“Joey, how ‘bout you? You hungry?”
Mrs. Grant laughed. “When is he not? Girl, go in there and fix him a plate.”
Alicia chuckled and disappeared into the kitchen. Joseph walked into the connecting dining room and pulled a chair out for Katherine. When she sat, he took a seat next to her.
“Joey?” she questioned with a raised brow. “I didn’t know you went by Joey.”
“I don’t,” Joseph grumbled.
Katherine chuckled. “Well, you better go in there tell Alicia.”
Joseph chucked his thumb toward the kitchen. “She just likes to get under my skin.”
“She’s very pretty. I sense some history.”
“Nah. Well… I had a crush on her a while back.”
Katherine studied him with furrowed brows. “And?”
“And nothing. Jack threatened to cut off my balls if I touched his sister. Besides, she wasn’t into me.”
Katherine grinned. “That’s not the vibe I got.”
Joseph leaned closer to her and spoke into her ear. “Are you jealous, Miss Chase?”
“Of course not, Joey,” she rebutted with a cheeky grin.
“Cute. Very cute. Anyway, I’ve known the Grants for years. Jack and I were in the fourth grade together.”
Katherine looked up at him with sympathetic eyes and whispered, “Oh, wow. I’m so sorry, Joseph.”
Joseph nodded and caressed her hand. “Thank you.”
* * *
KATHERINE
Joseph unlocked the door and stepped to the side. He was quiet on the way home and so was Katherine. She wanted to comfort him, but she didn’t have the words. Their visit with the Grants had started out solemn but calm, until Jack’s grandmother arrived. Mrs. Grant and her children had tried to console her, but she was inconsolable. The older woman collapsed in her son’s arms and wailed painfully.
In the presence of such sadness, Katherine hadn’t been able to hold back the tears. Joseph’s mom had rubbed his back as his eyes filled with moisture. He was obviously uncomfortable with public displays of sadness, so Mrs. Storm had suggested Katherine take him home. And, of course, Joseph didn’t argue.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Katherine asked. She figured since he’d taken off from work again, he could have a drink.
Joseph went into the living room and sat on the couch. “I’ll have a beer.”
“Okay.” Katherine grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and sat next to him. “Do you need anything else?”
He threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. “Thanks for riding with me. Mrs. Grant said that you were sweet.”
Katherine smiled and handed him the beer. “Sweet, huh?”
“Yeah. I think you’re sweet too. I like you being here, Katherine.”
She giggled. “Even though you had to give up your room?”
Joseph nodded. “Even though,” he confirmed.
The shrill ring of the telephone tore through the silence. Joseph lifted the beer to his lips and took a sip. “Do you mind grabbing that?”
