She sighed. “I was worried about that. Veronica’s family will be coming to visit soon.”
“What?” Christopher gasped. “When?”
“A little less than two weeks.”
“So soon. I see,” his thoughts raced. He could be seen to be avoiding her in front of her family, neither could she, but what if she would prefer to keep contact between them to a minimum even while they were staying with them?
“Is there anything you would like me to do in preparation for their visit?” Mrs. Carter asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
“No, he said, shaking his head. “I’m sure whatever Veronica requested will more than have it covered.”
She studied him for a moment. “I see. Well then, I suppose if there’s nothing else, I will let you get back to it.” Despite it sounding like the end of a conversation, her face made it clear she expected him to say more, but Christopher didn’t.
Instead he simply nodded before making his way inside and to his study.
Back in his garden a few days later, Christopher was still dwelling on it. He thought of little else in all honesty.
He knew it was silly. He knew he should just talk to her, but all Christopher could think about is the way she had looked at Shaggy when she first saw him.
He couldn’t help but feel like she had been looking at him—wounded, alone, forgotten.
And without a moment of hesitation, she offered the dog a home, love, someone to look after him. From what he had seen and heard, she and Shaggy were all but inseparable. Of course she spent plenty of time with Teddy too, but Shaggy would happily trot along behind her anytime he could.
He wondered if she would offer that affection to him if he just tried, but maybe not.
After all, she hadn’t spoken to him more than a handful of times since they came back that day and when she had, it was always stiff and distant.
Now, her family was due here any day now.
He sighed to himself. He could only hope it wouldn’t go too badly. He would need to be on his best behavior. He needed to ensure she wouldn’t regret the fact that she was here.
“Oh, sorry,” he looked over to the voice that had broken him out of his thoughts.
Veronica was looking down at him, both of the dogs at her side.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked before he could think about how it sounded.
“Taking the boys on a walk,” she said quickly, crossing her arms. “What about you? What are you doing here?”
He shrugged, gesturing around him, “Just what I usually am, working in the garden.”
“Right,” she rubbed the back of her head. “I suppose I should have realized that.” She paused for a moment, then started to turn away from her. “I suppose I should let you get back to it.”
“Wait,” he called out before he could stop himself. He very nearly reached out for her. Thankfully he was able to stop himself from doing that. He couldn’t imagine it would go over well.
She paused, turning back to him, “Yes?” there almost seemed to be something hopeful in her eyes, but that had to be his own wishful thinking, wasn’t it?
“I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed for your family’s visit.”
“Yes, I should think so. Mrs. Carter has been helping me get everything in order.”
“Good, that’s good. I’m glad to hear it. How long until they are expected again?”
“Only another day or two.”
“Right, well, I hope you have a good visit with them.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I’m sure I will. It will be nice to see my sisters again.”
