Page 9 of Priceless
Yes, for tonight. I’m tired.
Time for bed so soon?
No. I have to wait until seven. I promised my sister I would stay up until then. But she’s not here to know.
Why would you cut your day so short? Do you work in the morning?
I don’t work. I retired young, when my husband did.
Distract her!
Then you might stay up and watch a new movie. Maybe it will give you ideas for traveling.
If you are a fan of romance, might I suggest the Outlander series?
Dear Lord! He didn’t know how old she was. If she was quite old, watching Outlander might cause a heart attack.
Never heard of it. But I will find something. You’re right. I should try to get my body clock back to something more normal.
Good girl.
Forgive me. I misspoke. I do not know your age.
…
I’m fifty-four.
So young to be a widow. Too young to be finished with the rest of the world. We must get you out in it.
I know…
Fear not. Baby steps. And you already have the next step planned.
Ice cream.
Yes. Ice cream.
Goodnight.
Sweet dreams.
Yeah. Maybe I’ll dream of ice cream.
Jocko was magic.Raina was brilliant. And I was going to have to admit to her that she was right. But that didn’t mean I had to do it before she got back. She had no access to her phone, couldn’t call out, couldn’t send emails. My sister was literally off the grid for another five weeks.
Raina had worried, had even debated turning down the job because she didn’t want to leave me alone, but I promised her I wasn’t that fragile.
I’d lied.
But that next morning, when I woke up from a deep and dreamless sleep, I didn’t feel fragile anymore. It was like a powerful drug had finally left my system, and the brain fog had lifted. I actually heard birds singing outside my window, which made me wonder if they’d been quiet out of respect for the dead, or if I’d just been deaf to anything that sounded like happiness.
Paul would have rolled his eyes if I’d suggested such a thing. “The birds are birds. They haven’t got a clue,” he’d have said. “And you haven’t been deaf, you’ve been depressed. Go get a prescription and get over me already.”
I had no doubt that was exactly what he would have said. And hearing that voice in my head again reminded me that he was gone forever. My arms were empty, and they were going to stay that way. The thought nearly sent me back to bed. But then I remembered—I had something on my bucket list today.
CHAPTER FIVE
Of all the employees Jacob had hired, he had never had one quite so loyal, so blindly loyal, so good at his job, nor so simple…as Dougie. The young man had a flawless memory. Any patron could walk through the door and Dougie would remember their last order. And nothing made a body feel welcome like being remembered clearly.
