Page 62 of Someone to Watch Over Me

“I bought ingredients for power bowls full of kale and quinoa and other things that are heart-healthy.”

“Yummy,” Tom says with a grimace. “Kale. My favorite.”

I laugh at the face he makes.

“I know,” Cora says. “It’s gross but good for you.”

Tom gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for everything. You’ve been amazing. But you can exhale. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to eat the kale and the quinoa and all the other good things to stay healthy so I can drive you all crazy when I’m a hundred and two and losing my teeth.”

Cora laughs even as her eyes fill with tears. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Tom hugs her. “I have no doubt you will. Go home. Clean your house. Take a deep breath. Everything is okay.”

“Fine. Be that way.” She wipes tears off her face. “If you do this to me again, I’ll never forgive you.”

“I hear you.”

Cora squeezes my arm. “Thank you for everything.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“Yes, you have. You saved his life, and we’ll always be grateful to you for that.”

“Oh, well… I’m glad I was here when it counted.”

“We’re all thankful for that.” She grabs her purse and her cloth grocery bags. “Okay, I’m gone. Call me if you need anything.”

Tom walks her to the door. “We won’t need anything but a visit after you’ve taken a few days for yourself.”

“If you don’t check in, I’ll worry.”

“I’ll check in. Now go. Get out of my hair.”

She smiles, kisses him on the cheek and walks out the door.

“Sheesh.” After he waves her off, he comes up the stairs, taking them one at a time rather than two at a time the way he usually does. “I thought she was going to move in for a minute there.”

“You’re lucky to have her and Lydia.”

“And I know it.”

“I wish I had siblings. I feel like everything would be easier if I did.”

“In some ways, it is. In others, it’s a pain in the ass, but I’m always thankful for them. Never more so than this week.”

“You need to be thankful for them all the time.”

“I know.” He smiles. “What do you feel like doing with this unexpected day off?”

“I have no idea.”

“You want to go for a ride? I’m feeling a little stir crazy, and I need to take a look at a couple of job sites.”

“You’re not cleared to go back to work yet.”

“I won’t do anything but look.”

“In that case, let’s go for a ride.”

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