Page 103 of The Fix-Up

Oliver stared at Abe in wonder. “Why do you have holes in your ears?”

Abe chuckled. “I liked them.”

“I like them, too. Can I touch one?” Oliver asked.

“And on that note, we should get going.” I grabbed my purse.

“When will you be home?” Gil asked. I knew the question was directed at me, but his eyes never left Abe.

“Early-ish. I have to work in the morning,” I said.

He nodded. “Can you be back by eight? I have stuff to do after that.”

“You never leave the house after dinner. What? You have a date, too?” I joked. But as soon as the words left my mouth, I started to wonder. Did he? Who would he even go out with?

“I have something to do tonight.”

My eyes narrowed. I turned to Abe. “Give me a minute. I need to show Gil something.” Turning, I snagged Gil’s arm and half dragged him deep enough into the hallway we couldn’t be overheard easily. “Do you really have something tonight? Is it a date? It’s Cammie, isn’t it? She’s had her eye on you since you broke into my house.”

“I did not break into your house. It’s our house.”

“Where are you taking her?” I asked.

“Who?” Now he looked confused. What was his problem?

“Cammie. The dispatcher at the sheriff’s office.” I shook my head. “She’s all wrong for you, you know?”

He smiled slowly. “I don’t have a date.”

“You don’t?”

“No. You do.”

I blinked. “Oh, right.”

“Have fun.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead and strolled back into the living room. Frowning, I followed.

“Let’s go,” I said to Abe. “Be good for Gil, Oliver.”

“I will.” Oliver nodded. “Be good for my mom, Mr. Abe.”

FORTY-THREE

[Love is…] when two people have a strong connection to each other.

—MAGGIE, AGE 10

That night when I got home, Oliver was already in bed and Gil was in his room. I knocked on his door. “I’m home.”

“Good.”

“Thanks for watching Oliver. Everything go okay?”

“Yeah. It was fine,” he said, his voice muffled through the door.

“Good. I’m home now so…if you were going out, you’re free.”

“It was canceled.”

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