Page 93 of Begin Again

“Never feel that way. If I have to remind you daily, then I will.”

“You might have to,” she said. “But I’m catching on.”

“I’m glad I found you again, Liz.”

“I’m glad I bought this house, Christian. That’s how we found each other.”

She was right. He might not have seen her again the day the garbage truck hit her mailbox, but he would have found her. He believed that wholeheartedly.

Epilogue

Valentine’s Day

Less than two months later,Liz was cooking dinner for Christian. She had to go to work in a few hours, but since it was Valentine’s Day and their first together, she wanted to make it special.

He was just about finished with his flip and going to put it on the market in a month. He hadn’t found another place to buy yet and she knew he was looking.

They’d been together for about ten months and she was going to suggest he move in with her when he sold his house. He could still do his flips when he had time or wanted to, but this would take the stress off of him finding the perfect place and worrying he lived too far away.

And...she wanted him here every day.

“Hi,” he said, coming in the door. “You’re making Italian. I smell sauce.”

“I am,” she said. “Spaghetti and meatballs. I know you love it.”

“I do,” he said.

“What’s in the bag?” she asked.

“Dessert. Rich ooey gooey brownies with frosting and caramel on them.”

“Are you trying to get me fat?” she asked.

“You’ll just burn it off,” he said. “I’m the one that should be worried about getting fat with the way you cook for me. Have I said how much I love it?”

“You haven’t,” she said. And this was just playing right into her hand about having him move in. If she could figure out the right way or time to say it.

“Well, I do love it,” he said. “Not as much as you. But a close second.”

She laughed at him. “I’ll take it.”

The water was boiling and she dumped the pasta in. “How is your mother doing?” he asked. “Abby went to see her today, right? I’m sure she called you.”

“She did,” she said. “My mother is doing well. Not quite two months. She has a long road ahead of her, but she’s following the rules and taking her meds. Abby took the day off and brought my mother out to lunch. She took her shopping for some clothes too.”

“That’s nice of Abby,” he said.

Her sister might be setting herself up for heartbreak, but there was only so much Liz could do. As she’d said before, she was hopeful but not holding out hope. She wasn’t opening herself up to this right now.

“If it helps them both, then that is a positive thing,” she said. She wouldn’t be negative about it either. “Why are you pacing around?”

“What?” he asked.

“You’re pacing around the kitchen. Why?”

“Oh,” he said. “I didn’t realize it. I guess I was thinking that maybe this was a second chance for your mother. You even said your father has visited once. Do you think they will get back together or there is a chance of it?”

She laughed. “No chance. My father wants her well because she is the mother of his children. But no second chance at their relationship.”

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