“I can get the boxes for you.”
I glance up and meet those azure blue eyes so much like my dead husband’s and the hurt bubbles up like a geyser.
“I can’t ask you that.”
“Why not? Drew was one of ours. You can’t imagine how he’s missed around here. I didn’t know him well, but I can’t imagine anyone else that wouldn’t offer to help you in any way.”
After some more convincing, Dr. Mercer drives behind me to my old house after I pick up my paperwork. His shift is over and with some directions from me, he enters the place I once called home. It doesn’t take him long and comes out with Drew’s stuff.
“There is one marked for you.”
I nod and he puts it in my trunk. “I’ll take the rest for you to Goodwill.”
“Thanks for everything, including lunch,” I say.
He smiles warmly. “Don’t mention it.”
Eight months after Drew
When the news comes, I’m so overwhelmed, I find myself in the park running down a path. The pads of my feet smacking the ground are the only noise in my head. Dr. Mercer was right. Only it took me one more hardheaded month to take his advice and try running again.
For the first time in a while, I feel alive. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed this. My heart races from exhilaration and not depression. I’m in no way fine, but I feel marginally better.
I run around a corner and glance up to see those striking blue eyes. For a second, my heart skips a beat. Then I realize the blond hair doesn’t belong to my Drew but to Dr. Mercer.
“Cate.”
“Dr. Mercer.”
“You’re not going to call me Drew are you?”
I force the words out of my mouth because he’s been nothing but kind to me. “Drew.”
The name is like a bitter pill on my tongue. My Drew should be with me right now.
“Tried running eh?” he asks with an eyebrow raised.
“You were right. It clears my head. It’s what I need from the news I just got.”
“News?”
We continue to jog in place as other joggers pass. And for some reason it’s easy to talk to him.
“I got a really good offer on the house. A nice family with a baby on the way wants the house. They love it.” I manage to say the words without crying. “They will make it the home it was meant to be.”
He nods but doesn’t offer any words of encouragement. He tilts his head toward the trail. I nod and take off in the direction I had been heading and he follows. We run for a while until I get back to my starting point.
“You should join our group.”
I glance up at him after toweling off my face. I’ve stopped and start to stretch but he’s still moving. Apparently, my thirty minutes is just a warm up for him.
“The one I mentioned a while back.”
When I still show no signs of recognition, he says, “There are a group of us that run daily. It doesn’t require any socialization. You don’t have to talk at all during the runs. Sometimes it’s good to run with other people. They help keep you motivated.”
I bend forward to shake out my muscles. When I straighten he adds, “There is a morning run at six and an evening run at six. Pick your time, it’s not formal or anything. We usually gather near the statue.”
“It’s sounds fun. I’ll think about it.”
“Good. And it was good seeing you, Cate.”
“You too.”
A year and a little over two months after Drew
Jenna stares at me like I’m lying to her.
“I swear, we’re just friends.”
Her face softens. “You know it’s okay to date other people. Drew didn’t expect you to be a hermit.”
I glance away. “I’m not ready, Jenna. I’m just not. I’m not sure when I’ll ever be.”
She doesn’t understand when you find the love of your life, who can ever match up to that. And it won’t be fair for me to see anyone while comparing them to Drew.
“I’ve seen pictures of you two. You sporting a huge smile. You ran in the 10k prostate cancer race. You have breakfast with him a few times a week and sometimes dinner. He helped at your yard sale and he moved furniture with Ben.”
“It’s incidental. We are only friends. He’s dating someone. As far as the race, it was a challenge. I did it and can mark it off my bucket list. I doubt I’ll run in any more races. And I haven’t seen him in a few weeks.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “I’ve been running most mornings. He hasn’t. I assume he’s running in the evening. It’s not like we call each other to coordinate our schedules.”
“Un huh.”
I groan. “He’s with someone. You’re reading our friendship wrong.”
“You have to admit he’s hot.”
I shake my head. “I’ve never looked at him that way.”
She stares at me like I grew antlers. “He’s gorgeous, Cate. There’s no way you don’t see it.”
I shake my head.
“He reminds me of…”
“Of what?” I ask.
“Never mind. I would date him.”