Page 104 of Fierce-Gabe

“Gabe ate two pieces and then took the last one home with him. Elise told him not the ice cream; she didn’t want to clean his freezer again. There was some laughter to that.”

“What am I missing?” Carolyn asked.

“That Gabe can be a bit of a slob. I don’t think Elise is a neat freak like Jayce, but it tells me that she is at his house a lot more than we knew if she is cleaning things.”

“That’s good,” Carolyn said. “It means she’s comfortable there too.”

“I thought the same thing. I do have to say I tried to get some information out of them. We aren’t as good as you are at it.” But she did notice Elise sneaking food off of Gabe’s plate and to her that was a big sign of comfort if she ever saw one.

“It takes practice,” Carolyn said. “I’ve been doing this a lot longer.”

Not to mention she wasn’t really that nosy in her kids’ lives. Stacy would say she was the closest to her daughter, but her boys, she didn’t get too involved in their personal lives.

She had a soft spot for her oldest because he took so much on his shoulders at a young age.

She would always feel he gave up a dream because he didn’t want to be too far away from her, but Jim had pointed out more than once that Gabe would always want to be close to home.

Deep down she’d known that too, but she’d never wanted her children’s wings clipped before they had a chance to fly.

She’d always have doubts where Gabe was concerned and maybe that was why she wanted him settled down. So that he could have that dream even if he didn’t want to admit he was trading one in for another.

Her oldest wished for a family of his own to care for.

“You have,” she admitted.

“What information did you find out, if anything?” Carolyn asked.

“Jim asked if Gabe or Elise ran into each other at Clemson or not.”

“Oh?” Carolyn asked. “And?”

“Elise said they ran into each other a few times. Not a big deal if I didn’t catch the look from Gabe silently telling me to stop that conversation.”

“Do you think that might be it? That something happened years ago for them to not get along?”

“That’s my guess,” she said.

Stacy didn’t think she’d get the answers out of Gabe, but it did shed some light on things.

Back then Gabe felt like girls were after him for every reason other than who he was deep down. He’d been quick to accuse and judge before he found out the truth.

Elise was pretty outspoken and there was a good chance they just got off on the wrong foot.

That was her guess at least, but she wouldn’t voice that to anyone other than Jim.

“You know your son better than anyone else,” Carolyn said. “How do you think things are going?”

“I think they are taking it slow, but it’s further along than they want anyone to admit.”

“Good, good,” Carolyn said. “Keep me posted if you have anything else to share.”

“I will,” she said and hung up.

“Well?” Jim asked, coming into the room. He’d given her privacy to make the call, which she appreciated. He could be like the twins and interrupt her at times and it drove her nuts. After all their years of marriage, they knew each other well.

“I told her what we knew and how today went. She said to keep her posted. I did say I think that something went on years ago when they were in college.”

“I do too,” Jim said. “It was the look Gabe sent you when I asked that question. I’m sure I’ll hear about it tomorrow.”

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