The Dating List (29 page)

He placed his hand over hers as their eyes
connected.

Grey shivered.

"We need to do something about the heat in this
place. It's drafty as hell. The kitchen should never be cold. I'll
get on it as soon as I finish the front walk."

"An old house is a lot of work, isn't it?" Carrie
cast shy eyes at him.

"Maybe but it's what you wanted. When we get done
here, it's going to be a real showplace, like the townhouse. You
did a fantastic job on that place and I'm sure you'll outdo
yourself here."

"It's going to be a big money drain, isn't it?"

"Nope. John and I have an excellent offer for one of
our companies. That will more than take care of the expenses for
this house for the next ten years. Don't worry."

"I love renovating and decorating."

"I know you do," he said, rising from his chair.

"I love you, in case I haven't told you in, let's
see…the last ten minutes?"

He laughed and kissed her. "My wife…I love saying
that," he said, almost to himself.

Grey went out to finish the walk. Carrie walked with
him then entered the dining room. The room was under construction
with sanding equipment, a ladder, paint cans and various brushes
spread out on a drop cloth. She deftly walked around everything to
perch on the window seat where she could see quite a ways down the
street. The kitchen faced the backyard with a peek at the lake
through the trees.

Carrie pulled a small pad and pen out of the pocket
of her apron and started a list. She had responsibilities for
tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner at the Andrews' family home. Sitting
there enjoying the unbroken silence of the country road, the sound
of tires on slush grabbed her attention. She moved to the living
room window and watched Colin pull into the driveway next door,
maneuvering his car next to his father's black Jeep. He walked
slowly toward the front door, his shoulders seemed to slump a
little. She sighed.
Will he and Leah still be together at
Christmas?

She thought back to her last email from Leah:

Email to Carrie

Jean Pierre and I are going to Florence. I'm going to
get ideas from the art there.

He's been so helpful, I don't know what I'd do
without him. Don't get to spend

much time with Mme. Jeanne. Planning a big trip to
buy fabrics. Will be traveling

for a month. Not sure about Internet. So if you don't
hear from me, don't panic.

Sending hugs.

Carrie hadn't received word from her in a month.
Who is Jean Pierre? She's traveling with him. Are they lovers,
too?
Carrie shook her head to banish the thought. Grey finished
up the walk and opened the front door.

"Brrr. It's damn cold out there."

"Come in, warm up. We've got work to do."

"I have a suggestion how you can warm me up." He
snickered.

Carrie glanced at her watch then at him. She wiggled
her eyebrows. "Well, what are you waiting for?" She turned and
sprinted up the stairs with Grey close behind. His laughter made
her smile.

****

The barking of Buster and Daisy greeted Colin as he
turned up his collar and walked up the path to his parents' house.
The door opened and the two pugs charged out, barking and jumping
up on his legs. His father held the door opened, motioning him
in.

"Shake a leg, boy, we're not heating the whole
outdoors!"

Colin smiled to himself.
Some things never
change.
He shook his head slightly as he crouched down to pet
the dogs. Daisy leapt up to lick his face with Buster following
suit. Colin laughed. When he looked up he noticed his father
watching him.

"What?" His eyebrows knitted.

"Nothing, nothing, come in." John closed the
door.

Mary appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on
her apron. She planted a kiss on her son's cheek.

"So happy to see you," she said, studying his
face.

"What's everyone looking at?"

"Nothing, nothing," Mary said, trying to hide a
smile.

"You're in Grey's old room," John said, preceding
Colin up the stairs.

"I forgot. They're next door now. Convenient for the
newlyweds, eh?" He smirked.

Colin dumped his bag on his bed then descended the
stairs and joined his sister, Jenna, in the living room. She had
her feet up on the coffee table while a pug snuggled up to her.

"Where's Bill?"

"Dad's got him stacking firewood. Now that Grey's got
his own house to take care of, and you're living in Willow Falls,
it seems Bill's next in line."

"What about Earl?"

"He and Barbara aren't here yet."

Mary carried a tray with cheese and crackers on it
into the living room. John followed her.

"What ya drinkin'?"

"Beer?" Colin stood up.

"Sit, son. I'll get it. Then I want to hear how your
wrestling season is going."

Jenna sipped a glass of white wine. "I want to hear
all about your girlfriends at Kensington."

"What girlfriends?" He sat back against the sofa,
Buster jumped up to curl up right next to him.

"Come on…there must be a ton of hot co-eds
there?"

"There's no one."

"You? Winner of my
Mover of the Year
award?"

"Last year. Not this year?"

"What happened?" Jenna straightened herself on the
sofa.

"Leah happened."

"Oh, the designer lady? The one in Paris."

"Yeah."

"What's up with you two? Been separated a long time.
It's not like my horny younger brother to be celibate for so
long."

"Jenna! None of your business."

She laughed. "I'm making it my business. Give."

"Nothing to tell. She's coming back at
Christmas."

"And…?"

"We'll see…let it go."

"Touchy, aren't we?"

"Leave it!" He hollered, bounding up from the sofa
and stalking out of the room.

Colin took the stairs two at a time, burst through
the door of his room. He toed off his shoes, stretched out on the
bed and stared at the ceiling, wondering what would happen at
Christmas.
Haven't heard from Leah in three weeks. She said she
was traveling. Still. Phone couldn't make contact every time I
tried to call. No text messages, no email. She's gone. Only a
couple of weeks left to find out if I win or lose. Jean Pierre…I
hate you.

Before he could keep brooding, there was a knock on
the open door. He turned his head to see his father standing
there.

"Since Grey's not here — he's busy as hell next door
— I wondered if you'd mind chopping a little wood for us?"

"Sure, dad," Colin said, pushing up off the bed.

They shrugged on jackets before moving to the yard at
the side of the house. John handed his son the axe.

"Go to it."

"How much do you want?"

"Stop whenever you feel like it."

Colin smiled at his dad.
He gets it.
John
returned to the house. Colin grabbed the axe.

"This is for
Jean.
"

Whack!
Another piece of wood.

"This is for
Pierre.
"

Whack!
Another piece of wood

"This is for
French men.
"

Whack!

After half an hour, Colin exhausted himself. He
stacked up the wood, filled his arms with split logs then returned
to the house.

****

Dinner was a quiet affair. During dessert, Barbara
and Earl arrived. Barbara was glowing. Along with a blast of cold
air, they blew in on a tide of good cheer. Barbara was so happy she
was practically babbling.

"I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant!" She was jumping up and
down.

Mary's face broke into a huge smile as she hugged her
daughter. John shook Earl's hand. Bill and Colin shook Earl's
hand.

"Celebration is called for. I'm opening champagne,"
John said.

"For everyone except Barbara," Mary admonished.

Barbara's face fell for a second but she regained her
good cheer, laughing with the rest. The next few hours were spent
discussing baby names, brands of strollers as well as colors for
the nursery. Colin was closest to his sister Barbara but she was
out of reach. He missed being able to talk to her about Leah but
understood what this pregnancy meant. Barbara and Earl had been
trying to get pregnant for two years. Colin didn't want to rain on
her parade or bring her down in any way. However, after a while, he
developed a headache then retired early.

Thanksgiving morning, he and his father were the
first ones up.

"I'm on for breakfast, what should I make this
morning, son?" John poured water in the coffee maker as Colin
carefully measured out the grinds.

"I don't know. Doesn't much matter."

"No appetite? Didn't eat much last night for dinner,
either. Must be love, eh?"

"Stop kidding, Dad. This is serious."

"They all say that. It'll work out, you'll see. You
have no faith. That Leah's no fly-by-night. I bet she comes
through."

"Wish I had your confidence."

"If she doesn't, good lookin' college professor like
you shouldn't have any problem finding another girl. By the way.
How is that new job coming?"

"Fine."

"Happy?"

"I love teaching college kids. That's the best part
of my day."

"What about the new wrestling team? How's that going?
Win any matches yet?"

"Considering we're a new team, we're not half bad.
We've won three and lost four so far this season. I'm pretty happy.
The school isn't upset because it's our first season. We will need
to step it up next year, though."

"Seems like you've settled in nicely."

"Everything's great except for one thing…"

"Got my fingers crossed for you, son."

"You need any help, dad?"

"Why don't you start the bacon? Know anything about
cooking…breakfast?"

"I've learned a lot from you. I've been cooking my
own bacon for a long time now."

"Long time?"

"At least a year now."

"Oh, I see," John stifled a chuckle as he passed two
packages of bacon to his son.

"Grey and Carrie coming for breakfast, too?"

"Don't know. Now they're at their own house, can't
seem to get them out of the bedroom for very long." He laughed;
Colin joined in.

****

After the Thanksgiving table was set, Mary directed
every aspect of the meal except the carving of the turkey, which
was John's job. Family members moved back and forth from the
kitchen to the long dining room table, crafted by Gavin Dailey
specifically for their large family. Vegetable casseroles, bowls of
salad and cranberries in several forms accompanied a gravy boat and
an empty platter to be filled with sliced, hot turkey. When the
table couldn't hold anymore, everyone sat down. Carrie ended up
next to Colin.

A prayer was said with everyone joining in. Colin
mouthed a silent prayer of his own.
Please bring Leah back to
me.
His thoughts were interrupted by Grey's cell phone. Colin
shot his brother a dirty look for interrupting the family meal.
Grey shrugged before leaving the table with silent nods of
permission from his parents who shared a secret smile. Colin stared
at them.
What the hell? What's wrong with them? They should have
yelled at Grey.

He turned his attention back to slicing off a
bite-sized piece of turkey. A little hunger nagged at his stomach
but nothing like his usual appetite at Thanksgiving. For the past
few years, he'd won the rivalry with Grey over who could eat the
most at Thanksgiving.
Grey's going to win this year. No
contest.
Loneliness washed over Colin when he looked around the
table at his siblings with their spouses, everyone so happy. There
was room for one more place, next to him, for Leah.
Maybe next
Thanksgiving.
The idea cheered him. Leah part of his
family…with these people he loved so much. A sigh escaped his
mouth.

Grey returned to the table and exchanged a look with
his mother. Colin's attention returned to his food. Nothing seemed
to taste good. He toyed with the cauliflower on his plate unable to
eat more. Instead he sat silently listening to the chatter of his
parents and siblings. Spirits were high, a first grandchild would
come along in seven months, the oldest son had taken a wife. Lines
and creases were smoothed as John and Mary radiated happiness.

Wish I could be happy for everyone.
His chest
tightened. Suddenly he seemed an outsider in his own family…the
only one suffering from a broken heart. Emptiness swept through his
heart.
I need you, Leah. Come back to me.
He sat back
waiting until an appropriate time to excuse himself to retire to
his room. They finally finished the meal. Jenna and Bill cleared
the table.

"Grey, could you please go to the store for some
milk. We don't have enough," Mary asked.

"I bought some this morning, Mary," John put in.

Mary shushed him, putting her hand on his arm. John
gave a helpless shrug. Colin watched them without seeing.

"Sure, Mom," Grey said, getting up from the table to
grab his coat before disappearing out the door.

"Colin, come help with the coffee, dear. You're so
good with this machine."

He joined his mother in the kitchen. Counted the
coffee drinkers then measured out the ingredients by rote. A
heaviness surrounded his heart.
Christmas is a long way
away.
He wished she could have been with them for Thanksgiving,
an important Andrews family holiday. It was the one holiday
reserved for family only.
Next year.
He tried to envision
Leah there but the risk that she wouldn't be there blocked the
vision.

When Grey returned, pies were loaded on the table.
Jenna brought out dessert plates. Barbara passed out coffee
cups.