Page 24 of Her Braun
Gibson frowned, his forehead furrowing. “Yeah, she’s okay.”
The driver leaned to the side to look into the house. “Can she come to the door?”
The younger man looked nervous, but he didn’t seem like he was trying to be rude.
“She just… no. I don’t think so.”
“My dad,” he swallowed hard, his Adam’s Apple bobbing, “he said no one ever called in except for her. Could... could I just talk to her? Make sure she’s okay?”
Kay walked into the kitchen with her towel draped around her shoulders. "Hey, Chuck. How is your dad doing?"
The delivery guy colored, his cheeks flushing bright red under his tan. "He's doing real good, Doctor Kay. Real good."
He shuffled from one foot to the other and smiled. The expression took about five years off of the age Gibson had pegged him as.
"Do you think he'd be okay if I come into the restaurant and say hello some day?"
"Really?" The kid smiled and showed a mouthful of straight teeth. "That would be so awesome! I mean," he cleared his throat, "that would be nice. He'd love to see you."
Kay laughed softly. "You taking classes again, Chuck?"
Kay walked past him, and Gibson had to force himself not put a hand on her and hold her back. He didn't know why he didn't want her to go to the door.
Instinct.
That's all he could claim.
The delivery guy shoved his hands in his pockets and his shoulders raised up toward his ears. "Yeah. I started classes at the community college."
"Oh yeah?" Kay stopped in the door frame and while Gibson couldn't see her face, he knew that she was smiling ear to ear. "What are you taking?"
Chuck's chin dropped and he seemed to be studying the ground at his feet.
Kay rocked back on her heels. "It's okay, Chuck, you don't have to tell me what classes you're taking. I'm just happy that you're taking classes and doing something for your future."
"Yeah. My dad said he thought it was a real good idea, Doctor Kay. He thinks I should take business or accounting, but I hate the numbers. I don't even like making change or doing the cash register at work."
"Numbers aren't for everyone."
Kay shivered a little and Gibson moved closer. He put a hand on her back, and she stiffened a little. He moved his hand up and down her back to try and warm her up and he tried not to think too much about that fact that he didn't feel any straps or a bra clasp under her top.
Gibson moved closer and lowered his voice to murmur near her ear. "It's getting cold."
She nodded gently.
"Thanks again for checking on me, Chuck. And send my love to your dad."
Gibson looked up when the delivery guy didn't say anything and saw that the younger man was staring at Kay with open admiration.
"Thanks, Doctor Kay. You, too."
There was something odd with the words he'd said. Just the way he put the words together, but Gibson got the impression that the guy didn't have much of an education.
"Okay, bye now!"
She turned back and Gibson took hold of the door and closed it.
The lock on the back door wasn't all that great other. An older lock just like the rest.
