Page 17 of Make You Love Me
“Good.” She removes a can of green beans from the bag and sets it on the counter. “I’m loving my new job.”
Why is she still so far away?
“You have a new job? Where?”
“At VETS.”
“Really? That’s great. I guess I’ll be seeing you there a lot. Are you commuting? That’s a long way to—”
“I moved here.”
“Oh. When?” My dumb concussed brain isn’t putting the pieces together. I have so many questions and each one makes my head pound. When did she move, and why didn’t I know? My hospital stay lasted only a few weeks. How did she get a new job and move cities in that time frame, and why didn’t she tell me? Has this been in the works for a while? Was she planning to break it off before the accident? Is that why she’s so distant now?
“Jordan,” she says, a little too weary for my comfort, as she continues to unload the groceries. “We can talk about me anytime. Now I want to know how you’re feeling.”
“I’d feel a lot better if you were beside me instead of over there.”
After what seems like months of separation instead of mere weeks, I’m itching to touch her again. My heart rallies in anticipation as she takes a step closer. And another. She reaches the edge of the kitchen on her way to me when the slamming front door sends her back.
Josie appears and takes us in with caution before resetting her face with a wide smile. “Is that sergeant of yours always so grumpy?”
“Yes. Nothing makes him smile except a lot of booze.”
“Sounds like a real bore…except at parties.” She shrugs and joins Nora in the kitchen. “Wait until you see what we found at the yard sales. Next find will be furniture, I know it.”
Nora’s eyes drift to the only so-called furniture in the open living room and kitchen area—an air mattress in the corner where I convinced Josie to let me sleep for easy wheelchair maneuvering. I wonder what she’s thinking. She knows my family history, but my present situation might be bleaker than she’s prepared to deal with. Good thing it’s temporary.
“I have some furniture I’m not using,” Nora says, concentrating on Josie. “You’re welcome to it.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure I’ll find—”
“Don’t be silly. It’s all just sitting in storage and in great shape. I rather someone use it.”
Josie sighs. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
“I bought a new set right before my mother rid herself of all the furniture she and her soon-to-be ex-husband bought last year. But guess who gets to do all the actual ridding?” Nora points a thumb at herself and adds a sarcastic grin. “You’ll be doing me a favor.”
They share a smile, and watching my two favorite girls become friends soothes the ache in my chest.
“And you’ll be happy to hear that my mother’s last husband owned an antique dealership. The house was furnished with pieces she picked out from the store.”
“Get out!” Josie pushes on Nora’s shoulder, soliciting a laugh from them both. “Where is this storage unit? I’m dying to see what you have.”
“It’s in Northern Virginia. Just two hours from here.”
“Oh.” Josie’s shoulders slump, and I know why. It’s the burden bearing her brother’s name.
“Why don’t you go next time I have a long schedule at VETS?” I suggest. “I can eat lunch and keep myself busy there until you get back.”
“We’ll see,” Josie says, balling up the empty plastic bags and tossing them under the sink. “Thank you, Nora. It was kind of you to offer.”
“Or I can take some muscle with me and let you shop by video chat,” Nora suggests.
“Not loving the sound of that,” I chime in jokingly—sort of—but they’re lost in making plans and didn’t hear me.
“We can bring back whatever you want in a moving van or truck.”
“I do lovethe sound of that,” Josie says, mocking me with a wink.
