Grounded for Love: A Reunion Romance Novella (10 page)

Graham spent time hanging out with his family and playing babies with his niece in the living room. He didn’t mind pretending to feed the dolls and doing whatever Sarah asked, including bringing her cookies left over from the reception. He was sure she had to be the cutest little girl anywhere, which justified him spoiling her as much as possible.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with her,” Annie said.

“Why?”

“You ruin her every time you see her.”

He gazed at his niece with her long eyelashes that framed her big, blue eyes. “How can you resist anything this girl wants?”

“You are such a pushover. Someday, when you have your own kids, you’ll understand.”

Graham’s phone rang. He knew exactly who it was. Dana. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”

He walked out of the living room and answered the phone in the dining room. “Hey.”

“Hi. How is Colorado?”

“It’s great.” He gazed out the window and watched a couple of neighbor kids pulling each other on a sled.

“I haven’t heard from you…”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with the family.” That was pretty much true—though if he were completely honest, Dana wasn’t the woman on his mind.

“You’ll be back day after tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“That seems so far away.” She sounded wistful.

Did it? What was he doing? Dana was a great woman, but something was missing. It always had been, but it was easier to keep dating her than to confront the issues of their relationship. Besides, how could he explain that something was missing when he couldn’t really put it into words?

“Graham?”

“I’m still here.” He wasn’t sure what to say to her.

“I miss you.”

He should tell her he missed her. He did. But he also didn’t.

“Graham, are you still there?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s going on? You seem so distant.”

“I do?” He knew he did, but he wasn’t anxious to talk to her about it.

“Actually, you’ve been kind of weird for a few weeks and especially since you left for Colorado.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Yeah, it is,” she said in a tight voice.

“I’m sorry.” What else could he say?

“Maybe we need to rethink this whole thing. I mean, I’m leaving for New York next week. Maybe we should take a break. See how things are after I get back.”

“Are you breaking up with me?” he asked, feeling more relieved than anything.

“I guess I am. I don’t think we’re moving in the right direction and I don’t think your heart is in it.”

He wanted to tell her she was wrong, but he couldn’t. He liked Dana. They had fun together, but she wasn’t… well, she wasn’t someone he could really see dating long-term. “Maybe you’re right.”

“I guess there’s not much left to say.” Her voice was thick with emotion, making Graham regret dragging out their relationship. He never intended to hurt her.

He nodded, trying to come up with something. “Good luck in New York.”

“Thanks.”

Dana ended the call without even saying goodbye. Graham hadn’t expected to break up with her while he was in Grand Junction. He walked into the kitchen, feeling a weight lifted, and looking for something to drink. His mom was mixing batter at the island.

“What are you making?” he asked.

“Molasses cookies,” she said with a knowing smile.

“You spoil me.”

“I know.”

He wrapped his arms around his mom. “I’ve missed you.”

“You can always move back here, you know.”

He reached over and stuck his finger in the bowl.

She slapped at his hand. “Who were you talking to?”

“Taylor Swift.”

His mom gave him a you-are-such-a-dreamer look. “Really.”

He grabbed some cookie dough. “My girl—I mean
ex
-girlfriend, Dana.”

“Ex?”

He nodded, trying to decipher exactly how he felt about it.

“Did you just break up?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Over the phone?”

“Yep.”

She shook her head. “I guess that’s a step up from texting. Technology sure has destroyed human interactions.”

“Mom, you aren’t going to rant about technology again, are you?”

“We’re losing that personal touch. We need to interact in real life, not on the phone, and not through computers or texting. It’s so impersonal.”

“I love you, but you are old-fashioned,” he said with a smile.

“Maybe. But the world was better before all this technology. We actually did things. We met people face-to-face. In real-life places. I think texting makes you all sissies.”

“Sissies, huh?” He loved how passionately his mom felt about certain subjects, including the overuse of technology, and he was thankful the conversation had veered away from his personal life.

“Back in my day, if you were going to ask a girl out or break up with her, you had to do it in person.” She tapped Graham on the chest with her finger. “That, my boy, is the right way to do it.”

“What’s going on?’ Annie asked as she entered the room, glancing between them.

“Your brother broke up with his girlfriend over the phone.”

Before Annie could launch into one of her psycho-babble lectures, Graham said, “Actually, she broke up with me.”

“Interesting,” Annie said as a smile splayed across her face.

“What does that mean?” Graham looked at her, instantly regretting that he’d given her the go ahead to analyze the situation.

“Only that you now happen to be free to explore other possible relationships. That’s all.” Annie reached in the bowl and pulled out a finger-full of the creamy mixture.

“Will the both of you stop eating the dough? There won’t be any left to bake.”

“Come on, Mom, you know we like the dough better than the cookies anyway,” Annie said.

“And what do you mean by
other relationships
? Is there something I don’t know, Graham Gordon McAllister?”

Annie widened her eyes. “Uh, oh. All three names? You know what that means, little brother.”

“You know everything I do, Mom. I promise,” Graham said, holding his hand up.

“Remember how Graham said he saw Serena at the airport in Denver?” Annie said.

“Yes. She was the girl he moped over for so long after they broke up.”

“The same one. He thinks seeing her was merely a coincidence.”

He turned to his traitorous sister. “It was.”

“I think it means something else. Obviously, so does he.”

“Not true, Annie. I’d forget all about seeing her if you didn’t keep bringing it up.” Sometimes, his sister aggravated him more now than when they were kids.

“Mom, don’t you think Graham should go find Serena?”

“Hey, she left me.
She
ran away from
me
. Not the other way around.”

Annie pointed at him. “Because she thought you were cheating on her.”

“Which I wasn’t.”

“But she didn’t know that.”

“Even if, and I am emphasizing
if
, I were still interested in a woman who didn’t trust me enough to even talk to me, she has her own life in California.” Annie was getting on his last nerve.

“So?”

“So… there is no way this would ever work again. Too much water under the bridge. Besides, if anyone needs to do the finding, it’s
her
, not me.”

“Aha.” Annie clasped her hands together. “See, you do still care about her. I knew it.”

“Annie.” Graham covered his heart with his hand and feigned a look of love. “I know you are a hopeless romantic—anyone who sees your bookshelves knows that.”

“Oh, please.”

Graham got serious. “We had our chance. It’s over and I need to move on.”

“Okay.” Annie peered directly at him. “So why haven’t you?”

Graham pushed out a breath. Annie wasn’t going to give up. To avoid any more discussion he said, “Fine. I’ll text her one of these days. Will that make you happy?”

“See what I mean about technology?” his mom said with a jerk of her head. “Way too easy and way too impersonal.”

“What do you expect me to do, Mom? Fly to San Francisco with the hope that she’ll want to see me?”

“Why not?” His mom placed a hand on her hip and stared at him.

“Because she’s… because I’m not… because…” His collar seemed to shrink around his neck.

“That explains it,” his mom said.

“Isn’t she in Durango right now?” Annie asked.

“Yeah. With her dad.” What did that have to do with anything?

“Mom, how far is Durango from here again? Three or four hours?”

Graham held his hands up. “I am not driving to Durango. No way.”

His mom and sister stared at him. “Why not?” his mom asked.

“Why should I? She dumped me.
She
abandoned
me
.”

“So?” his mom and sister said together.

“Are you going to let your pride stand in your way?” Annie said.

Graham shook his head. This was a losing battle. No way was he going to drive all the way to Durango to see Serena. He didn’t even know how long she was going to be there. And she was there to see her dad. He didn’t want to interfere. Besides, things had been over between them for a long time. It didn’t mean anything that he’d seen her and had to fight every desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her. That was simply a weird reaction to seeing her unexpectedly. It was a knee-jerk reaction to a woman he once loved. That was all. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” With that, he grabbed the key to his rental car and headed out the door.

Serena sat in her bed trying to concentrate on a manuscript. Her mind kept wandering, so she set the papers aside for a moment and walked over to her large bedroom window. Snowflakes fluttered past the glass and landed on the bushes below. Ominous gray clouds filled the morning sky. A storm was definitely brewing. The last storm she’d been in… She rubbed her eyes.
Stop it. Do not think about him. Think about something else. Anything else
.

She grabbed her laptop to search for flights back to San Francisco and sat on the edge of the bed. Now that her dad was recovering and would be coming home, she’d stay a few more days then fly back. One of her authors had been emailing her every few hours, and she needed to return to her job, both physically and mentally. She loved being home with her parents, but her life was in California now.

Her phone chimed. A text from Colby.

Looking forward to tonight.

Me too.

Dinner then a movie at the Gaslight Theater.

Sounds fun.

See you at 6:30.

☺

The last thing she’d expected was to go on dates with Colby Whigton, or anyone else for that matter, while she was in town, but it was nice to spend time with him.

She settled back in to read her manuscript when her phone screeched with the ringtone for Elise. Serena drew in a sharp breath. She really didn’t want to talk to her boss.

Another screech.
I’ll let it go to voicemail.

Again, the phone made its hideous sound.
Fine
. She answered in her sweetest voice, “Hi, Elise.”

“When will you be back?”

Not even a courtesy greeting. Elise must be super stressed. “Well, my dad—”

“I’m giving
A Moment in Paris
to Amy.”

“What? Why? You already gave Steve’s book to Amy. Let me keep this one. I’m working on the edits right now.” She tried to keep her burgeoning anger under control.

“Because I need it done.”

“I’m almost finished, Elise.”

“Will you have the edited file ready to email before Tuesday?”

“Yes.” It would be a stretch, but she could do it. Barely.

“I need you in the meeting on Tuesday because I have two more books to assign you. If you can’t make it—”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’m counting on you.” Could she add more pressure?

“Okay.”

They ended the call and Serena tossed her phone on the bed then ran her fingers through her tangled hair. If she spent the rest of the day editing this manuscript she could start putting the changes into the computer file tonight. Her preference for editing on paper stung her at times like this.
Why don’t I edit on my laptop?

Her mom peeked in the bedroom. “Hi, honey.”

“Hi.”

“What are you doing?”

“Working. My boss called and I need to get this manuscript finished.”

“Do you need to go back now?” Serena could see the anxiety in her mom’s eyes.

“No. I’ll be here to help you with Daddy for at least a few more days. Longer if you need me.” Her parents came first, and if necessary, she’d tell Elise that. But she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

As long as she spent time editing and used her time wisely, she could make it work. Looking at her mom, she had to make it work. “I’m happy I can be here.”

“Would you like something to eat? Some breakfast?” Her mom glanced at her watch. “Or lunch?” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. It was obvious her mom was still worried.

“Anything is fine.” Serena stood. “In fact, I need a break. Why don’t I make us something to eat?”

“No, no. You keep working, and I’ll let you know when it’s time to eat. Cooking will help keep my mind off…”