Page 80 of A Moment In Time

“When you quit a month ago. You told me it was too hard to work with me…” He held up a hand. “I will paraphrase here to save both of us from any embarrassment. You said you couldn’t work with someone you…cared for.”

“Yes. I did say that.”

“So, why now? Why have you changed your mind? Do you feel differently now?”

She took a moment. “About you? No. When I couldn’t find you yesterday, I got worried. And then when Cooper showed up at the office without you, I panicked.” She looked at him for a moment. “We almost lost you yesterday. And if the worst had happened, I knew I’d forever regret how I spent the last month distancing myself from you. I realized I’d rather spend time with you in whatever capacity that might be, than be hurt or frustrated and alone.”

He nodded. “This has made me realize something, too.” He looked at her. “I’m much happier and more productive when you’re around. And I always told myself it was because you were good at your job. I didn’t need to micromanage you. We worked well together. But I see now I was lying to myself because I was afraid to commit to how I really felt.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what to call it. But I’d like to figure that out. I don’t do dating very well. And I’ve pretty much given up on the concept. But if you can be patient with me, I’d like to spend time with you away from the office. Do you think we can do that?”

She nodded as her eyes filled with tears. “I’d like that.”

“I want to get it right. I don’t want to rush into anything we might later regret. Is that okay?”

She nodded again.

“Okay. Next Saturday is the April Fools dance at the community center. I know we talked about going as a last social appearance before the election. But maybe instead of going as my social liaison. You could go as my date.”

“I’d like that very much.”

He smiled. “Good.” He laughed. “That’s assuming you don’t hate me after this weekend.”

“I think we’ll be fine this weekend.”

He looked at his watch. “We’ve made it five hours.”

“Only forty-eight hours to go.”

“Actually, it’s sixty hours until nine o’clock Monday morning.”

She shook her head. “Of course you know that.”

Chapter twenty-three

"Are trying to get rid of me?"

On Saturday morning, Gage again woke up to the smell of food cooking. This time, it smelled like bacon. He breathed it in. “I could get used to this.”

During the week, his mornings consisted of a cup of coffee before leaving the house. Then breakfast at the café or the Ambrose Tavern. Sometimes he’d eat there. Other times he’d get it to go and eat at his desk at the office. On the weekends, he’d eat cereal and milk. It worked for him and he’d been doing it since he moved into the house.

As children, they rarely ate cereal. Delaney always made breakfast for them. Gage assumed that was why he and most of his brothers ate cereal now. It was an ill-perceived notion ofmissing out on something. When in reality, they were lucky to have a mother who cared enough to make them a hot breakfast every morning. Especially since she went to the restaurant after feeding them and cooked all day.

His ribs still hurt, and he took two pills before getting dressed and going out to the kitchen. Even though he offered it to her, Sydney had insisted he sleep in his bed while she took the couch. He slept well and felt rested.

Sydney was at the stove frying bacon. Another pan had scrambled eggs in it. He came up beside her.

“Are you trying to spoil me?”

“Just taking care of you, boss.”

He took a piece of bacon from the plate she was putting them on, then poured himself some coffee.

She glanced at him. “How did you sleep?”

“Good. I didn’t wake up at all. How was the couch?”

“It’s very comfortable.”

He nodded. “Not as comfortable as the one in my office. But I’ve slept on it quite a few times. Or woke up on it in the middle of the night.”

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