Page 9

“Yeah I know.” I heard him walking across the carpet, stopping at the window.

Staying under the blankets, I pulled up the end so I could look out. “Then why are you here?”

“Because your mother is up.”

“I don't understand.” Making an opening large enough for him to see my face, my brows arched high. “You're here because she's out there?”

“Exactly.” Turning on his heels, he pointed at me. “You're in my quiet spot, this is where I hide when I don't want her harassing me about going out for a walk.”

Thirty years my parents had been married. I couldn't help but think it had to be normal for people to crave some solitude that was just for them.

Throwing the covers off my head, I sat up. “Fine, I'm getting up.” Climbing out of bed, I dug through my bag and got out some clean clothes. “I'll go shower and let you have your quiet time.”

“Damn right you will. And when you're done, you can do me a favor and go keep your mother busy.”

“You know she's not wrong, you should go for that walk, it'll do you some good.” Holding my clothes against my chest, I started for the door. “Mom told me about your gallbladder, she also told me the doctor said you're a borderline diabetic. A little exercise could help with that—”

Cutting me off, he started laughing. “And lose all this?” Grabbing his gut, he gave it a little shake. “Never, this is the new sexy. Haven't been keeping up on what's hot anymore. Miss. New York?”

“Obviously not,” chuckling, I shut the door, leaving him alone.

Taking a quick shower, I dried off and got dressed. Doing my best not to think about the impeding shit show I might have to endure. I was not looking forward to the party. I should restate that; I was not looking forward to the very slim chance that Yuri might pop up somewhere.

The party might be great, I might actually have a good time. But the idea of possibly running into Yuri, regardless of how slim of a chance it might be, made my heart ache.

Stop worrying about him! Mom said he moved away, he could be anywhere. . .

Which also means he could be right here.

Shaking the thought out of my head, I went down stairs. The scent of pancakes and sausage hit me before I made it to the bottom. Turning the corner into the kitchen, there was a full plate sitting at the table with a cup of orange juice and a steaming mug of coffee.

“I couldn't remember how you take your coffee, so I left the sugar and the cream on the table.” My mother was washing my father's dish, setting it to dry in the rack. “Eat up, we'll leave when you're done.”

“Are you telling me that the places around here started opening before nine in the morning?”

“They do at Christmas time.” Wiping her hands on a dish rag, she pulled a piece of paper off the fridge and started going through our list for the day. “We need to hit Gloria's bakery to get the croissants your brother likes, I have gifts on layaway for the kids that I can pickup today.” Taking a seat at the table, she sipped her coffee as she kept reading. “Mable has decorations waiting for us over at Clark's Little Country store, and I need to hit the supermarket for food.”

“Sounds easy enough.” Eating breakfast, I watched my mother as she cleaned up the kitchen and swept the floor. “When we get back, I want to look over those papers you got.”

Waving her hand, she scrunched her face. “Gwen, we have plenty of time for that, you're here until next Tuesday.”

“Yeah, but I have no idea what I'm going to need to do to get the lien off. I don't want to wait until the last minute, Mom. Not to mention, it's Friday, everything will be closed through the weekend and Christmas is Monday. So. . .”

“I know, I know, and you'll have time for that.”

Pushing away from the table, I tilted my head as I looked at her. “Why do I get the feeling you're trying to hold me off from looking at this?”

Shrugging her shoulder, she wouldn't let her eyes connect with mine. “I don't know, Gwen, maybe it's because you're really good at making a big deal about nothing. . .” Letting her words trail off, she took a big gulp of her coffee. “That's why you're such a good lawyer.”

Biting my tongue, I didn't give her any fuel to keep going and turn this in some type of argument. Setting my fork down on the plate, I drank the last of my coffee, picking up everything and putting it in the sink.

“Okay, let's go get this stuff done.”

The first stop wasn't so bad. I had to deal with a lot of questions from Mrs. Colletta about where I've been and why it had taken me so long to come home. I was prepared for that, my answers a running list that I had stored in my brain.

'Work is really busy, it's hard to get away.'

'Being a lawyer requires a lot of time and effort on your part for the client, it's not something you can just walk away from.'