Part 11 (1/2)
Suddenly the cell phone rang in my hand and I dropped it, then picked it off the floor and answered.
”h.e.l.lo?” I asked, fearing who might be on the other end.
”I scared you, didn't I?”
I didn't know the voice, or did I?
”Who is this?”
”Gwyn, it's Josh. It's only Josh.”
”Oh.” I exhaled, my heart pounding out of control. ”I didn't recognize your voice. I'm sorry.”
”I was following you, not on purpose. I was on the road going home and I saw your Jeep, thought it was you anyway, knew it was you after a while. I didn't mean to scare you. I did scare you, didn't I?”
”Nothing I won't live through.”
”G.o.d, I'm sorry. It was just such a coincidence. I was thinking of you, thinking of calling you, and there you were.”
”Where are you now?”
”I'm parked outside your house. I knew better than to go in the driveway. Why, are you alone?”
I thought for a second. ”Actually, I am. Come on in.”
It occurred to me as I ended the call that he wasn't supposed to know where I lived.
I unlocked the front door and watched as he drove up the driveway through the falling snow. He was in a green Ford Explorer, though I hadn't been able to tell that when he was tailing me. The snow had been too thick to see very well.
He had on jeans and a ski jacket, and snowflakes in his hair. He smiled up at me as he climbed the two steps to the brick porch.
”You're sure I'm not intruding?” he asked.
”Absolutely not.”
He gazed around the entrance. ”Wow, some place. What a spectacular house, Gwyn.”
I smiled. ”A little better than the one I grew up in.”
”Well, true, but cozy is good too.”
I was glad I hadn't yet had a chance to get really comfortable with Trevor away. Everything was still neat and clean. ”Would you like a cup of coffee? Then I can give you the nickel tour if you want.”
”Sounds good.”
He brushed himself off and I led him into the kitchen. I walked him past the white marble counter tops and antique oak cabinets that went on and on. He nodded his appreciation, then smiled as I pointed out the large brick pa.s.s-through fireplace that opened out into the dining room.
”Great kitchen, Gwyn. I like it. Roomy, but tasteful. It looks like you, something you'd like. Is this house custom built?”
”No, but it's fairly new.” I began making coffee, then reached into a kitchen cabinet for an unopened bag of chocolate chip cookies, poured them onto a plate. I handed it to Josh. He sat down at the table, legs outstretched, and watched while I worked at the counter.
”So where's Trevor?”
”He had to leave ... for a little while.”
”Oh.”
”So you're back in town,” I said. ”I didn't think I'd see you here again so soon.”
”And I didn't think I'd be here either, but it's only for the weekend, though I'll probably be coming out more often now. I ... worry about my mother, alone like she is. She's worried too. The stroke's on her mind, though she tries to pretend otherwise. And what else do I have to do?” He paused as I brought the coffeepot to the table and filled our cups. ”I'm joking, of course. I'm swamped with work, and I shouldn't be here. But sometimes you have to remember what's really important.”
”Yes, I agree with that.”
I sat across from him and we stared at each other. ”So,” I asked, ”how was your sister's wedding?”
”Oh, it was fun. Amy looked really happy, got lots of gifts. It cost a fortune though. I helped my mom with that. How's she supposed to do it all, living on my dad's retirement money and not much else? Amy sure doesn't have any money.”
”Is your mom still working ... at the clinic?”
”No, she's too tired for that. Maybe if she feels better she can go back part-time. She misses it.”
”That's too bad. I always looked forward to seeing her there. She was the one receptionist who would greet you with a smile even if you were grumpy and miserable with the flu. Such a sweet lady.”
”She liked you too.”
I nodded.
”She hasn't been the same since my father pa.s.sed away,” he said. ”Getting old really sucks, I guess, and it's even worse if you don't have anyone.” He looked up at me then and smiled. ”I can't believe I went so long without seeing you. Stupid of me. No reason we can't still be friends.”
”No, there isn't.”
”Aren't you just a teensy bit worried about what Trevor is going to say when he walks in and sees me here?”
”I would be, but he's not coming back for a couple of days.”
”Oh. Good. I'm glad. I'll admit it. I'm glad.” He reached over for a cookie.
”How did you know where I lived, Josh?”
He sat up a little straighter. ”Oh. Well, I didn't follow you here, if that's what you're thinking. It came up in a conversation with Caroline. I was over at the bar one night and we got to talking. And you know how she likes to talk.”
”Yes.”
”And I was curious, drove past just to see.”
”You could have called me. I would have told you.”
”I know, but ... it doesn't make any difference, does it? What possible difference could it make how I found out where you lived? It's not like it's a secret, is it?”
”No, just ... I wondered, that's all.”