Oh, his pain hurt me.
“Then let’s help her another way,” I offered gently. “Why don’t we go see her tomorrow. We’ll take some Christmas cookies and have a cup of coffee with her, or tea. And we’ll see how she’s feeling. You and me. I’m sure she’d appreciate that.”
A long beat of silence. “You’d do that with me?”
“Of course I will. On your lunch break. I’ll ask Ro to mind the store for an hour. I’m sure she won’t mind. We can go together. I’m sure she’d appreciate the company.”
“I’d like that,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Deacon. Thank you for telling me what was bothering you. I’m glad we talked.”
“I am too. I feel better now.”
“Aww, I’m glad about that too. Now, I’m not an expert on dating or anything, but I’m pretty sure this is what dating people do. They talk about what’s bothering them and they try and make each other feel better. A trouble shared is a trouble halved, or something like that.”
“I’m not an expert on dating either.”
“Just as well we found each other then, isn’t it?”
He made a contented sound. “Yes. The video of Merry and Bright was cute, by the way. I can appreciate it more now. Sorry I ignored you. I didn’t want to burden you?—”
“You’re never a burden, Deacon,” I said. “If you’re ever sad or having a bad day, you just have to tell me, okay? I only worry when I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Okay,” he murmured. “Thank you.”
“Feel better now?”
“Much.”
“Good. I’ll buy some cookies or something from the diner tomorrow morning and we’ll go see Mrs. Stevens. You can come pick me up from the store and we’ll go together.”
“Okay.”
Bright and Merry were now curled up on my chest, purring loudly. “Can you hear this?” I put the phone close to them so he could listen before putting it back to my ear. “Their little electric motors are running hot.”
“They sound very content.”
“They’re asleep on me,” I said. “I can’t imagine my life without them,” I said quietly. “For little purry, furry gremlins, they totally own me.”
“I’m glad it was you who found them. They’re very lucky.”
“I’m lucky too. Because if not for them, I wouldn’t have met you.”
He was quiet again before he made a happy sound.
“Are you smiling?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then my work here is done. I’ll let you go now, and I will see you tomorrow at lunchtime.”
“Okay,” he whispered.
“Oh, and your text in the morning. Let’s not forget that.”
He chuckled. “I won’t ever forget it.”
“Night, Deacon.”
