“Something will come up, I’m sure.”
“Yes, sir. I just need to buckle down and find something.”
“I see y’all got some food. The girls get that for you?” Vince asked.
“Nope. I did it,” Christian said.
“You came to see your girlfriend, and even cooked for her,” Vince said.
“I have to find some way to impress her. I’m not ever here. Too many others hanging around for my comfort.”
“You know not a single male catches my attention but you. They just don’t stand a chance,” Addie said, reaching across the table and curving her fingers over his.
“I think this one’s a keeper, Christian. You better lock her down,” Vince said. “I’m going to leave y’all to it and go make sure everything’s ready for tonight.”
“What’s happening tonight?” Christian asked.
“Just the usual, but a stock order came in this morning. I want to make sure everything got delivered that needed to be.”
“You need some help, Dad?” Christian asked.
“No. You enjoy your time off. If I don’t see you later, you drive safe and let me know you got home. Alright?”
“I will.”
Vince walked off, smiling to himself, so happy to see Christian happy. He’d worried for a time about Christian getting over Analise, but Christian had stayed strong. He concentrated on his studies and focused on his future, and now he was only a few months from completing his residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. And the little girl he chose to spend his time with, Addie, she lit him up like Analise never had. They were meant for each other, obviously. And the best part was that she was patient. She knew that Christian had commitments, and shenever tried to make him put her first above them. She knew that one day he would, but if he was to have the future he wanted, he had to focus elsewhere at the moment.
Christian leaned across the table and kissed Addie. “I’ll be glad when we can do this everyday.”
“Me, too. But I can wait. No rush,” Addie said.
“I was thinking that I could look for a little larger apartment and you could come live with me in New Orleans.”
“I would love that idea, but then I’d be really alone while you’re working all the time. At least here I have my family when you’re at the hospital. And I have Emmalyn.”
Christian nodded. “I know you’re right. I just miss you so damn much when I’m across the lake. But I’d worry more if you were alone all the time.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Christian.”
Christian met her gaze and leaned across the table to kiss her again.
The sound of the door opening didn’t register with either Christian or Addie, but the comments tossed their way certainly did.
“Oh, ugh. Love. Is there anywhere that doesn’t have love and kissy kissy all over it?” Hellen grouched.
“Aren’t you lovely and pleasant today?” Christian asked.
“I’m never lovely and pleasant.”
“She’s really not, but today she’s worse,” Cristie said.
Christian laughed. “Unlucky in love?”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Cristie said.
Hellen flopped into a chair at the table beside Christian and Addie’s. “You doing alright, Addie?”
“I am! Lunch with Christian always makes the day better.”
