“Thanks. Me, too.” She shrugged. “It is what it is. Besides, it’s kind of hard to feel too bad about all of the weird things that have been happening lately.”
Grey finished his sandwich and set his plate on the coffee table. “What do you mean?”
“The blizzard and getting snowed in, your leg getting infected, my car. It’s all resulted in stretching out reasons for the two of us to be around each other.” She paused. “I guess what I’m saying is that, while some of those situations were difficult to go through initially, I’m not sorry they happened.” She realized how that sounded and her face grew warm. “You know what I mean.”
He laughed. “Yes, I know what you mean. And I feel the same way.”
They talked for another twenty minutes before Grey said he needed to get back to work. Cora walked him to the door. “Thanks for bringing lunch, Grey, and for bringing me home. You went above and beyond.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay, and that you were able to get a car quickly so you aren’t stranded. But if you do need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
She took her cue from him, raised up on her tip-toes, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll do that.”
Chapter Eighteen
The first two days of Thanksgiving week dragged for Grey. Now that it was Wednesday, suddenly all of the things he needed to accomplish seemed to have grown. It’d take a lot to get it all done before closing the store Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. He was still working through his to-do list when he got a text from Cora.
“I hope your day is going better than mine.”
That had him on immediate alert. “Uh-oh. What’s up?”
“I can’t go with you to your mom’s tomorrow. I’m sorry.”
Grey was going to text her back and ask why but decided this was going to be a lot easier with a phone call. He dialed her number and waited several rings for her to pick up.
“Hey.”
“I thought we had everything ironed out. Did something change with work?” Her boss had promised her the two days off since she’d worked every holiday for the last couple of years.
“Several nurses, or someone in their family, came down with the flu. Even Jen is laid up at home. I have to work eight in the morning until eight on Thanksgiving night. There’s really not much else to be done about it.”
He wanted to object, but knew she was right. It was one of the hazards of her job. It was still disappointing, though. “I could stay in town. If you get a lunch break, you could call me.”
“No. Grey, you should go spend the holiday with your family. Lunch breaks are usually eaten standing up between patients unless it’s a slow day. Trust me, you won’t be missing anything here. I’ll work this extra shift, and we can see each other this weekend.”
Grey didn’t like that idea at all. The thought of her spending Thanksgiving by herself bothered him even as he realized that she’d been doing exactly that for the last five years.
“You still there, Grey?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Sorry.” He paused. “You sure you want me to go to my mom’s?”
“Yes. I’m positive.”
“All right.” Grey knew that definitive tone to her voice. He didn’t want to push her. “I’ll text you in the morning?”
“Sounds good. And Grey? I really am sorry.”
“I know, Cora. Me, too.”
They said their goodbyes. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the calendar on his desk as the multitude of notes blurred together. This was their first holiday since reconnecting. He didn’t feel right about leaving her here and driving all the way to San Antonio. At the same time, he knew she hated being pushed into things. If she told him she was fine and wanted him to go…
His mind went to the last time she told him he should leave. He hadn’t realized it then, but it’d been a defining moment that led to the end of their marriage. Grey made a mistake then, and he wasn’t about to make the same one now.
~*~
Cora woke up just after seven on Thanksgiving Day with a heavy heart. There’d been absolutely no reason for Grey to stick around town today. He’d be sitting alone at his place, eating TV dinners or something, and she’d feel guilty that she was working instead of keeping him company. Telling him he should go to his mom’s house for Thanksgiving was the right decision.
She glanced at her phone to find a text from him.
