I glance at Grey because he returned my suitcase to me. “Sure did, but I’ve hardly unpacked and am leaving again. Usually, my job keeps me here, but I’ll be heading back to the US. This is Grey, by the way.”
“That rhymed,” Zoe says, swinging her mother’s arm with her hand.
Sam adds, “Your name can’t be Grey. That’s a color.”
“It’s a nickname. My whole name is Greyson. It’s nice to meet you all.” The man almost smiles and I’d say that’s also a small miracle.
“Who gave you that nickname? Did they know it’s a color?” Sam asks.
Patty wears akids say the darndest thingslook of apology.
“My brother called me that.” Rubble lies beneath Grey’s attempt at a cheerful tone.
“I don’t have a brother. Just a sister.” Sam’s lips pinch together.
Patty’s expression changes, warms. She winks at me. I glance at her belly and she beams. I mouth,Congratulations. There must be something in the water here in Concordia, with Patty and Shonda both pregnant.
“Our dad is meeting us for ice cream,” Zoe says.
I’m guessing they’re about to announce the exciting news to the kids.
“What’s your favorite kind?” I ask.
They both start talking at once, and I consider suggesting to Cate that we run a manners program for kids.
Before I find out what their order is going to be, their dad appears, kisses his wife on the cheek, and scoops up each child for a hug.
Even though I’m wearing Heidi’s high school gym shorts with the school mascot on the leg and a red shirt with white polka dots that Heidi once had a matching skirt for, a mature tug pulls me toward maternity, motherhood, and marriage. More than anything, I want a family of my own. Not sure how that’ll work, considering I’m married but don’t plan on dating.
We make brief small talk before they go inside.
“So, you like kids?” Grey asks.
“Love ‘em.”
“You?”
He grunts as he tosses out his napkins. I don’t peg Grey for being a family man. But there’s a lot I don’t know about him, including his life before we got married. Who knows, he could have an ex-wife and little brooding, grunting duplicates of himself terrorizing the neighborhood.
My phone beeps with a text message. I check, dread dropping inside as I fear it’s yet another message from Todd. Instead, it’s from the pharmacy, telling me my prescription for a post-surgery medication that I have to take for another month has been filled. It’s only down the street, so when we walk by, I’llcheck the hours. I’d rather pick it up later when Grey isn’t with me.
I don’t want to open up the conversation about his insurance, other than to thank him profusely.
“It would be a shame for you to come to Concordia and not get to see the sights. Would you like to take a stroll through the village?”
“Sure,” Grey replies, which is more of an answer than I expected.
I point out a few good restaurants, some historic buildings, and the library—my favorite. It’s in the Beaux-Arts style with a dome, dramatic arches, and stained glass rosettes.
When we pass the pharmacy, I surreptitiously glance at the hours and see they’re open late, a contrast to the rest of the places of business, which close on the earlier side.
The scent of bread and baked goods wafts from a bakery. Yes, even though I just had my fill of ice cream, complete with a waffle cone, I’m still craving something.
Someone?
But this reminds me that I “borrowed” some ingredients for cookie dough and ought to replace them before we leave tomorrow.
When we reach the market, I pause. “Would you mind if I run in and grab a few items?”
