Page 60 of Hold Me Instead
“Can you blame me? After carefully carving your own path in the same career as Dad, you left town for what’s-her-face”—Sandra said as she scrunched her nose—“and now, here you are, stepping in as though it was all ready and waiting for you.”
It unsettled him, that everything locked into place so naturally. Instead of feeling honored to step into his father’s shoes, Zachary felt guilty. After the choices he’d made and the hurt he’d caused, he didn’t deserve things to run smoothly. For his father’s sake, he was glad it did.
For Charlie too.
“You know which brand of these items Dad would get? Don’t want to drop the ball.” He showed the grocery list to Sandra, a photo of the handwritten list with Charlie’s cheerful loopy penmanship. The one he’d convinced her to text him that morning in an effort to soften the night before and keep contact positive. He wanted her to accept his help, even if she didn’t want to open up to him just yet. He knew there was more beneath her cheery exterior, and for some reason, he was hellbent on getting past it.
She shrugged. “I have no clue, we just show up. I’m sure Charlie has some ideas?”
He was surprised she hadn’t included more details to make sure he followed things exactly. If it gave him an excuse to reach out to her though, he’d take it. She wouldn’t deny a conversation about the cookout.
He tapped out a text.
Zachary:Pretend I’m five. What specifics/brands etc should I get?
He waited for those little dots to indicate she was responding.
“What are you grinning about?” Sandra asked.
The text that buzzed through made him smile even wider.
Charlie:A five-year-old shouldn’t be doing the shopping. Did you rope in Vivi and Alex?
She didn’t even accusehimof being five, which was a good sign.
“You’re a genius, Sandra,” he said.
“It’s exhausting sometimes,” she replied.
He ignored his sister, too busy arguing with the little voice in his head that proclaimed this was all a ruse to stay on Charlie’s mind.
She was definitely on his.
***
Zachary piled meat, vegetarian patties, and toppings into the fridge, took a picture of the goods, and texted it to Charlie.
Charlie:I’m surprised you didn’t send me a picture of it in your car.
Zachary:?
Charlie:Got individual pix of the items, the full cart, now the fridge. I missed the transportation stage.
Perhaps his attempts had turned desperate, but he wasn’t ashamed. Now that he was home, alone, the hospital visit and grocery shopping behind him, he didn’t need to simply text her. He looked at the clock. She had to be finishing up notes at the office.
Determined, he coaxed Maple into his SUV, the poor girl giving him a look that made him promise her it’d be worth it. He muttered to himself the whole drive there about how this was a good idea. Once he arrived in the Village and slowed, his shoulders relaxed. Wreaths and holiday lights dripped from awnings, street lamps showcased sparkly bows. Storefront windows were incorporating winter displays, the mood cheery, happy,warm.
He parked and stared at the employee exit. Twinkle lights framed the front windows of the otherwise dark clinic. Their end of the lot was quiet, Charlie’s car the only one left. Maple popped up and panted excitedly as she recognized where they were.
“Pretty good surprise, huh? Let’s go inside and say hi,” he said. He helped her out of the car and into the building, the lights low, the space quiet. Maple did her version of hustling down the hall and into their office, where he heard a yelp of surprise.
He rounded the corner to see Charlie accepting kisses from Maple, her laugh breathless.
“She scared the crap out of me,” she said.
He winced. “Sorry, I should’ve called out.”
With one final kiss, Maple lumbered over to the bed she now claimed as her own and hunkered down.
