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“This was like ten years ago. Why does it matter now?”
“Because it always mattered. I just didn’t understand how much until now.”
I walked back to the house, leaving Jared behind me.
“Grace?” Moving around the house, I couldn’t find her, but I heard the shower running. Racing up the stairs, I knocked on the door. “Grace?”
“The road is clear. I want to go home now.”
She wasn’t in the shower. Her voice was next to the door.
“Can I come in?”
She turned off the water and opened the door. She had changed into her work clothes and her face was the same blank look I’d met in the boardroom. It was as though the newfound connection we’d made was left back at the bottom of the lake. Even if I held my breath, I knew I wouldn’t have enough air to retrieve what we’d lost in the water. I was drowning. And I was afraid I would never get the chance to hold her like that again. But what could I say?
I couldn’t find the words.
Instead, I heard myself mutter, “Yeah. I’ll take you home.”
12
Luke
Even though I kicked Jared out, it was too late. Grace’s face kept its cool demeanor back to town. Sure, her conversation was polite, but she held me at a distance with her short replies or simple murmurs.
I felt like I was fourteen again, wanting to ask her why she was shutting me out or feeling like I should apologize. But I had done nothing wrong. I had told Jared not to come. I kicked him out when he showed up. What more could I do?
After driving Grace home, I drove to the office but didn’t go in. I walked around the neighborhood instead. My feet knew where they were going, even if my mind was distracted.
“Mr. Crawford, great to see you,” boomed a voice from the kitchen.
“You too, Mario. And please call me Luke.” I leaned against the counter that separated the dining room from the kitchen. “What are you making?”
“I’m trying a new recipe. It’s rapini and sausage on pizza. What do you think?”
“I think that sounds delicious.”
He laughed. “I plan to blend the rapini until the mixture becomes a sauce for my pizza, then crumble the sausage meat on top and add some hot peppers.”
“You’re making me hungry, Mario.”
“I’ve got one cooling down right now that you can try.”
“I knew coming here would cheer me up.” I rubbed my hands together before taking a bite of Mario’s latest creation. “Mmm, this really is fantastic. You’re a genius, Mario.”
“Aw, thank you very much.”
“How well do these pizzas freeze? Have you ever thought about selling them prepared for the freezer?”
He stopped kneading the dough and looked up at me. His lips pursed. “I never thought of that. But, yes, that could work. You would just have to put them in the oven for twenty minutes.”
“Oh, I know a ton of people that would buy them for the convenience. Whether you’re coming back from a long day at work or hosting a dinner party.”
I grabbed my phone and jotted down some notes. “I’ll put some ideas together and send them to you and Victoria.”
“Thank you, Mr.--, I mean, Luke.”
I took another bite of the pizza. “Oh, it’s my pleasure. Besides, I want to take my mind off of things right now.”
