Chapter 23 #2
Downstairs, Georgie unlocked the front door and sat on the bottom step, her face buried in her crossed arms. She hadn’t known this kind of pain was possible. The numbness that followed her mother’s death had lifted, leaving her raw and unprotected from this latest blow.
When she heard the pounding of Nathan’s footsteps on the porch stairs, she raised her head.
Before she could get up, he was through the door wearing only gym shorts and running shoes.
He came to a halt at the sight of her tearstained face and dropped to his knees in front of her. She could tell by the sheen of sweat on his forehead that he had run to her. Right in that moment, the door to her heart swung open and let him in.
Reaching out to brush a tear off her cheek, he said, “What, baby? What happened?”
“I found . . .” She shook her head when she couldn’t continue.
He pulled her onto his lap and sat on the floor with his arms around her. “Georgie,” he whispered, curling his hand around her neck under her ponytail. “Shh.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You were sleeping.”
“I wasn’t. I was thinking of you and wishing I was with you.”
His hair was damp and his jaw smooth.
“You smell good,” she said, burying her runny nose in the crook of his neck.
“I took a long cold shower when I got home.”
Despite her tears, despite her heartbreak, he made her laugh. “You forgot your shirt.”
“Be glad I remembered the shorts. I was moving pretty fast.”
“I just wanted to talk to you, but thank you for moving fast, for coming.”
“What did you find, sweetheart?”
“A letter from my mother.”
“Georgie.” He tightened his hold on her.
“Do you want to read it?”
“Only if you want me to.”
“I do. I want to show it to you.” When she started to get up, he stopped her.
“Wait until you’re ready.”
He held her for a long time before she said she felt better. She got up and extended a hand to him.
Keeping his hand wrapped around hers, he followed her upstairs. At the door to her mother’s room, he took a long look at the boxes. “Don’t you have anyone who can help you with this?”
She shook her head, picked up the letter and handed it to him. “Let’s go in my room. I’ve had enough in here for today.” On her way out, she turned off the radio and the light and closed the door behind her.
Nathan stretched out on Georgie’s bed and held out his arm to invite her to lie with him.
She curled up next to him and listened to the steady cadence of his breathing as he read the letter.
“Wow,” he said when he finished. “That’s amazing.”
“You know, it’s funny. She used to say all the time that she couldn’t picture herself as an elderly woman. What’s ironic is that she knew everything there was to know about old people except how to become one.”
Nathan fingered the key taped to the bottom of the letter. “Are you going to get the passbook?”
“At some point. I still can’t believe she did that.”
“It’s an incredible gift, Georgie, the letter, the money, all of it. I don’t know if you can see it that way right now, but maybe someday . . .”
“I know it is. It was just so shocking to find it. I could hear her talking in that letter. It brought her back, however briefly, and then when it was over, it was like she had died again. I think that’s what got me so upset.”
“I can’t imagine life without my mother,” he confessed. “Even at thirty-three and even from afar, she plays such a huge role in my life.”
“I can see how she would be more like a wonderful friend now that you’re all grown.”
“She is. Yours was, too.”
“Yes. In some ways, my very best friend, and yet I had no idea she dreamed of my wedding. She opened the center when I was six and worked without a paycheck the first year. So for twenty-three years she’s been saving for a wedding she didn’t live to see.
That makes me so sad. It kind of makes sense, now, though. ”
“What does?”
“The night before she died, we talked about some of the things she was going to miss—my wedding, any kids I might have. She was very concerned about her death ruining those things for me and wanted me to know that she’d be with me, for all of it.”
“I’m sure this is part of what she meant. I’ll bet it’s a lot of money.”
“No doubt.”
“You don’t have to do anything about it now, Georgie. Not until you’re ready. And when you are, I’ll go with you to get it if you want me to.”
She looked up at him. “You will?”
“Sure I will.”
Pressing a kiss to his chest, she said, “Thank you. For coming when I needed you, for being such a good guy.”
“It’s not everyone I’d run half naked through the streets of Newport for.”
“I should hope not,” she said with a laugh.
“Guess who’s over at my house.”
“Who?”
“Tess—in Ben’s room, giggling up a storm while trying to be quiet so I wouldn’t know they’re in there.”
“No way! She said she wasn’t going to be fast and easy like the rest of us.”
“The rest of who?”
Uh-oh, Georgie thought, remembering she hadn’t told him about Ian and Cat. “Me and you. They know what happened.”
“Me and you and who else?”
“I hate that you’re a detective,” she grumbled.
“It would do you well to remember that and not try to put stuff past me.” He poked her ribs, which made her squeal. “Who else?”
“Who else is there?”
“Ian and Cat?”
“Down and dirty,” Georgie confirmed.
“After they went out to dinner?”
“Apparently, there was no dinner.”
“No way.”
“You can’t let on that I told you. I promised her I wouldn’t.”
“This is good. He needs a girlfriend. It’s been too long.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call her his girlfriend. I don’t think that’s how it’s going to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“Picture more of a friends-with-benefits arrangement.”
“Sex buddies?”
“Something like that.”
“Huh.” Nathan ran a hand over his chin as he considered it. “That’s not his style. I’m surprised he agreed to it.”
Georgie shrugged. “Whatever floats their boat.”
“I wouldn’t go for that, personally.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
Their eyes met, and Georgie couldn’t look away. “I’m tired,” she whispered.
“Go to sleep. I’ll go in a minute.”
“No.”
“No?”
Her hand traveled from his chest to his taut belly and back up again. “I’m tired of fighting whatever this is that’s happening between us. Fighting it is so exhausting.”
“Georgie.” He released an unsteady breath. “You’ve had a long day, an emotional day. This isn’t the time—”
She stopped him with a finger to his lips. “Make love to me, Nathan. Make love to me the way you said you wanted to before.”
He swallowed hard. “No condoms.”
“I know where there’re some. I’ll go get them.”
His hand closed around her arm, stopping her from getting up. “Are you sure, Georgie? Really sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”