Sunrise Point (Virgin River #19)(89)

“No, Tom,” she said patiently. “I’m giving you the house. Warm the casserole—it’s one of your favorites—chicken enchilada casserole. You have an opportunity to be alone to talk to Nora. Things have been a little crazy around here. I might be an older woman, but one thing I know—when children are involved, it can be a challenge to have an entire conversation. This is your chance.”

“Why isn’t she bringing her kids?” he asked.

“Tom,” she said impatiently. “I don’t know, but possibly she has things to say that shouldn’t be interrupted. Or things to ask that should be asked privately. Just warm the damn dinner and listen.”

And he thought—there were many advantages to living with a bossy, energetic grandmother. She took very good care of him and of countless details. But there were many problems with it, as well. Like this, for example. He felt flushed at the idea of being completely alone with Nora. And a little irritated at being set up to be.

* * *

Nora arrived at six looking exactly as she had on their one and only date, which he thought was beautiful. He could feel his eyes grow hot and dark. He held the door open for her, not able to say a word.

“Hi,” she said, stepping inside. “Thanks for letting me come over.”

“Letting?” he asked. “I wanted to see you yesterday, talk to you, make sure you were doing all right. Maxie said you asked to be left alone. I’m glad you’re here.”

She looked around. “Where’s Maxie?”

He pulled out a kitchen chair for her. He’d gone to some trouble to set a nice table just for the two of them. “She’s visiting a friend in Ferndale for the night. She’ll be back tomorrow. We have dinner. Will you have a glass of wine tonight?”

“I guess so, sure. Why didn’t Maxie just tell me she wouldn’t be home? I wanted to explain something to both of you.”

“Maybe it was last minute, but don’t worry about that. I don’t think I’m real clear on why you didn’t bring the kids,” he said, opening a bottle of pinot grigio for her.

“It’s a little complicated, but I didn’t want to be distracted.” She waited while he gave her the glass. He sat across from her and waited expectantly. “Are you going to have wine?” she asked.

“Oh,” he said. “Right.” And he poured himself a glass though he wasn’t the least bit interested in wine right now. He wanted her. Again he waited. And waited. “Should we toast something?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe this is the best way to explain,” she said, reaching inside her vest and withdrawing a folded piece of paper. She passed it to him.

He opened it, keeping his eyes on her face. Then he looked down and saw a notice of auction on foreclosed property—and the address was hers. He looked up. “Nora, what is this?”

“It was posted on my front door. I think we both knew something like this would happen eventually—I didn’t own that house. I didn’t even rent it. It was probably abandoned a few years ago.”

“Auctioned next Friday?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry I can’t give you notice on leaving my job. Will you be able to get by without me?”

He was on his feet. “Where are you going?”

“Well, the notice forced a decision and maybe that’s a good thing. I’m going to take my dad up on his offer. I’ll move to Stanford. Well, I’ll move in with him until he can secure family housing for me, which might take a couple of months, given the holidays and everything. I’ll go back to school. It’s a very generous thing for him to do.”

He was standing over her. “And what about us?”

“Us?” she asked. “I’m not sure what there is about us. I don’t think you’re ready for an us, Tom.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Please, sit down, you’re making me uncomfortable.” When he went back to his chair, she continued, “You were pretty worried about me taking all that kissing too seriously.”

“Come on,” he said. “You must have felt what I felt.”

She reached across the table and touched his hand. “Listen, it’s okay. I understand—my situation and all, it’s a lot to consider. Kissing without commitment—that’s much easier to handle. I’m okay about that.”

“Okay, look,” he said, rubbing his hand over his face, completely unsure what he was going to say next. “It’s a little intimidating, I admit that. Not because there’s anything wrong with having a couple of kids—they’re nice kids. It’s not about you—more about me. Like I should take some time to really consider whether I’m up to handling them. I don’t mean handling…you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean,” she said with a smile. “I understand. And I don’t want you to think I was expecting anything more. I’m being honest.”

“You weren’t? Expecting more?”

She shrugged. “If by some twist of fate we ended up knowing each other longer, much longer, things might have evolved, but we haven’t known each other long and—”

“A few months, Nora. Not like a day…”

“I know,” she said. “I know. I really enjoyed it.”