The Letter(53)

“I’ll drive you.”

Bella paused for just a moment, looking directly at him. “No, I think we should just go alone.”

Owen could swear he could see a smirk, quickly hidden, cross Jeremy’s face. “Mom, my hand hurts.”

“I know, sweetie. We’ll go get it checked out.”

“Will you call Dad? Tell him I got hurt?” Jeremy shot Owen a triumphant look.

“I’ll call him from the hospital.”

“I’ll stay here with Timmy then.” Owen wanted to do anything to help. To fix this mess he’d created.

“No, that’s okay, I’ll just take him with us.” She helped Jeremy to his feet, her head carefully turned so he couldn’t see her face.

“Bella…”

“We’ll talk later. I’ve got to go. Come on, Timmy.” She grabbed her purse from the counter and put her arm around Jeremy. Timmy clung to her other arm.

Owen watched as she walked out the door, headed over to her car, and buckled the boys in. He turned around to survey the mess. The kitchen mess, and the mess he’d made of his relationship with Bella. She’d left him alone with her boys for thirty lousy minutes, and one ends up on the way to the hospital. He’d really done it this time.

He walked over to the broken pieces of plate and slowly picked them up, one by one. He’d at least let her come home to a clean kitchen.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN





Madeline decided it was time to call Rebecca again and touch base. She glanced at her watch and knew that Rebecca should be finished with her dinner dishes by now. A good time to call.

“Hello?”

Rebecca’s energetic voice made Madeline smile. “Hi, Rebecca. Did you get my last photo of the scarf I’m knitting?”

“I did. It’s coming along nicely. Such a lovely teal color. I don’t know why I didn’t think to teach you to knit while you were here in Comfort Crossing.”

“I know. That would have been great. I was glad to find the knitting class here in St. Louis.”

“How’s your work going, dear? Are you still putting in the long hours?”

“I’ve kind of cut back.” Madeline found herself strangely unsatisfied with life in St. Louis now. Her boss was pleased that her mind was back into her work and she wasn’t making silly errors anymore. But Madeline found herself unwilling to put in the long hours she used to put in at work. Surprisingly, the company still survived if she didn’t work until eight each night and didn’t spend the weekends at work either. Her job used to be her whole life and she’d loved it. It no longer appealed to her and she considered making a change. The thing was, she knew accounting and auditing, but she didn’t think just moving to another accounting firm was where she wanted to go. Corporate accounting didn’t appeal to her either, but she needed a change. She just wasn’t sure what that change should be.

“I put some more pin thingies up online for you to look at.”

“I’ll check my Pinterest account when we get off the phone. I really appreciate the help you’re giving me redecorating my house.”

“Honey, from the looks of the before photos you sent me, it’s more like decorating for the first time.” Rebecca laughed.

“Well, it’s starting to look nicer now, with your help. I’ll send you some more photos.”

“I’d like that.”

“And when you come to visit again, I’ll teach some of the fancier knitting things.” Rebecca paused for a moment. “You are going to come back and visit, aren’t you?”

“I will someday, I’m sure.” Maybe. Right now she couldn’t bear to think of seeing Gil again.

“Well, I hear Larry calling me. I better run. It was great to hear from you.”

“We’ll talk again soon. I miss you guys.”

“Miss you too, hon. You take care.”

Then, just like that, she was sitting in silence. Alone. She sighed, unwilling to fall into the poor-me routine that was so easy to fall into. Talking to Rebecca brought back all the memories of her time in Comfort Crossing.

She had to admit, she missed Gil… which annoyed her no end. She missed talking to him. Sharing with him. But her pride wouldn’t let her call him and he’d made no attempt to call her. She wasn’t sure what it was about her that made men decide to just one day like her, and one day be over her. But she was finished with making that mistake. This time she was swearing off men permanently. For real.

Well, except for Paul. She still wanted to find him. About once a week she’d do some more searching for Paul, but she wasn’t having much luck. It wasn’t as much fun searching alone either. No one to bounce ideas off of. But she slowly made some progress. Found a gallery where he’d exhibited a few years ago. She kept searching.