Page 33 of Someone to Watch Over Me

I swallow hard at the thought of being responsible for him, but I nod for his sake and Cora’s. “We’ve got this.”

Do we, though? I mean, he’s fine, or they wouldn’t have released him, right? A wave of panic threatens to drag me out of the good mood I was in when I arrived. Thanks to tons of therapy during Jim’s illness and since he died, I recognize the PTSD reactions, but that doesn’t make them any easier to handle when they arise.

Especially with Tom and his sister looking at me as if I’ve suddenly grown a second head.

“You okay, Lex?” Tom asks.

“I’m good. I’ll get that salad going.”

In the kitchen,I’m cutting lettuce when my phone buzzes with a text from Iris.Did Tom make it home ok?

Yep. He’s all settled in, and his sister is about to leave.

Are you ok being there alone with him?

I think so?

Lex! Do you need help? I can come over.

No, no, no. I’m fine. He’s fine. It’s all fine. Thank you tho. You’re the best.

Call us if you need ANYTHING. I mean it.

I will, and thanks for checking on us.

You didn’t ask my advice on this… But I think you like him, and I hope you’re giving yourself permission to figure out if there might be something to it. I know the living situation makes it more complicated, but don’t let that stop you from following your heart, ok?

I’m blinking back tears by the time I finish reading her text.I won’t. Thank you for saying that.

I’m butting in where I don’t belong, but I so so so want to see you find your happily ever after. But only if that’s what you want.

You can never butt in or not belong with me, and I wasn’t sure I wanted that, but seeing all of you living that happy second act has me wondering what might be possible. We’ll see how it goes.

Hang in there and let me know if you need me. I’m right here.

You’ll never know what comfort that gives me.

Love you.

Love you too.

As I wipe away a stray tear and put down my phone, Cora comes into the kitchen. “I feel like it’s a lot to ask you to be here with him when we can’t be. I was planning to stay, but he told me not to bother because you’d be here.”

“It’s no problem. I’m glad to be able to help.”

“Tom told me you lost your husband to ALS. I’m very sorry for what I said the other day. I was way out of line.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t know.”

“A neighbor of ours had that. It’s a terrible disease.”

“It truly is.”

She picks up a pen from the counter and writes something on the pad Tom keeps there for when he gets work calls after hours. “I’m leaving you my number. If anything comes up, please call me. I can be here in twenty minutes.”

“I will. Try not to worry.”

“That’s easier said than done. This has brought up a lot of memories from when it happened to our dad.”

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