Page 20 of Mending Hearts

Grady pressed his fingertips into his forehead and then crossed one foot over his knee. “Mia’s life—”

“Is a circus.She told me.”

He took a moment and glanced up at the ceiling. “I like her. We get along. But she’s fucking all over the map with what she wants. It’s part of the reason her mom keeps her on such a tight leash, I think. She’s just…impulsive. Or maybe it’s just that she’s young. I don’t know. But I can guarantee there are things going on with her you’ve got no idea about. None.”

“Isn’t that part of the fun of getting to know someone?”

“Maybe.” Grady rubbed his face. “Seems like the frustrating part to me.” He chuckled. “Then, you know, the whole single parenting thing. I watched my mom struggle after my dad died. It’s not an easy life you’re choosing.”

“Why do you think Mia came to me? Why tell me if what she wanted was an abortion?” I took the lollipop out of my mouth and dropped it into the trash can.

“Part of the mystery of Mia. I’m not sure there’s an answer to that question.” Grady’s phone buzzed, and he took it out of his pocket and set it on the desk without looking at the display.

“Maggie?”

“Probably. She really wanted me to come. I really didn’t want to.”

“She’s worried about me.” I crossed my arms.

“We’ve gone beyond worried.” Grady made a step-by-step motion with this hand. “We’re about five years past worried to where you’re living off of government assistance and Mia has somehow forced you into paying her child support for a baby she doesn’t possess.”

I laughed and ran a hand down my face. “Jesus.”

“Exactly. Overthinking is her full-time job.” Grady pressed his hands into the arms of his chair. “Stupid question, maybe. But did your dad help keep her overthinking in check a little? I mean, it’s…”

“Yeah. They were very close, and saw each other a lot with the pharmacy work. Dad was the calm in all of our storms. Nothing he wouldn’t do for us.” I ran a fingertip over the smooth wood of my desk. “We miss him. I think we’re looking for him in different places. Figuring it out in different ways.”

“Is that what this is about?” Grady stared at me intently.

“There are worse ways to pay tribute to my dad. Becoming a father myself. Doing the best I can for Mia and the baby.”

“She doesn’t want to be in the equation. She was very specific about that when I talked to her.” Grady picked up his phone and glanced at the message before setting it face down again. “I’ve offered to build an apartment in the old train station I bought when I first moved back home. I’ve already built a recording studio there, so Mia would be able to use both to work on her next album either before the baby comes or once it’s here. Since I’m producing the album, it might be the best fit. Think about it. Mia already knows. Have you two talked about timing? She was vague on the phone.”

“No, not really.” I needed another lollipop. God, why did I give Mia all the ones out of my office drawers? When she’d said they made her feel better, I’d rounded up all but the ones on the front counter. A rush order was supposed to arrive tonight by the close of business so I could take them with me. Her appearance at the shop to get more had been amusing after she mocked my use of them and my internet research. Sometimes Google knew things, even medical things.

“I think my job is done.” Grady stood. “Single parenting: hard. Mia: hard. Be careful.”

“Your campaign slogan for mayor is starting to make more sense now. I thought you were good with words?”

“Only when I sing them.” He extended his hand to shake. “Maggie is freaking the fuck out right now. I was supposed to remind you that family looks after each other.”

During Maggie’s first campaign for mayor, I ran for town council so I could back her decisions or offer a reasonable second opinion. I’d looked out for Maggie the night she stayed at Grady’s and slept in, missing the pharmacy opening, worrying everyone. When Omar was dying, I spent many nights watching Amir while Emily clutched her husband’s hand. When Dad died, I slept at my parents’ house for almost a month, so Mom didn’t have to be alone, even though every morning without Dad in that house put another dent in my heart. I understood what it meant to be part of a family, to look after each other, and I was grateful that my sisters and parents had never neglected the bond either. Sometimes, I found their concern frustrating. I certainly had eight years ago when Katie and I split, but most of the time, I was grateful for their love, knew I only had to ask, and they’d step up. Families that didn’t function like that were baffling. Why wouldn’t you want the best for the people you love? When the worst came, you loved them harder.

I took Grady’s hand and shook it. “Are you a hugger?”

“Ah, the famous Sullivan goodbye.” Grady grinned. “I’m learning to appreciate the art of the hug. Joanna explained Jim’s philosophy. Made sense to me. Maggie’s always given the best hugs.”

Standing beside Grady made me feel short, and at six feet tall, I knew I wasn’t. We embraced, patting each other on the back with mutual affection.

Like his brother, Trent, Grady had a naturally fit frame. As far as I knew, Grady walked his dogs obsessively, but did little else in the way of exercise. While I was no longer on the strict diet and exercise routineMaggie’s best friend, Lila, had put me on before the Magic Men show, I hadn’t completely let myself go. Last time I’d been on tour with the theater company, I’d had hours of idle time, so perhaps I’d be able to get back into a fitness routine.

As Grady and I reached the front door, my phone rang. When I took it out of my back pocket, a blocked number flashed on the display. As soon as I answered it, there was a long pause. I waved to Grady as he climbed into his truck.

“Hello?” I said again.

“Tyler Sullivan?”

“That’s me.” I leaned against the cold windows. Where would Mia be tomorrow night? Tonight, it was Miami, but I hadn’t checked the concert schedule online beyond that.

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