Page 10 of Devotion: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 1)

Before the end of the day, I sent it back to him for his review. It felt satisfying finishing it up. I went through a few emails Lizzy sent me, took care of items she needed help with, and glanced at the clock. It was past four so I started packing up.

“Eve,” Colin’s voice at my office door startled me.

“Hi,” I responded. “You startled me.”

“I’m sorry, lass,” he said softly. “I just wanted to tell you the stuff I got back was right on point and even highlighted items I didn’t think about. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

“Do you want to continue working on stuff like that?” he asked me.

“Sure,” I told him. “That's good. Better than a data spreadsheet.”

He laughed. “Okay then, we’ll do that.”

I nodded and grabbed my purse.

“Lizzy, her husband, and I are going to a little outside ice cream shop after work for our regular weekly rendezvous. Would you like to join us?”

It was on the tip of my tongue to refuse when I stopped myself. He’d been asking me every week and every week I refused. Elise kept hinting for me to socialize at least a little bit each time we spoke or texted. Maybe if I went with them, she’d get the news from Colin and she’d feel better?

“Sure,” I answered. His expression of shock was priceless but he quickly recovered.

“That’s grand,” he replied. “Want to walk there together?”

“Sure,” I repeated my earlier reply.

We walked together to the ice cream shop. He talked the entire time while I remained silent, listening. He was telling me about his family, his nephew and niece, and his sister. I half listened, lost in my own thoughts and trying to pay attention where we were going. Even though I didn’t listen carefully, it was easily detected how proud he was of his family. His nephew was the CEO of the company and investor in several successful businesses. His niece was an opera singer, although I wasn’t sure if I heard him right.

I wasn’t familiar with my way around this city and I didn’t want to get lost. I tried to memorize landmarks and for the first time realized I’ve been living for the past six months in a beautiful city. Since it was summer and temperatures were comfortable, the city was very lively. Beautiful old buildings were everywhere and I wondered why I haven’t noticed them for the past month walking back and forth to work every day.

The ice cream shop was only about ten minutes from the office. When we arrived there, Lizzy’s expression was one of shock as she saw me. For a split second, I wondered if I was unwelcome but her shock quickly transformed into a big smile.

“Eve,” she exclaimed. “For a moment, I didn’t believe my eyes!”

I couldn’t blame her. I haven’t been socializing with anyone so she had probably written me off as an unsocial type. I had never been particularly the social type but the tragedy of losing my son and husband had made me withdraw. It was uncharacteristic that I agreed to join them.

“Yes,” I muttered in response. “An outing sounded good.”

She quickly pulled a chair. “Here, sweet girl. Sit next to me.”

I had to inwardly smile. I couldn’t ever recall anyone calling me a sweet girl but I took the seat, mumbling a quiet thanks.

“This is my husband,” she pointed to the older gentleman sitting next to him. “Jack. He’s English.”

I frowned. Weird way to introduce your husband.

Colin added as if reading my thoughts. “It is leftover from the Scottish and English turbulent history. She is basically telling people right from the beginning he is English so if they have a problem with it, no need to build a friendship.”

Interesting,I thought but said nothing. I could care less whether he was English, Scottish, or Chinese.

“Yes,” Lizzy interjected. “It is a habit. To you it probably doesn’t matter.”

“No,” I told her and reached out my hand to her husband. “Nice to meet you.”

“And you, Eve,” he replied smiling. “I heard so many things about you.”

I gave him a small smile, wondering if one of those things he heard was that I was weird. Sometimes I felt people at McLaren were throwing sideway glances to me, wondering what I’m doing there since I kept to myself.

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