Page 70 of All I Ask
“I’m sure he knows. You talk about it each year.”
She nods. “And yet, the man doesn’t listen.”
“Do any of them?”
“Not one. How is Chastity? I haven’t seen her in a few weeks.”
That’s strange. She always comes and visits with Mrs. McCutchrey. “She’s okay, it might be because she’s been working with Dr. Hartz.”
Her eyes brighten. “Yes, I heard that. Such a shame that the older Dr. Hartz hasn’t been feeling well.”
“It’s a good thing he has his son.” I smile.
She watches me with a knowing eye and then turns back to stringing the lights. “You and Derek were always such a joy to watch. Have you two reconnected?”
While she doesn’t gossip, she does meddle. I told her when I was really sad and sleep deprived after Chastity was born about my fight with Derek. She held me, let me cry myself to sleep, and then stayed all night taking care of Chastity.
The next day, she touched my cheek, kissed my nose, and told me love worked in mysterious ways and some people get lost on the journey.
I still don’t know if she was talking about me or him.
“We have.”
“Oh? That’s wonderful. I hadn’t heard…”
I tilt my head to the side and grin. “That’s interesting, since you usually know before the people involved figure it out.”
She laughs and waves her hand at me. “Now, that’s just silly. How did it go? Are you friends again?”
I don’t really know where we stand since the night at the bar.I haven’t seen him.
Before the kiss, though, it was great. I smiled—truly smiled. I wanted things to stay that easy between us, but hurt isn’t something that I can justreleasebecause he offers me pretty words.
“We’re…working it out.”
She climbs down. “Maybe it shouldn’t be work?”
“Isn’t it you who told me every relationship that matters takes effort?”
Mrs. McCutchrey laughs once and nods. “I’m sure I said something like that, but we were discussing your mother at the time, dear.”
“Now, that is work.”
“Yes, but she loves you, just as I suspect the young Dr. Hartz does. You know”—she heads to the register—“I like to think I have a sixth sense about men.”
I love her but she’s nuts right now. “You do?”
“I do. I think you’ll be surprised.”
That’s already happened, but I can’t tell her that. I need to figure out how to deal with seeing him first.
“I’ll let you get back to your display. That’s a surprise I’m looking forward to.”
“All right, honey. I’ll be sure to stop by the store this week and we can catch up.”
In other words, she plans to grill me.
Another person to add to my list of people to hide from. Although, she’s probably the one I could never actually avoid.She’d find me.
