Page 74 of The Fix-Up

“Oh,” I whispered, his words sinking in. He’d seen my sticky note and he’d taken care of it. I had a sudden urge to cry. “I don’t know what to say.”

“It wasn’t a big deal,” Gil said, pushing off from the car, and I had a feeling he wanted to get out of the spotlight, and fast. “You needed it.”

This time I blushed, my toes curling in my shoes. “I know. It’s one of those things I don’t think about and then I let it go too long.”

Aside from my dad when I lived at home, I’d never had anyone who did things like this for me. It was so…practical. Apparently that was a big turn-on for me. I mean, yes, I wanted the flowers, and the chocolates, and the love notes but, wow oh wow, changing my oil might be the way to my heart.

“I got to be his assistant.” Oliver puffed his chest out.

“I bet you did a great job, too.” I kissed the top of his head. “Thank you very much.”

Without thinking about it too hard, I stepped closer to Gil. Stretching on my tippy-toes, I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, too.”

“You’re welcome,” he said gruffly.

Our eyes met. He smiled slowly. A real, full-on smile that made my insides melt.

I swallowed. “I should go make dinner.”

On autopilot, I turned and started back to the house. Eternally happy he didn’t say a word about how we’d eaten dinner an hour ago so there was none for me to make.

Right as I ducked into the house, I heard Oliver ask, “Does this mean you’re Mommy’s boyfriend now?”

THIRTY

[Love] means having joy with your friends and family.

—BRENDAN M., AGE 7

From the sticky note correspondence of Gilbert Dalton and Ellie Sterns:

Gil—

There’s leftover meatloaf in the fridge. Feel free to have some.

—Ellie

Eleanor—

The meatloaf was good.

—Gilbert

P.S. Pick a day to go through Ollie’s room. Please.

Gil—

There’s leftover chili in there too. Have at it.

—Ellie

P.S. Maybe next week.

Eleanor—

Do you ever make pork chops?

—Gilbert

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