Her mother’s face lifted, the interest building. So much had happened that Abbey didn’t really even know where to begin.
“Why was he shopping with you?” she asked, her words elongated to denote her delight in the idea of Nick spending time with her daughter.
“I asked him, and he came.”
“Will you see him again?”
Abbey chewed on her lip, trying to figure out the answer to the question herself. In what capacity would she see him? She wanted to be near him again, feel his lips on hers, his arms holding her, but she didn’t know if that would be a possibility.
“He’s going out of town tomorrow for the week. We’ll see what happens after that. Actually, I need to text him something before he goes out of town. Do you mind if I step out for just a sec?”
“No, not at all. I’ll keep an eye on Max.” Her mom leaned in to take a peek at him and then she made eye contact with Abbey. She looked hopeful, and Abbey wanted to tell her mom everything, but she wanted to call Nick too.
“I won’t be long.”
“I’ll make us some coffee,” her mom said.
Abbey took her phone into her childhood bedroom and lay on the new comforter. Nervousness ran through her fingers as she typed his number, and opened the text screen. She got straight to the point.
She texted: I forgot to tell you the painters came. They did the other rooms. You won’t need to help me paint, but thank you so much for your help and for the offer.
He responded: That’s great news. May I call you?
Yes, she texted back. The phone rang and she answered it.
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay. I was hoping to break the news about me planning to move in a better way. I didn’t have a chance to get my thoughts together first. Will you be able to find a job in a month’s time? Does that sound reasonable?”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m going to really miss Caroline, though. I really enjoy spending time with her.”
The line was quiet for a while. “I’m in too deep with the business to consider staying,” he finally said.
“I’d never ask you to.”
Abbey didn’t want to be some kind of anchor, a weight, keeping him in a place he didn’t want to be. He wasn’t going to change his plans for her, and that was understandable, given that they’d just met, but it made her so sad. She’d just found him and now she was losing him.
“Who will care for Caroline?” Abbey asked quietly. She’d grown attached to Nick’s grandmother. Even not seeing her some weekends was really hard. Caroline was fond of her too, and she might be all alone in New York.
“Robin is there with her family. She’s going to find a suitable nurse to take care of her.”
“Will you sell the house?” She was grasping for anything. Maybe they’d come back. Maybe he wouldn’t like New York.
“Maybe.”
Abbey’s mom poked her head into the room. “Coffee,” she mouthed. The coffee being ready was a legitimate reason for peeking in, but Abbey knew her mother was just checking on her.
Abbey held up one finger and smiled her best smile as she whispered, “One sec.” Her mom closed the door but left it open a crack and walked back toward the kitchen.
“Do you need to go?” Nick asked.
Abbey rubbed her forehead. “I have to go shopping for Max. I haven’t bought any Christmas presents yet and Mom’s going to watch him for me. Why don’t you come with me?” The truth of the matter was that, after Christmas, he’d be leaving Richmond and too far away from her, so there was no use in seeing him again. But she couldn’t help herself.
“I’d love to.”
“What time?” she heard herself ask. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t stay away because, when it came down to it, all she wanted was to see him.
“What time were you planning on going?”
“In a few minutes.”
“I’ll pick you up. You’re at your mother’s—at Maple and Ivy?”
He remembered. She smiled. Of course he remembered. “Yes.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Abbey ended the call and made her way to the kitchen where her mom had two steaming mugs of coffee made. One of the mugs was painted with finger-paints—it had been an art project of Max’s that he’d made for her. She could hear Max playing a card game with Gramps in the other room.
They sat there quietly for a while before her mother spoke. Her mom had been wiping counters, her back to Abbey, but Abbey could feel the questions hanging in the air.
“Want to tell me what all this is about?” her mom finally said, sitting down next to her. She picked up her mug and blew the steam off the top.