Page 9 of Love Beyond Wanting
I took a deep breath and tried to muster up some phlegm at the back of my throat.“Oh, Dillon,” I coughed for effect.“I should’ve called you this morning.I’m sick.Really sick.”I paused for more coughing.“I have to cancel.”
“That sucks, Kate.I’m sorry.I…I would offer to come over, but I can’t really afford to get sick right now.”
I frowned, surprised that his reaction upset me.I wasn’t even really sick, but if I had been, I’d have wished for more sympathy.
“Oh, of course not.We can’t have that.I’ll call you tomorrow.”
He sighed.“Okay, babe.Get some rest.I love you.”
“I love you too.”It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t enough either.
Chapter 5
My nerves began to get the best of me as I sat in the restaurant and waited for my mother and David to arrive.I’d not been able to completely finish with my office that morning, so rather than the two of us ride to the restaurant together, I’d spent the rest of the day downtown with a couple of movers packing things up.
They were both fifteen minutes late.While I didn’t know David all that well, Mom was never late for anything.
Just as I reached for my phone, they walked into the restaurant together.
Swallowing my panic, I smiled and stood to greet them.
Mom didn’t bother hugging me—she was doing enough of that at home.Instead, she just gave me a quick smile and sat down while David wrapped me up in the biggest hug I’d had in ages.Just like his son, David gave remarkably warm and wonderful hugs.
“You look good, Kate.How are you feeling?”
“Better.Most days I feel very good.I often still feel like that right arm is hanging around, but I’m told that’s fairly common.”
He smiled as he released me.His gaze couldn’t hide his pity, but it was something I’d grown accustomed to.Strangers were actually easier than people I’d known before.Those who knew me before the fire—their eyes screamed pity.It was part of the reason that moving to the past didn’t seem so daunting to me.At least there, nobody would be able to say they knew who I was before.They would only know me as I am now.
We sat down at the table as the waiter came to take our drink orders.
“Did you guys get stuck in the same traffic jam?I can’t believe you showed up at the exact same time.”
“We…” Mom hesitated and cast a quick glance in David’s direction.“We rode together.David picked me up.”
“Oh.That’s…” I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say.“That’s economical of you.”
My mother’s tone was defensive when she answered.“Laurel and Marcus have been friends for most of their lives, Kate.David and I have known each other a very long time.”
Her reaction confused me, but the way David softly cleared his throat as if to calm her baffled me even more.I could feel her getting agitated, and that was the very last sort of mood she needed to be in.I would sit around and ponder what could be going on with her later.For now, I knew I needed to lighten the mood.
“Okay, it’s no problem.I think it’s very nice that he offered to pick you up.”I smiled to ease some of the tension.“So, I’m sure you guys are wondering why I asked you both to come eat.”
My mother sighed and straightened up in her chair as she ran a hand through her long, dark, curly hair.
She was nervous, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why.
David leaned forward and smiled.“Actually, we have a pretty good idea.”
My mind immediately began to flip through everything I’d done today.How could they possibly know?“You do?How?”
Something in my mother’s worried gaze shifted, and before David could answer, she shot out her arm to squeeze my hand.
“We visited on the way over here.We have our suspicions.Why don’t you tell us what it is?Then we will tell you if we were right.”
I couldn’t stay up all night again tonight.My sleep-deprived brain was making it difficult for me to understand anything she was saying.
“Okay…” I started slowly as I carefully made sure to say everything exactly according to plan.“Well, it’s nothing for either of you to worry about.It’s a good thing.”
