Page 216 of One More Kiss

Tiny was on the porch observing and dipped his head as I approached him. “Yeah, ole boy. That’s how I feel.”

Once I shuffled back inside, I went upstairs and took a long, hot shower. I was glad to be home and have all my stuff and plenty of changes of clothes, but I didn’t feel happy. The last few days were the best I had in years.

I let the water run over me a while until it went cold. Once I was dressed, I went downstairs and made some oatmeal.

Danny plopped down at the table. I poured him so coffee and sat it down with a bowl of oatmeal.

“Thanks. CJ sleeping in?”

Pouring myself some more coffee, I shook my head. “No.”

I sat at the table with my own bowl and quietly ate.

“So, is she getting dressed or something?”

“She’s gone, son.”

He nodded slowly. “Well, I suppose her stay was extended. She was only supposed to be here through Sunday, right?”

I nodded and shoveled a heaping spoonful of oatmeal into my mouth.

“She seemed nice.”

I nodded and shoveled some more in.

“Dad.”

I looked up from my bowl and waved my spoon. “Yeah, what?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

I dropped my spoon into the bowl and leaned back, sighing deeply. “I’m sorry. I don’t know. I asked her to stay, and she left.”

Danny chuckled.

“What?”

“Dad, you’ve known her less than a week and you don’t have the best first impression. You can’t expect her to just shack up with you.”

“When you say it like that it does sound ridiculous.” I rubbed my hand down my face. “I dunno, Danny. She’s special. I just know it. It was so easy with her.”

“So, you’ll go see her, chat on the phone or whatever you old people do.”

“Hey, fifty is not old.”

“If you say so.”

I started eating again. “It’s dumb, but I miss her.”

“So, you’ll chat and visit. If it’s meant to be, it’ll work out. You’ll see.”

‘You’re right, kiddo. I’ll win her over.”

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