“Heading home from Maggie’s.”
“You haven’t cooked once since I’ve been gone, have you?”
“Nope, but Grams has been keeping me fed.” Inserting my key into the ignition, I start my truck, but leave it in Park.
“I’ll make you a big pan of Bailey’s lasagna when I get back. Enough for you to have leftovers.”
I let me head fall back against the headrest. “I’m counting down the days.”
“Me too.” Her quiet reply reaches my ear, and I hear the despondency in her tone. Her voice perks up when she continues. “Anyway, I was calling to let you know I’m heading to bed.”
Pulling the phone away from my ear, I check the time. “It’s still early. Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I don’t miss the hesitancy in her answer. “I’m just tired today.”
Concern prickles the top of my head, but I let it slide. Ally isn’t giving me all the answers, but I’ll get them tomorrow.
As we finish up our phone call, I don’t tell her I’m driving down tomorrow, knowing she’ll come up with an excuse as to why I shouldn’t. It’s best to show up unannounced and leave her no choice but to explain.
“I love and miss you so much.”
The wistfulness in her voice has an ache forming in my chest. If she misses me so much, then why in the fuck did she leave?
“Love and miss you too,” I tell her instead of asking the question out loud.
“I’ll call you tomorrow when I get up.”
“Okay. Bye, baby.”
“Bye.”
With a tired sigh, I drop my phone in the cup holder. Putting my truck in gear, I pull out of the parking lot, determined that tonight will be the last night I spend away from my wife.