Page 44 of Feels Like Home

Andy and I didn’t go together as each other’s dates, but he didn’t leave my side the entirenight.

“Hello?”

“Hey.”

By the sound of his voice, things didn’t go incrediblywell.

“I hate to ask, but how’d itgo?”

“Asexpected.”

“Sheleft?”

“Shedid.”

“How arethey?”

“Not good. It’s not like they weren’t expecting it, butstill.”

My heart breaks for those sweet boys, and it makes me nervous, knowing what’s to come. They already think it’s their fault. I can’t imagine what the finality of this will do tothem.

“What can Ido?”

“Comeover?”

I pause, wondering if that’s the best idea. Andy and the boys spent a few weeks at their home after Heather left, but it seemed like it messed with the boys’ heads. And Andy didn’t want any part of being there. Not with Heather having had sex with another man in their bed. He spent a little bit of time at Barrett and Tess’s house until he found a temporary place to stay. Fortunately, what he found ended up being permanent, rather than temporary, and they were able to move their things just once. Helped give the boys some stability, which, in their world, wasneeded.

The friendship between Andy and me has grown naturally, and the boys don’t seem at all bothered by my presence, but it’s not lost on me that things between Andy and me seem to be progressing to more than just friendship. I don’t know if Andy is ready for anything more, or if the boys are ready for that, or even I. But I can’t say that I’m not interested in trying. In seeing if there really is something more betweenus.

“Are you sure that’s a goodidea?”

“Yes.” His response isinstant.

“Okay.”

“You’llcome?”

“Yes. As long as you’re sure. And that it will be okay with theboys.”

“I’m sure, and it is. I asked them before Icalled.”

My heart does a little flip inside my chest, and my stomach tightens. “Youdid?”

“I did. They want you tocome.”

“Theydo?”

His voice softens. “They adore you,Christine.”

“I adore them,” I tell him, my voice softalso.

I want to tell him I adore him. That I could see myself more than just adoring him. But he just met with his wife, soon to be ex-wife, and now isn’t the time to stake myclaim.

He pauses also, and I wonder where his thoughts are heading. He clears his throat. “So, when can you behere?”

“Um, I just got home from the store, and I need to put away the groceries and…” Ihesitate.

“And?”

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