Page 16 of Promise Me This Christmas
It was hard to see her go-getter grandmother slowing down this way.But the surgeon had warned them it could take up to six months for her to regain her full mobility.“That’s not boring at all.I need to prepare for my interview with Amy and Chet anyway.Let’s get settled in the library.”
Yesterday she’d managed to chat with both Ella and Jo.They’d shared some interesting stories she intended to follow up on with Amy this morning.The article was supposed to be a “feel-good” piece.But that didn’t mean she couldn’t do a little gentle prodding.
She let her grandmother take the lead as they walked to the library.Carson fell back beside her.
“I’m taking Robbie sledding this morning,” he said.“And then I want to go to your grandmother’s and check out the situation.”
“I’ll get you the key.We’ve got all the supplies for the shower and the grab bars.And my dad already removed the old bathtub and shower doors.”
“That’s a good start.Do you know if you’ve got a curbless shower pan?”
“I think so.”
“Great.I’ll want to install that today.”
She was relieved all he’d wanted to talk about was the renovations.That was a nice, safe subject.But then he touched her shoulder.
“I want to tell you again how awful I feel about what happened.I’m really sorry, Larkin.I was such an idiot.”
“I guess I shouldn’t have assumed you knew what was going on.”She’d been so angry with him, for so long.But after hearing his side of the story last night, that anger had fizzled out, and now what she mostly felt was sad.She’d been terribly wounded by Andrew, physically and mentally.In some essential way she’d changed as a person, and she knew it had affected her ability to have loving relationships with the men she’d dated since then.
She’d been accused of holding back, of being cold.She’d convinced herself that she was happier being alone anyway.
Now she didn’t know if that was really true, or if she’d just been trying to protect herself.
Once they were all in the library, Carson helped settle her grandmother into her chair, while Larkin retrieved the thick Stephen King paperback and reading glasses from Gran’s bag.
“I have to get my laptop and notebook from my room,” Larkin said.“I’ll be right back, Gran.Can you save me this chair next to you?”
“You bet.”
On her way back, Carson stopped her in the foyer, next to the magnificent Montana-themed tree with its bear, moose, and huckleberry ornaments.“Can we talk for a minute?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be taking your nephew sledding?”
“I am.But first, I really need to tell you something.”
Chapter Four
Larkin met Carson’sgaze and held it.Before her was a big, powerful man.A man she hardly knew.But in his eyes there was a vulnerability that connected her to the boy he’d once been.They had loved to get on their bikes and explore the network of dirt roads in their county.Then they would stop and flop onto the grass, stare up at the clouds, and talk about all sorts of things.They’d talked without filters or fears of being hurt.They were young and they had so many questions, so many hopes.
He had been her best friend.Also her first kiss, her first love, and first lover.
And to think that one sick, twisted person had taken all that away from them.
Carson reached for her hand, and she let him hold it.
“I still have feelings for you, Larkin.Romantic feelings.I understand you’re not there, and you may never be.But could we start by being friends again?”
It had been ages since she’d felt this flicker of hope, of lightness.But so many years had passed.“We’re different people now.”
“We’ve grown,” he acknowledged.“But deep inside, people don’t change.I wish I’d been a better friend when you needed me most.Now I’m asking for a second chance.”
It was impossible to say no when he was asking so little.Not to mention doing the renovations on her grandmother’s house.
“Friends,” she agreed.“But don’t expect too much from this.”
She certainly didn’t.
