“You think because he’s moving away it has to be, but usually it’s because you make it so. People can keep in touch.”
With her frustration growing and the concerned looks the doctor was giving me, I recognized this was neither the time nor place to continue pushing. “Okay, Grandma. I’ll work on it. Don’t worry.”
“You make sure you do. Falling in love is the easy part. Making it last is work, but with the sweetest reward.”
“Very wise words, Mrs. Friedman.” Dr. Robinson smiled.
With her eyes on me, my grandmother responded, “I’m never wrong. Remember that. Why wouldn’t you want to be with him? What could be wrong with being in love?”
* * *
In the following days, I contemplated her question. Ezra called me several times, but I avoided him, which set me on edge, fearing he’d be persistent enough to show up at school or my apartment again. When the week passed with no sign of him, I could exhale and concentrate on my patients and my students. Most likely he’d moved on with his life. What he’d done for my family had been lovely, but now I could take the time to help my grandmother return to the present, help her understand that Ezra and I were no longer together.
My regular Thursday night support group, Lost in New York, rolled around, and my mood perked up further when Presley and Nate strolled in, hand in hand. I greeted each and gave them a hug and a kiss. “Good to see you both. You’re looking great.”
“Thanks. We took a long weekend in the Caribbean. Nothing like sun when the weather here gets gray.” Nate hung his coat next to mine. “How’ve you been?”
“Not bad. Busy with classes and patients. My grandmother had a health scare, so I’ve been dealing with that as well.”
“Sorry to hear that. I hope she’s doing okay now?” Presley asked, and I gave him a reassuring smile.
“Better than I thought. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but she seems almost herself. She’s had speech therapy, and she was lucky the stroke didn’t affect her motor skills. She’s ninety but feisty as ever.” If not for her persistent questions about Ezra, everything would be perfect.
Presley grinned. “I know the type. I’ve had many clients like that in my store. Men and women both, who love to give their opinions whether I ask for them or not.”
We laughed, but my smile faded when Ezra entered the room with a purposeful stride. Presley cast an anxious look in my direction, but my focus remained on Ezra.
“Will you excuse me?”
I left Nate and Presley and crossed the room to meet Ezra, who’d remained near the doorway. He pasted a name tag on his lapel.
“Why are you here?”
“Hello to you too, lover.” His gaze raked over me, and I hated how my body instinctively reacted to him.
“I’m not your lover. Don’t say that.” In an attempt to keep my voice down, I gritted out my words, and Ezra grinned.
He cupped my elbow and led me to a corner. “Now, now. Temper, temper.”
“What’re you doing here?” I asked again, extracting myself from his hold.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“You should be used to it by now.”
His eyes and smile gleamed. “Why are you running away from me? Every time I’ve been by to see Nettie, you haven’t been around.”
“I’m busy.”
“I don’t think so.” He ran his tongue over his bottom lip. “I think you’re avoiding me because you don’t want to face how much you want me.”
I stepped back from him. “Don’t be ridiculous. I need to start the group.”
“Go ahead. I’m here to listen.”
He got on my last nerve, and my temper flared, making me strike out. “Don’t use my group as a joke. People here have suffered. What loss have you ever had? Your life’s been perfect.”
I stormed away from him to take my seat. Around ten people had formed a circle with their chairs. Ezra, his face hard and pale, sat down directly across from me. Still rattled, I cleared my throat and began.
