Page 57 of Gabriel & Skye

I smile. “Thank you, that’s so sweet. I guess it helps Gabriel out for another month or two until I head back to North Carolina.”

“That’s if you decide to return.” She gives me a wink.

I have thought about being closer to my grandparents, especially since they’re not getting any younger. It’s still not that far from my parents. I don’t know if Mom and Dad will move back to Stoney when Dad retires. We’ve never really spoken about it. But now Travis is here, and he’s made it clear he’s going to be putting down some roots and eventually buy some property. Maybe they would consider it too.

I love this little place. I always have. It always has such a friendly vibe where everyone tries to help each other like a real community. But I have an amazing job opportunity and it’s in the field I love.

“Stranger things have happened.” I smile as we walk into the grocery store.

She only has a small list, and it’s just the basics; bread and milk, paper towels, toothpaste — that kind of thing.

“So Gabriel has been on his own this whole time?” I ask on the walk back to the car after we’ve finished with his grocery shopping. Geraldine says hello to several people on the short trip.

“Yes, sadly, there hasn’t been anyone special over the years. He’s never had a woman over at the house. He threw everything into raising his daughter and his job after what happened with the ex.”

“Thank goodness he had Trinity and work to distract him from all of that.”

“He was in bad shape for a while there. I came along early on in the piece, when Trinity was just a baby. I guess one day she’ll know the lengths he went to ensuring she had everything she needed. He’s amazing, especially when you consider he was a first time father.”

“It takes something special,” I agree. I can’t even imagine how it must have felt for him to lose his wife and be left to figure out what to do with a baby. I have heard people say he can be difficult to deal with, but I can hardly blame him. It’s definitely an unusual situation.

We head back to Gabriel’s place, where she puts the groceries away and gives me a little tour of the house. She even has a little book with important points written in, like Gabriel’s parents’ contact information, which days Trinity goes to school and her other after-school activities. I can tell Geraldine is really going to miss things around here, as much as she’s looking forward to retirement.

“I usually head home for a couple of hours if there aren’t any errands I need to do for Gabe. I’m a bit of a mother hen. He’s very self-sufficient, but I have to admit that I tidy up, and do some laundry for him here and there.

“I certainly don’t mind doing that, as long as I’m not stepping on his toes.”

“I don’t think he’s going to oppose you doing a bit of laundry.” She smiles.

“I certainly wish someone would do some of mine.” I laugh.

Geraldine chuckles and tells me she’s heading home for lunch. “I’ll be picking up Trinity again today just so you can get the feel of school pickup. Let’s say we meet back here at two-thirty?”

“That sounds good.” I smile and we head our separate ways.

Just as Geraldine’s driving off and giving me a wave, I’m about to jump into the VW when Gabe’s car passes Geraldine’s and pulls into the driveway.

“Hey, I brought you guys some lunch,” he hollers out the window.

I close my door, walking over to his driver’s side. “Oh, thank you. That’s very thoughtful. You just missed Geraldine.”

I want to slap my forehead.That was obvious, seeing as he just drove past her.

Gabriel’s holding a paper bag with his suit jacket draped over one arm as he climbs out of his truck.

It sure has warmed up out here from this morning. Chilly mornings and perfect days; I can handle that.

“Verne at the bakery makes the best turkey sandwiches on rye that you’ve ever eaten,” he says.

“Sounds good to me.”

I follow him up the path to the front door as he pulls his keys out. “I do lock my doors, even though there’s not much crime around here,” he tells me. “Old habits die hard.”

I’m about to eat lunch with him? Should I have taken the turkey sandwich and gone back to my place until we collect Trinity?

Too late now…

He unlocks the door and pushes it open, gesturing for me to enter first. “How did the drop off go?” he asks.

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