“Will you be okay without me for so long?” She actually looked concerned.
“Yeah, of course.”
“Please God, no more Mindys.”
Something pinched my heart. “You don’t want me to date?”
“Are you kidding? I don’t want you to die in here by yourself on the sofa watching something likeCops,orAmerica’s Most Wanted. Of course I want you to date. Also, it would be nice if it was a little more than that…with someone decent.” Something twinkled in her eyes, and I wondered if she knew about Brooke and I.
“Someone decent? Like who.”
“I don’t know, just not Mindy. Aim for someone like Brooke. Someone like her would be great, although nothing compares to the real thing. You’d get on her nerves though with your oafish ways.”
I had to laugh. “Oafish? You think I’m oafish?”
“It’s the cop thing. Must be that. I’ll tell you what, I’ll ask her to check on you.” She nodded and there was that sparkle again.
I wouldn’t say anything, but I was willing to bet she was suspicious.
“Thank you, Aria. That’s so nice of you.”
“I know right?” She giggled.
“I think…you deserve a treat for all you’re doing.” She definitely deserved that.
“A treat, like a tattoo?” Her eyes sparkled.
“No, not like that.”
“Likeice cream?” She gave me a deadpan expression.
“Ice cream can be included. How about we go shopping?”
“Us?”
My shoulders slumped. “Yeah, you and me. Us.”
“Hmmm, all right, but I don’t want to go to Wal-Mart or Sears.”
I laughed. “I was thinking of taking you to Neiman’s.”
She pulled in a sharp breath. “Oh God. Oh my God. Thanks Dad!”
She jumped off the chair and hugged me.
I knew as she did that I would probably spend a fortune, but as Brooke had said, I’d sell the house if it made Aria happy.
I’d never forget those words, those words that had come from a woman who barely knew us but had opened her heart with kindness.
Six and a half months was all we had left of Brooke.
It wasn’t very long at all.
One blink and the time would go by. Then she’d be gone.
* * *
A week later, I was still thinking about the little time I had left with Brooke.
