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“Coming! Just fixing my bow tie.”

Elle bit back a snicker as Clayton placed a hand over his mouth.

They sat in the formal dining room eating grilled lemon pepper tilapia, aged white cheddar and chive mashed cauliflower, tomatoes and cucumber salad, and garlic biscuits. Chris was a master in the kitchen.

“Your dad tells me he came by the clinic on Friday.” Heidi gushed, a big smile popping. “I was a little jealous when your dad said he got to come into the exam room to watch you work. I’ve only had a tour.”

“You’re very good with your patients.” Chris’ warm smile broadened.

A similar smile lit Clayton’s face. “Thank you.”

Elle’s heart swelled.

“I was really impressed by the way you got that pit bull to sit calmly as you gave vaccinations. You may need to teach me your Jedi mind tricks so I can use them on my patients.”

Elle gasped. “Are you aStar Warsnerd, Chris?”

“Huge!”He beamed, but then his smile dimmed. “I should have come to your clinic sooner, son. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

“It’s okay.” Clayton glanced at his plate.

“No, it’s not okay, but it will be.” He clasped Clayton’s shoulder.

Elle fought the urge to do a fist pump in the air.

Clayton and Elle offered to clean up before coffee, tea, and cake. Elle rinsed dishes as Clayton stacked them in the dishwasher.

Chris hummed “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol. Quietly, Elle pulled her cell phone out of her dress pocket, brought the song up and hit play.

“I know this one!”Heidi crooned and shimmied her arms a little.

Clayton playfully nudged Elle’s hip as his mom swayed in the middle of the kitchen. With the swagger of a ballroom dancer, Chris took his wife in his arms, making her giggle like a schoolgirl.

Elle’s heart tripped, witnessing these two affectionately slow dance in their kitchen as if nobody was watching. The love spiraled around them with every turn, dip, and twist like a private romantic play staged just for them.

“Dance with me.” Clayton’s whisper caressed the shell of her ear.

“Always.” She took his hand.

Clayton spun her around the kitchen, joining his parents.

His out-of-key voice sang along softly, pulling her in before twirling her back out.

Elle’s smile was too big for her face as they swayed, and he sang. He didn’t sing every line but certain ones, as if trying to tell her something through the lyrics. Like a secret only for them. In that moment, she forgot the world, forgot the pain she anticipated from leaving Clayton, and settled in to just being in the moment of the last days of her vacation.

THIRTY-FOUR

“I have not wanted syllables when actions have spoken so plainly.”

~Jane Austen,Sense and Sensibility

Labor Day was the first holiday she’d spent in Perry in fourteen years. More importantly, it was the start of the “Week of Pete,” as she and Tobey dubbed the various birthday-themed shenanigans planned for the week that included individualized dates planned by Janet, Tobey, Jerome, and Elle.

Despite being a holiday, Elle had to take a business call regarding the mobile mammography initiative partnership she’d pitched to Magda at the fundraiser in Boston. With early detection lives could be saved. Lives like her grandma’s.

By the time she disconnected the call, she was soaring with a sense of accomplishment. The program was shaping up nicely and the call had gone exceptionally well, solidifying the non-profit and healthcare company’s partnership to expand services in underserved rural communities. The thumbs up emoji text from Malcolm was the cherry on what was already a sundae of a day.

When Elle finished with her meeting, she FaceTimed Clayton. “You’re a fucking rock star,” he praised while elbow deep in puppies at the shelter where he volunteered.

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