Memories of Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

feel
about her?” Grant lifted an eyebrow.
    “Sorry. It’s not your fault.”
    “Oh, but it is.”
    “How do you figure that?” Jane
raised her cup.
    “I let Carol Anne get away.” He studied
his tea as if the answers to his heartache lay among the leaves.
    “Baloney. That’s crap. It takes two,
Grant.”
    He laughed. “They both piss you off,
don’t they, Carol Anne and Evelyn?”
    “Damn right!” Jane put her mug down
a little too hard.
    “Okay, okay. Take it easy,” he said,
putting his hand on hers. “Besides, now that we’ve disappeared, it’s over for
Carol Anne and me.”
    Having spoken the words he dreaded,
sadness constricted his heart. Is it
over? Is she truly gone?
    “I hope not,” Jane whispered, rising
to her feet. “Time for bed. School schedule starts tomorrow, and I’m already
exhausted.”She patted him on the
shoulder before lumbering off to her small room.
    Grant washed the dishes and went
into the bedroom. It was a mess, but the bed was made and looked very inviting.
He was a bit worn out but not that tired. If
Carol Anne were here, I’d find the energy to make love to her. He lay down,
closed his eyes, and dreamt of their passionate nights as sleep overtook him.

 
    * * * *

 
    After the first week, they settled
into a routine. In the morning, Jane made breakfast then Grant took Sarah to
school on his way to work, allowing Jane some time to herself. Then, Jane
picked her up in the afternoon. In the evenings, Jane cooked dinner while Sarah
set the table and Grant cleaned up.
    They functioned like a well-oiled
machine. Having grown up together, Jane and Grant were compatible and knew each
other’s habits, keeping friction at bay. Why
can’t Evelyn behave more like Jane? Why can’t she go with the flow a bit? With
a sigh, he figured if they hadn’t reached a comfort zone in seven years, they
weren’t likely to any time soon.
    Life was busy in the Hollings
household. A new neighborhood to navigate, a new school to get to know, and new
classmates for Sarah kept them running from one event, one task, to another.
    Grant spent long nights at the
office familiarizing himself with new clients and getting briefed by new colleagues.
Often, he brought legal briefs home and set up on the dining room table,
reading and making notes. The newness of the work in this office refreshed him.
He liked getting to know his New York colleagues and actually invited one, Gary
Lawrence, over for dinner. Grant and Gary were working on a case together.
    Grant expected his dinner with Gary
to be much about their legal strategy, especially after Sarah was excused to do
homework, but he was surprised. Gary took an obvious interest in Jane, and the
two of them spent the evening getting to know each other. Watching from afar,
Grant was pleased to see his sister light up around Gary. Likewise, Gary smiled
more than Grant had ever seen him do in the office.
    Grant listened to them compare
notes, marveling at how many experiences they had in common. If Jane starts dating Gary, I won’t feel
guilty about dragging her away from her life in D.C. to come here.
    Evelyn was to join them after one
week. But one week became two and two became three. Grant stopped calling her every
evening. Often, he got caught up in work and spending time with Sarah, so by
the time he remembered, it was too late to phone. Or that’s what he told
himself.
    The peaceful atmosphere without
Evelyn was soothing to Grant and Sarah as well. He didn’t notice how much they had
argued until it stopped. He vowed to try to get along with her better.
    One evening when he’d run out of
excuses and justifications for his distance from Evelyn, he made up his mind to
talk to her. Driven by guilt for his neglect of his wife, he forced himself to pick
up his cell. He stretched out on his bed and dialed.
    “Hi, it’s me. Hope I didn’t wake you.”
Grant closed his notebook and stretched one arm above his head. “Any word on
when you’re joining