Page 21 of The Calendar of New Beginnings
“Yeah, in Denver. You ready for it?”
“Shoot.”
She dictated the number, and he plugged it into his cell and texted her immediately. A reply text came a second later with a smiley face and aYou know who.He was smiling as he sent a matching emoticon back to her.
“My mother is trying to convince me to get a manicure and a pedicure,” she said in an aggrieved tone. “She refuses to recall how much I hate those kinds of things. I need to get my own place fast.”
“When are you looking at places?”
“I have a few lined up for this afternoon. I’m telling myself not to settle for something I don’t like just to get out of here. I love my mother, but…”
“I know,” he answered because she’d been saying the same thing all her life. “Are you feeling all right? I mean, is there anything you need?”
Silence permeated the line for a moment. “I told you. I’m fine. You went home and worried, didn’t you? Please tell me you haven’t called my eye doctor in Denver.”
It was a low point to realize he was so predictable. He didn’t tell her about the research he’d done online. “I managed to talk myself down from doing any such thing, but Lucy, Iamworried.” More so after seeing she was right. There was nothing they could do for traumatic optic neuropathy.
“I won’t tell you what to feel, Andy Cakes. I gave up feeling responsible for other people’s reactions along time ago. But there is something I was wrangled into telling you. It’s a long story. Do you have any time to get together in the next few days?”
He sat up straighter in his chair. “You have something to tell me? Why do I sense the long shadow of our mothers here?”
She laughed. “Because you’re smart. It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just…weird and a little harebrained…and kinda sweet.”
“They picked out a date for us to get married,” he said easily, laughing too.
“That would be the day,” she responded as easily. “You’re right, though, they have grand plans for us. You know how they are.”
He glanced down at the family photo on his desk. Kim had her arms around him, and he was holding a newborn Danny. They were gazing at each other, cherishing the miracle they’d made. God, he couldn’t imagine ever looking at someone like that again. And making a child with someone again… There was no bigger commitment.
His spirits sank, and he felt sadness pull at him as he thought about being alone for the rest of his life. Of course, Kim hadn’t wanted him to stay alone forever. In the letter she’d written before her death, which she’d instructed him to open one year after her passing, she’d asked him to find love again.Thatwas the kind of woman he’d married. The kind of woman he’d lost.
It broke his heart every time he read that letter. He’d showed it to Natalie a couple of months back, right after Blake had returned to her life. He’d made his sister a deal that day. If she’d give Blake a chance, he’d try dating again. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done, but since Kim wasthe one who’d asked him to find love again, he’d squared his shoulders to begin the quest.
Natalie had fallen back in love with Blake, so at least one of them had found a happy ending. So far, Andy had only gone on a couple of dates. Each one had only made him feel more hopeless about the whole love thing. Truth be told, he really didn’t want to date anyone. He wasn’t any good at dating, which Kim had known all too well. She was the one who’d needed to make the first move with him. He’d been too intimidated by her to imagine she’d return his interest.
“Our mothers do want us to end up with awesome people,” he murmured into the phone, finally looking away from the photo. “We’ll just have to get everyone used to seeing us as friends again. It’ll only be as hard as we make it.” Saying the words made his chest loosen up immediately.
“Exactly! We did it before. We’ll do it again. Some people need more hobbies, if you ask me.”
He completely agreed. The whole thing was embarrassing. He didn’t need his mother and Ellen to get involved in his struggle. Besides, truth be told, he didn’t really need matchmaking help. It didn’t happen too often, but every now and then he’d received an offer for coffee, or a woman would make a casual mention of bringing by dinner for him since he was all by his lonesome, raising such a sweet little boy. But it was never the right woman, and he didn’t know if there could be another right woman.
“How about we meet at Hairy’s tonight?” he said. “It will make your dad happy. Plus, I can bring Danny if we go early.”
“Yeah. About that. I won’t be able to tell you in front of Danny.”
“Is itthatbad?” he asked, leaning forward untilhis elbows rested on his desk. “You have to tell me now. I can’t wait.”
“No way,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ve decided the only blessing in this whole situation is seeing your face when I tell you.”
That didn’t sound good. “When are we meeting then? I get off at five and could meet you at Hairy’s by five thirty. Maybe I’ll bring one of my siblings to keep an eye Danny so you can tell me the big secret.” And since her refusal to tell him said secret was giving him heartburn, he added, “Of course, that’s only if you can drag yourself away from the salon. I can’t wait to see your nails. What color are you going with?”
“I hate you,” she said without heat. “You’re a doctor. You’re supposed to be compassionate.”
My, she didn’t know doctors very well, did she? Most of them were complete assholes. He’d always prided himself on not having a God-complex like some of his colleagues.
“I’m only compassionate to those in need,” he said, checking the time. “Ellen might try and prod you toward her way of thinking, but she still loves you. Remember that. How’s that for a dose of compassion?”
“You’re supposed to be compassionate toward me. She wants me to be someone I’m not. I don’t know why she keeps trying. Ilikewho I am.”
