it as easily?
ChapterThirty
Graham looked in the refrigerator,trying to figure out what to do for dinner. It was only the second night without Erin while she was in Charlotte for the shower, but somehow, it felt longer. If being apart only two days was this hard, he didn’t want to think about what it would be like when she left for the beach. Why did it have to be Kiawah Island, four and a half hours away, instead of Myrtle Beach or Wilmington where it would be possible to meet up for dinner or an easy commute for a weekend?
The unexpected knock at the side door came before deciding what to eat. He closed the fridge and turned to see Pete Ayers standing on the stoop.
“Hope I’m not interrupting. Noelle sent me to invite you for a drink and dinner if you’re free. Maribelle Jepson is over and said she’d loved to see you.”
He’d spotted Maribelle in the audience when he spoke to the Gold Star group this morning. However, he left immediately after speaking to meet Pete, Mahinis, and Lundy for golf. “How’s she doing?”
“Come over and ask her yourself.” Pete stayed the course like a man on a mission and didn’t leave him a graceful way to decline without potentially hurting the widow’s feelings. It’s not like he had other plans tonight. “Should I bring a bottle of wine?”
“We’re good. Noelle picked up food and wine.”
They joined Noelle and Maribelle on the Ayers’s back deck.
“Graham! It’s been too long.” Maribelle got to her feet to embrace him in a full-body contact hug that lasted several seconds longer than it should have.
“How are you doing?” He settled into the chair next to hers.
“You understand better than most when I say it’s still hard.”
“Help yourself to some hors d’oeuvres.” Noelle pushed the charcuterie board his way. “Would you like red or white?” She picked up an empty wine glass and gestured to the two bottles.
“White, please.”
Noelle filled his glass with a generous pour.
Maribelle took a drink of her wine and held her glass out for Noelle to refill. “My youngest just got his driver’s permit, but riding with him is about to give me a nervous breakdown. When Daniel was learning, Kurt took him out and let him drive at the training course on post. I can’t do that and don’t have near the restraint, so we’ve had a battle or two.” She gave a light laugh. “And Daniel’s been looking at colleges. He’d planned to do ROTC and join the military, but after losing his father, he’s having second thoughts about that.”
“That’s understandable. Though plenty of specialties aren’t dangerous or don’t even deploy. He could talk to somebody in HR. That’s one of those positions.”
“I wish he had someone to talk to about that besides me. It’s hard making all the decisions on my own. I’m sure you can relate.”
“It’s a change being on your own.”
“Yes. I figured you’re in stage three. First is shock, then there’s grief. Then you have lots of support from family and friends. That’s so important, but that wanes as people move forward. You’re no longer part of a married couple, so you don’t know exactly where you fit in.” The whole time she spoke, she stared into his eyes with her beseeching gaze. Now, she leaned in and placed a hand over his. “I know exactly what you’re going through. Feel free to reach out if I can help in any way. Even to have someone to talk to or share a meal with so you’re not alone.”
