Chapter Sixty-Four
Gabe
“Bad news, buddy,” Henry said when I answered the phone late Thursday afternoon. “The part I need is on back order. They’re telling me middle to late next week at the earliest.”
Oh darn.
He added, “I’m really sorry. I checked with every place I could think of, but no one has it in stock.”
“I get it. We’re dealing with supply chain issues, too. There’s not much you can do.”
“I’ll get a hold of you as soon as I have it in my hands. Like I said, hopefully before the end of next week.”
“Sounds good.”
I hung up, pleased with myself for having bought the toddler bed and stools. It looked like my guests were going to be staying a little longer.
And I was A-okay with that.
However, I wasn’t sure how Gretchen was going to feel about it. Living out of a suitcase for another week probably wasn’t her idea of a good time, no matter how hard I tried to make her and Jake feel at home.
I decided to wait until dinner to break the news to her.
****
Gretchen
After the final bell rang, I pulled my phone from my desk drawer to check my messages and found I had three .
One from Laura, one from my mom, and one from Gabe.
As much as I wanted to read Gabe’s first, I restrained myself and went in the order they’d been received.
Laura: Girrrrl, I miss you! Can we please get together soon?
Me: I miss you, too! Yes! Let’s have dinner next week?
I was hesitant to commit to a specific day because I wasn’t sure when I could get back in my house. Fortunately, Gabe had been working on installing the cabinets, so it wouldn’t be long after I was back in my house that I’d have my kitchen, and some sense of normalcy, back.
Not that cooking in Gabe’s kitchen had been a hardship.
Laura: Let me know when!
Me: I’ll text you Monday?
Laura: Yes! Love you, miss you!
Me: Talk soon! Love you, miss you, too!
Next was my mom.
Mom: Just seeing how the kitchen is going! Is it finished yet?
Me: Not yet! I think a few more weeks.
Mom: Keep us posted! We’re excited to see it! In the meantime, if you’re in need of a sitter anytime soon… we miss our grandson and would love to have him for a night or two.
That made me smile. My parents were the best. God, Jake and I were lucky to have them in our lives.
Me: LOL I’ll see what I can do. Talk soon! Love you!
Mom: Talk soon. Love you, too!
Finally, I opened Gabe’s message.
Gabe: Do you and Jake want to go to Brayden’s game tonight? It starts at 5:30. We can grab a pizza afterwards.
Brayden had mentioned it last night and invited me to go watch him play.
Me: That sounds fun. I’ll finish up here, then go grab Jake. Do I need to bring a blanket or anything?
I knew our lacrosse field didn’t have bleachers.
Gabe: I’ll have chairs for you and Jake. Just bring yourselves.
Me: Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon! Love you!
I hit send just as I reread the message and realized what I’d written.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.