or do anything that…well, is too much too soon, but I want you to know how much today meant.”
“It did to me, too, Greg.” I hadn’t felt like this since I first met Paul, but I didn’t tell him that. We’d hit it off for sure, but I wasn’t ready to rush into a relationship, especially since I remained in love with Mark.
Greg lowered his voice as if he was about to make a confession. “Since Julie died, I feel like I’ve been living in a fog.”
“I know what you mean,” I whispered.
“This afternoon for the first time I felt the sun on my face.”
I realized he didn’t mean that in the literal sense. I’d felt the warm heat of that sunshine, too, but I’d also experienced that glow with Mark. All too soon, however, I was cast back into the shadows.
“I said too much, didn’t I?” Greg said, regret coating his voice.
“No, no, not at all.”
“You went silent there for a moment and I was sure I was coming on too strong.”
“You aren’t,” I assured him. If anything, I was flattered. That happy feeling was back in the pit of my stomach—the one I’d felt with Paul and ever so briefly with Mark.
The line went silent and I thought we might have been inadvertently disconnected.
“Greg? Are you still there?”
“I’m here. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Would it be all right if I called you sometime during the week? I mean, I’d understand if you’d rather I didn’t. It’s just that I don’t know if I have the patience to wait an entire week to talk to you again.”
This man was going to sweep me off my feet with the things he said. “You can call me anytime you like.”
“I promise I won’t make a pest of myself.”
“I doubt you would.” Then, because a week did seem like a long time to wait to see him again, I made a suggestion. “Would you like to come to dinner one night this week?”
“To the inn?”
“I cook a mean steak.”
“With you cooking I’d be happy with macaroni and cheese.”
“I am a good cook.” I’d learned to be one since I took over the inn. And while I did manage to turn out a decent steak, my specialty was breakfast dishes.
“You tell me the day and time and I’ll move heaven and earth to be there.”
“Wednesday works. Shall we say six?”
“That’s perfect for me. See you then.”
It seemed the conversation was about over, but we ended up talking for nearly an hour, which was sort of amazing after we’d spent a good majority of the day together. When I set the phone aside, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. It would be far too easy to fall for Greg. He was such a great guy and I could already tell he had a big heart.
At about ten I decided I needed a glass of milk. As happy as I was, I knew I was going to need something to help me fall asleep. Everything was ready for breakfast the following morning, but I wanted to check and make sure one last time.
Emily sat in the living room reading and glanced up when I entered the kitchen. I knew my guests had retired for the evening. I’d heard them return to the inn.
“Greg called,” I told her. “Crazy, isn’t it? We talked for almost an hour.”
“You really like him,” she said, making it a statement rather than a question.
“I do.” The ironic thing was that I’d assumed it would be impossible to feel this way about another man when I loved Mark. What I needed to remember was that Mark was out of my life. He’d missed all six of the prearranged evacuation meets. I had to accept that it was highly unlikely he’d be coming back. He’d told me not to hold out hope he’d survive. He held little hope himself.
I hadn’t expected moving forward without him would be seamless. Returning to my room, I leaned down and petted Rover. “He’s gone, you know,” I whispered.
Rover lifted his head and let me rub his ears.
“He’s probably not coming back,” I said through the lump in my throat.
As though he understood, my dog released a low moan as if he, too, had accepted the fact Mark was gone from us forever.
In the following week, I’d caught sight of Nick twice as he walked around the inn in the wee hours of the morning. He might have come more often, but