Page 60 of First Love, Second Draft

Noah:Do you see what time it is?

Grace:Sure do! So you better get over here! We don’t have a minute to waste!

Noah:It’s not even six in the morning, babe. You think I can remember anything about my life before six in the morning?

Grace:If I can remember that you’re an early bird, then I’m betting you can remember plenty. (Including the fact that I don’t want you calling me babe!)

Noah:I’m supposed to meet up with Matt this morning.

Grace:What? Why?

Noah:Not sure. He says he has something important to talk about.

Grace:So do we!

Noah:I’ll come over after I meet him for breakfast.

Grace:How long will that be?

Noah:I don’t know.

Grace:Come over now. We can at least get started.

Noah:Can’t. Already headed out the door for a run.

Grace:Thought 6 was too early for you.

Noah:Good thing you reminded me I’m an early bird. See you this afternoon, babe.

Grace:Afternoon?!

34

“You’re writing Noah’s what?”

“Don’t laugh, Dad. It’s not funny.” Plus Gracie never liked how her dad’s laughter often turned into wheezy coughing fits that led to increased oxygen requirements. She gave her scrambled eggs another stir in the frying pan just as her toast popped up warm and brown from the toaster. “C’mon, Dad. Take a breath. You okay?”

His coughing subsided enough on the other end of the phone that she could hear the gentle hiss of the oxygen flowing from his nasal cannula. “I’m fine, I’m fine. Oh, but that’s rich. You of all people.”

“Tell me about it.” Gracie added a little cheese to her eggs.

He coughed a few more times. “So he’s sticking around then? Noah?”

“Has to. For now. We’re supposed to get started on it immediately.”

“Well then, I better not keep you.”

“You’re fine. Noah’s not even here. Apparently Matt needed to talk to him about something important, so they’re meeting up for breakfast.” She snapped off the burner. “Here we go again. Same old tune. I remember the lyrics to this song.Hey Noah, I need you. Sorry, babe, gotta go.Yeah, this project is going to work out oh so great.”

“Aw c’mon. Cut him a little slack.”

“You do remember that Noah is my ex-husband, right?”

“Trust me, honey. I remember exactly who Noah is.” His tonesounded way too forgiving to be talking about the man who broke her heart. “Uh-oh. Looks like they’re bringing my breakfast tray in. Better go.”

“Why are you eating breakfast in your room? Why aren’t you going out to the dining hall?”

“You mean depressing hall,” he muttered.

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