“You’d think,” he scoffed. “It would be nicer if sitting out here were a treat, not all I had to do after I got done with therapy. My home aide went home an hour ago, and when it’s not too bad out, I like to get a little air until my son comes home.”
My gaze snagged on the hem of George’s shorts. They went past the knees, and other than the stocking on his artificial leg, I didn’t see a striking difference between that one and his real one.
“The leg is fake from the knee down.”
“Oh, I’m…” Shit. I hadn’t meant to sit there and gawk at his leg, and shame washed over me for being so obvious about it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been—”
“Stop.” He shook his head and reached over to squeeze my arm. “It’s there. It’s hard not to notice. No offense taken, sweetheart. I’m happy for the company. Well, the company that doesn’t get on my case before he sets his gun belt down.”
I laughed as George flicked his wrist to glance at his watch.
“Should be due any minute now.”
“I think it’s sweet that he worries about you.”
“He does. Too much.” George nodded, glancing at Keely’s carriage as he chuckled to himself. “It’s a little strange when your kid ends up taking care of you.” He exhaled with a groan as he set his can down on the small table next to him. “So what’s got you so frustrated?”
“You heard my dramatic sigh?” I joked, a little embarrassed that George had caught me.
“I don’t know about dramatic, but you look frustrated about something.” He crossed his arms as he examined my face. “If you want to talk about it, I have nothing but time.”
“Well.” I leaned back, crossing my legs as I brought the can to my lips. I tasted more fizz than alcohol. “I lost my job and came up here to stay with my best friend and her family until I figured things out, which I can’t seem to do. When Peyton moved up here, I’d always tease her about living in the country because it was so different from where we lived in Brooklyn. I thought the small-town vibes and quiet would help, but I’ve been here for a while, and I still can’t figure out what to do next.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Taking a break to figure things out is the smart thing to do if you can.”
“But I can’t stay here forever. Every time I say I’m going to head back, something stops me.”
“If you’re not ready to go back and you can afford the extra time here, why not just stay until you are?”
I shrugged and lifted my head to George’s kind gaze. I saw so much of Jude in him, with his light-blue eyes and strong jaw. I’d bet he could’ve passed for Jude’s twin in his younger days, but the biggest difference between them wasn’t age—it was George’s easy smile. I’d seen Jude smile, but if I blinked, I would miss it.
“You’re wise.”
“Happens when you get old. The body may be breaking down, but the mind—” he tapped his temple “—razor-sharp.”
“I forgot you lived so close to Peyton and Jake. Jude mentioned it when he drove me to the market, but I didn’t think you were that close.”
“The house Jake grew up in is on this block too. I could tell you stories about him and the police chief as dopey kids getting into all kinds of trouble before they both grew up to be big shots.”
“Well, I’d love to hear some if you have the time.”
“Oh, you’d be here all night. All the boys have stories. Even mine liked to have fun sometimes.” Sadness flitted across his face and squeezed my chest. “He’s been through a lot. He could use someone to pull him out of the rut he’s dug himself into.”
I nodded until I spotted the half smile pulling at the corner of George’s mouth.
“Um, if you’re thinking that person is me, I don’t want to disappoint you, but no.”
“Do you know that you’re the first person in history he’s pulled over and let drive away with no ticket? And I do mean the first. Hell, when he worked with the department here before he moved, even I tried to stay out of his zone when I knew he was on shift, just in case.”
“I’m sure I just looked extra pathetic, and he let me go. I gave him a sob story about losing my job.”
He replied with a slow shake of his head.
“Maybe he didn’t want to make your day worse, but that hasn’t stopped him before. You got to him. I saw it at the park. I selfishly hope you stay even longer to figure things out since you make him nice and uncomfortable.”
“I make him nice and uncomfortable?” I burst out laughing. “Now that is what every girl wants to hear about a man.”
“For him, it’s a good thing. I promise. If anyone has a hope of getting him to both open and lighten up, I’m betting it’s you.”
