I burst out laughing and lifted my head.
“I just texted you too. I love you and I’m sorry. So, so sorry.”
He pressed his lips to my forehead.
“No need for sorry. You’re right. I’m a cop, and I know that things happen and you can’t let them ruin you, but…” He wove a hand into my hair. “It was things happening to the woman I love that threw me. I’ll be better.”
“Any better than just now, you may kill me.”
He laughed, and it was still the best sound in the world.
“I better get back before my break is over.”
“I didn’t make you miss lunch, did I?” I readjusted my bra and sweater as he fastened his gun belt.
“No,” he said, drawing me close. He dragged kisses across my cheek and lingered when he got to my mouth. “This was the best lunch of my whole life.”
29
JUDE
“This is ambitious, no?”
Dad laughed as I unpacked all the groceries for dinner tomorrow. The last time I’d cooked Thanksgiving dinner had been when I was still married to Maggie. It had been a small chicken instead of a turkey, with Stove Top stuffing on the side. She’d insisted on not seeing any of our families, and after a week of fighting, I’d given in like always.
Her parents hadn’t made too much of a fuss, but I could still hear my mother’s disappointed “okay” in my head when I’d told her we wouldn’t be stopping by.
I couldn’t blame Maggie because I’d chosen not to fight her on it. I shouldn’t have been so relieved after our divorce, but striving to make my wife happy every single day when she hadn’t offered me that same consideration had exhausted me in more ways than I’d realized.
This Thanksgiving was different in all the best ways and, ambitious or not, I wanted to celebrate the hell out of it.
“The turkey isn’t that big. I can prepare it when Claudia is working tonight, and all we have to do tomorrow is lounge around while it cooks. Potatoes and vegetables are easy, and Claudia said she made us a pie, but I’m not sure if she’s going to end up buying one instead.” I chuckled as I pulled out my mother’s old roasting pan from the cabinet. “I’ll give this a good scrub since it’s been a while.”
“I’m glad she’s closing the bar and staying with us tomorrow. She brings a lot of life to this old house.” Claudia’s father worked on Thanksgiving Day, like always. We planned on making the trip to Brooklyn to see them next weekend when her family usually celebrated, but I liked being with just my immediate family for this holiday.
“She’s a lot of life, in general,” I said, a wide grin splitting my mouth as I reached for the Brillo pad.
“She certainly brought you back to life. Watching the two of you does an old man’s heart good.” He slapped me on the back. “And makes what I have to tell you a little easier.”
I snapped my head to him.
“What?” I put down the pot and shut off the water. “Jesus, Dad. Spit it out.”
“Calm down. It’s not bad news. You may take it that way, but—”
“Anybody home?” Claudia sang from the doorway. “What kind of cop keeps his front door unlocked?”
I kept my gaze on my father as the screen door squeaked open.
“Here’s the pie for tomorrow. I baked this today, but I wanted to bring it straight here since there’s no room in the refrigerator at the bar. I should put a bigger refrigerator on the wish list for next year.” She breezed past Dad and slid the pie into the refrigerator.
“I bet you thought I’d buy one. So little faith.” She came up to me and kissed the corner of my mouth, her smile fading quickly when she took in my rigid stance.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, and it’s good that you’re here so I can tell you together.” Dad pointed to the kitchen table. “Come sit with us, sweetheart.”
I eyed Dad as he made his way to his usual seat at the head of the table. Claudia slid into the chair next to him before she lifted her gaze to me.
