Page 98 of Feels Like Home

“You sure? You’re kind ofpale.”

“Just… excuse me for aminute.”

She gets up and runs to thebathroom.

I exchange a glance with Bri, noticing her furrowedbrow.

I follow her,worried.

“Christine?” I ask through the closed door, knuckles knocking against the door a fewtimes.

“Yeah?”

“Youokay?”

“I’m…” I hear the sounds of vomiting, and we know from Margarita Madness night how well I do with that. “I’m okay. I’ll be out in asecond.”

“You sure? Do you… uh… want meto…”

Even though it sounds like her head is in a toilet bowl, she still manages a giggle. “No, Andy. I’m good. I think the day is just catching up with me. You know, Bri leaving and allthat.”

“You sure? I can get you some 7-Up or send Bri in orsomething.”

“I promise. I’ll be rightout.”

Toiletflush.

Gag.

Me.

Nother.

“Oh okay. Was it thefood?”

She’s been feeling a little off for a few days now, but she’s also exhausted. She works way too hard, and Bri leaving is taking a bigger toll on her than she expected. Until the boys and I came along, it was basically just the two ofthem.

I hear the sink turn on then off after awhile.

“Um, maybe? I don’t know. I thinkso.”

“Okay, well. I’m here if you needsomething.”

She opens the door, a smile bright on herface.

“See? I’mfine.”

I look at her closely and see nothing but truth, so I decide on giving her a hug and holding her tight, hoping that she truly is. Okay, thatis.

27

Christine

Five minutes ago,Andypicked me up from the coffee shop. I’m obviously capable of driving myself to and from work, and sometimes it’s a pain in the butt to not have a vehicle there, but it’s something that we’ve started doing so we get a few moments of quiet and alone time together each day. He’ll bring me to work in the morning then pick me up at the end of theday.

We started it the week after I brought Bri to college. He knew I was feeling the effects of her leaving and, in true Andy fashion, recognized exactly what Ineeded.

Him.

---