Promise Made (The Callahan Series) by Mitzi Pool Bridges Page B

chair, looked down at Gram. Despite her anger over Erik and his lack of consideration for others, she couldn’t hold back a smile. Gram was asleep, the TV giving background noise to her gentle snoring.
    Walking to the kitchen, she tried to figure out what to have for lunch. Then she’d have to worry about dinner.
    How long would it be before she was screaming to escape?
    ****
    One week later she was close to pulling her hair out. If she didn’t get out of the house soon, Kate thought she might burst. She loved Gram. Had enjoyed Ed’s constant presence until even he got on her nerves.
    Then there were the daily visits from Dugan and the townspeople. The daily calls from Erik. He wouldn’t stop even when she asked him not to call or at times ignored them. He’d asked so many times if she’d thought about his proposal that she was ready to scream. Even though she knew the answer, she put him off. She didn’t know why. She’d known her answer the day he asked.
    Heaven help her. If it weren’t for Yogi and Heidi, she would be crazy.
    Tending to Gram’s personal needs took little time. Kate made breakfast, read every book the library had that sounded interesting, and piddled around the house. Ed made it clear he’d make lunch and dinner. She didn’t argue, but she needed something to do—something to keep her mind busy.
    She was accustomed to being busy all day and half the night. The law office in Austin was a busy one with a constant flow of case files crossing her desk.
    She’d never complained. She loved the work too much, and wished for some of it now. Out of the question. But it was time to give Erik an answer to his proposal. She’d put it off too long. Now it was time to step up and make at least one decision.
    “Kate? Is everything all right?” he asked when she called his cell.
    “Life is quiet.” Just not peaceful. “How about you?”
    “I’m taking a break before I start work on the new case. I’m coming to see you this weekend.”
    “I’m really busy with Gram, Erik.” Lie. “Later, maybe.”
    “I’ll be there Saturday.”
    She couldn’t change his mind. After a few more moments of conversation, they hung up. She’d tell him her decision when he came. Irritation morphed into energy. She cleaned the house, scrubbed the bathroom, changed sheets, put them in the washer. By the time she finished, the house was sparkling and her exasperation slightly subdued.
    Then Dugan was there for his daily visit. He looked so handsome she wanted to hit him. Or kick herself. It wasn’t right to feel this way about a man she’d spurned.
    “Candy. Gram will like that,” she said when he showed her a box of Gram’s favorite chocolates.
    He went into the den, kissed Gram on the cheek.
    Kate ducked back into the kitchen. If it wasn’t candy, it was flowers or a treat from Molly’s. He was so darned nice. But hadn’t he always been that way?
    After his visit, he stuck his head in the kitchen. “Need anything? I checked the yard. The grass won’t need cutting until next week.”
    “Nothing. Thanks.”
    “See you tomorrow.”
    And he was out the door.
    She was glad to see him go. Liar . If you’re so glad why do you miss him when he’s gone?
    She did notice that the anger she’d seen in his eyes when she first came back to town had faded. Maybe he was finally letting it go. She hoped so. She wished him the best with his new love. Ignored the way her heart squeezed at the thought.
    Kate walked into the den. Ed was with Gram. He’d dragged a chair up next to hers and sat there holding her hand just as he had in the hospital. Cute.
    “I think I’ll go to the store. Do we need anything for dinner?” she asked.
    “I have a list,” Ed said, taking it out of his pocket. “I was going a little later.”
    “No,” she said hurriedly before he could get up. “I’ll go.”
    She’d take her time getting back. Their constant love-looks were beginning to grate on every nerve ending.
    Seventy-somethings