Page 54 of Smooth Sailing

I pulled open my tote to get my phone.

I then typed in, Sorry about that. I was overwhelmed. Can you give me some time to process things? Then maybe we can talk about dinner.

I finished typing, turned the phone around and showed it to Hugger.

“Good?” I inquired.

He read it and nodded.

I sent the text.

My attention drifted to the painting and I noted inanely, “I’m not sure I have any spit to get on with this.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when my phone vibrated in my hand.

A text from Dad.

I opened it and it said, One minute.

“He says ‘one minute,’” I told Hugger, then asked a question he could not answer. “What does that mean?”

And he couldn’t answer it, so he replied, “Don’t know, Diana.”

I stared at the phone. I stared at it more. Even staring at it, I jumped when it went again.

Another text from Dad.

Apologies. I had to delay a client meeting. Are you okay?

“Oh my God,” I breathed.

“What?” Hugger asked harshly.

I looked at him. “He delayed a client meeting to text me.”

“All right.”

“Hugger, he’s never done anything like that. Work is his life.”

Hugger just held my eyes.

“He wants to know if I’m okay,” I said.

“I think you should tell him you are,” he suggested.

I nodded, bent to my phone and typed in, Yes. You just surprised me. It was a good surprise.

I turned the phone to Hugger. He jerked up his chin in approval. I sent the text.

It barely went before I got another one. Are you sure? That man said you were crying.

I was just overwhelmed.

But you’re okay.

Yeah, Dad. I’m okay.

Do you have a man in your life?

---