have strong feelings for you and they kind of hit me out of the blue. I have to tell you, it’s kind of strange but I feel like I’ve known you forever. I can’t explain it.”
I look at him and smile. “I know, I feel it, too. I have a pull towards you, have since I first saw you, I think. The thing is, I’m going through a divorce, and I don’t know where I’m going to end up or where I should go. I feel like I’m in limbo and I don’t want to drag you into the mess that is currently my life.”
He stops walking, and looks at our hands, then raises mine up to his lips and kisses my knuckles. His exhale is warm on my skin.
“Gracie, let’s just take one day at a time right now. I’ll be here for you. I want you to consider me your friend and I will be patient. I have a lot of time on my hands now and I’ve got my own issues, but I have to tell you, being around you calms me. I feel centered and whole.”
I can’t believe my ears. “Really? Me? I center you?”
He chuckles. “Yes, you. Is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, yes.” I say with a shake of my head. “I guess I never had anyone say that to me before.”
“Well,” he says with that grin that melts my heart, “first time for everything, Princess.”
* * *
Walking back from the beach, fingers entwined, Sal says, “I hope you’re hungry Princess, Pop’s got breakfast going.”
“He does?” I laugh, enjoying my new-found peace. “I usually cook him something or we just have coffee together. What’s the occasion?”
Sal shrugs. “He felt like cooking and told me to tell you it’s something you love.”
“Oh I love everything! I say laughing as we approach the deck. Toby runs ahead of us barking and waging his tail to get into Antonio’s door. “Easy boy, Sal said. As he opened the door for him. He’s in there waiting on you.
Mio caro, good morning. I make-a-you favorite.
“Good morning Tony! What did you cook? Is that? Oh My God you made peppers and eggs!”
“Yes! He says laughing, and some rosemary potatoes too!”
“Smells great Pop.”
With Toby underfoot, wagging and nosing around his friend Tony’s wheelchair, Sal and I help Antonio move the food from the kitchen to the table.
I roll my eyes to the ceiling as I scoop up eggs and peppers and pile them on a fresh roll. Then I take a bite. That walk over the dunes this morning landed me in heaven! “Mmm…. Tony, this is so good! I haven’t had this in a while,” I say around a mouthful of potatoes.
“It’s been way too long for me, too!” Sal chimes in. “With all the traveling I did for work it’s nice to have home cooked food. By the way, did I tell you how great your baked ziti was Gracie?”
“Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed making it.”
“Do you like to cook, Gracie?” he asked.
“Yes, I do,” I answer after I swallow more food., “But I don’t really do much of it, anymore. Cooking and baking was a good stress releaser at one time, but your father and I were both gaining a little weight and I cut back. Not good for me or Tony to get too chubby.”
“What-a-you talk?” interrupted Tony with a wave if his hand and a frown on his face. “We no get-a-fat! I enjoyed all of the food you make.”
“Thanks, Tony. You’re very sweet.” I finish the last bite of my egg sandwich and pick up my coffee mug. “I think for me, the saddest time is around the holiday season. There is no one to cook for. A house just isn’t a home if there is no one to cook for.” I sigh and look down at Toby who is laying at my feet. I look up at Sal and Antonio who are looking at me with big, brown puppy-eyes.
Talk about dumping cold water on a great morning! I clear my throat and give them both a grin and a wink. “Can I have more peppers and eggs please?”
Sal beats his dad to the serving spoon and I hand him my dish.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so pitiful. I was raised around a big
I look at him and smile. “I know, I feel it, too. I have a pull towards you, have since I first saw you, I think. The thing is, I’m going through a divorce, and I don’t know where I’m going to end up or where I should go. I feel like I’m in limbo and I don’t want to drag you into the mess that is currently my life.”
He stops walking, and looks at our hands, then raises mine up to his lips and kisses my knuckles. His exhale is warm on my skin.
“Gracie, let’s just take one day at a time right now. I’ll be here for you. I want you to consider me your friend and I will be patient. I have a lot of time on my hands now and I’ve got my own issues, but I have to tell you, being around you calms me. I feel centered and whole.”
I can’t believe my ears. “Really? Me? I center you?”
He chuckles. “Yes, you. Is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, yes.” I say with a shake of my head. “I guess I never had anyone say that to me before.”
“Well,” he says with that grin that melts my heart, “first time for everything, Princess.”
* * *
Walking back from the beach, fingers entwined, Sal says, “I hope you’re hungry Princess, Pop’s got breakfast going.”
“He does?” I laugh, enjoying my new-found peace. “I usually cook him something or we just have coffee together. What’s the occasion?”
Sal shrugs. “He felt like cooking and told me to tell you it’s something you love.”
“Oh I love everything! I say laughing as we approach the deck. Toby runs ahead of us barking and waging his tail to get into Antonio’s door. “Easy boy, Sal said. As he opened the door for him. He’s in there waiting on you.
Mio caro, good morning. I make-a-you favorite.
“Good morning Tony! What did you cook? Is that? Oh My God you made peppers and eggs!”
“Yes! He says laughing, and some rosemary potatoes too!”
“Smells great Pop.”
With Toby underfoot, wagging and nosing around his friend Tony’s wheelchair, Sal and I help Antonio move the food from the kitchen to the table.
I roll my eyes to the ceiling as I scoop up eggs and peppers and pile them on a fresh roll. Then I take a bite. That walk over the dunes this morning landed me in heaven! “Mmm…. Tony, this is so good! I haven’t had this in a while,” I say around a mouthful of potatoes.
“It’s been way too long for me, too!” Sal chimes in. “With all the traveling I did for work it’s nice to have home cooked food. By the way, did I tell you how great your baked ziti was Gracie?”
“Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed making it.”
“Do you like to cook, Gracie?” he asked.
“Yes, I do,” I answer after I swallow more food., “But I don’t really do much of it, anymore. Cooking and baking was a good stress releaser at one time, but your father and I were both gaining a little weight and I cut back. Not good for me or Tony to get too chubby.”
“What-a-you talk?” interrupted Tony with a wave if his hand and a frown on his face. “We no get-a-fat! I enjoyed all of the food you make.”
“Thanks, Tony. You’re very sweet.” I finish the last bite of my egg sandwich and pick up my coffee mug. “I think for me, the saddest time is around the holiday season. There is no one to cook for. A house just isn’t a home if there is no one to cook for.” I sigh and look down at Toby who is laying at my feet. I look up at Sal and Antonio who are looking at me with big, brown puppy-eyes.
Talk about dumping cold water on a great morning! I clear my throat and give them both a grin and a wink. “Can I have more peppers and eggs please?”
Sal beats his dad to the serving spoon and I hand him my dish.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so pitiful. I was raised around a big
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