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“Surprise!” she shouts.
“Thank you, Alannah. I can’t even…” Adam starts.
Alannah waves. “Don’t mention it.”
“Drive-thru all right?” Adam looks to me.
“A drive-thru sounds amazingly perfect,” I say softly.
He kisses me again. He’s got so much light and happiness in his eyes that I’m choked up.
I look at Paul and he’s smiling from ear to ear.
I place my palm against my chest as I give Paul a look that I hope shows my appreciation.
He looks away and chews his cheek; he’s biting back emotion, I can tell.
My eyes bounce to Alannah. She’s got watery-looking eyes, too.
“Lock up?” I ask.
Alannah gives me a thumbs up.
We’re in the parking lot of a nearby drive-thru burger place.
And sitting while eating burgers and fries, he tells me that having his independence back will make a huge difference to him. He tells me that the fundraiser didn’t cover everything, though, that Paul took on a loan for the rest.
“How much of a loan?” I ask.
“Twenty-eight K,” he says. “I’m gonna make the payments. I won’t let him do that. Things will be tight, but I can’t let him go into debt like that.”
“I got a ten-thousand-dollar bonus from work. I want you to put it toward that loan,” I say.
He looks surprised.
“I was going to tell you about it on Thursday. That’s why I came into your office before I went to the bookstore and…” I shrug.
“I was unapproachable,” he says. And then he reaches across and grabs my knee. “God, how have I hung onto you this long?”
I frown. “Don’t do that.”
He shakes his head. “My brother gave me a reality check on the weekend about you. Wasn’t the first time, either. I think it just took a minute to sink in.”
“A reality check?”
“He told me you were an angel, that I’m taking big chances by taking you for granted. He was right.”
“Tell me more,” I quip.
He laughs and then holds out an onion ring. I open my mouth and he feeds it to me.
After I swallow, I see a sober look on his face. He says, “Paul said everyone’s worried about you because I’m so closed-off. They can all see it’s taking a toll on you. I’m sorry. I’m gonna be better.”
I give his hand a squeeze.
We get back into the house and as I’m locking the door, he’s looking at me expectantly.
I raise my eyebrows in question.
