Read Online Changing Lanes: A Novel by Kathleen Long - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathleen Long
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“Nan asked me a question, and I came up here to think about my answer.”
“And?” Mick asked.
“I’m still thinking.”
He said nothing, but the look of anticipation he wore told me he knew I’d crack.
“Don’t you have anyone else down on her luck you could interrogate?” I asked.
Mick’s rich laughter echoed through the night sky. “I’m all yours tonight, Halladay,” he said.
A shiver raced across my shoulders, and I suspected it had nothing to do with my lack of jacket and everything to do with Mick’s words.
Mick shrugged out of his denim jacket and draped it across my shoulders, the move so familiar, so natural, it made me ache.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and dropped his voice low. “Start sharing, Halladay. We’re burning nighttime.”
I took a deep breath and began. “Well, you already know about Fred.”
I looked to Mick for a response and he nodded. Good enough.
“And I lost my column because obviously I’m not hip enough to pull in buckets of readers.”
Another look. This time a shrug.
“Then there’s the issue of the house.” I threw my hands up in the air. “Apparently the termites caused so much damage it’s not safe for me to move in.”
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Starting to,” I said; then I continued. “Tonight, my mother invited Ted Miller to dinner. Want to know why?”
He nodded. Good man.
“Because he’s an eligible bachelor, and she’s not about to let the deposit on the country club go to waste.”
At this, Mick spoke. “So she doesn’t have a lot of faith in your fiancé?”
I shook my head. “Apparently not.”
Mick’s dark brows lifted toward his hairline. “Tough break, Halladay.”
“Then I saw Nan sitting all alone by Grandpa’s grave.” Sudden tears welled in my eyes. “That just makes me sad.”
Mick frowned, obviously taken aback by my sudden waterworks. “Hey, hey.” He reached for me, but pulled back without making contact. “You’ll figure it all out, Abby.”
I’d heard that before.
I shook my head and gathered myself, not wanting to add “full meltdown” to my list of accomplishments.
“I should take the cab back,” I said. “You want a lift?”
Mick shook his head. “Nice night for a walk.”
Our eyes met and held.
For a moment, I felt transported back to high school, back to the countless heartfelt conversations Mick and I had shared. There had been a time when we’d told each other every hope, dream, or plan that had crossed our minds.
Then thirteen years had passed in silence.
“Thanks for listening,” I said, even as regret and sadness simmered to life inside me.
Mick gave me a dismissive shrug before he turned to leave.
“Your jacket,” I called out as his long stride quickly lengthened the space between us.
“You keep it,” he answered without turning around. “Looks like it belongs on you.”
Before my brain could formulate so much as a thank-you, he was gone—vanished into the mist swirling in from the river.
I stood still, letting my emotions settle inside me. Then I slipped my arms into the sleeves of his well-worn jacket, breathed in Mick’s scent, and headed for home.
CHAPTER NINE
I accomplished two things over the weekend.
I’d picked up my car from the municipal lot and parked it over in the yellow Victorian’s gravel drive. Structural damage might keep me out of the house for a bit longer, but at least the car could sit in its new driveway. Plus, I’d begun to enjoy driving the cab, not that I was ready to admit that to anyone.
Second, I’d spent the weekend plotting the rebuilding of my life.
Destiny’s blunt but accurate words bounced through my brain as I broke down exactly what I needed to do. I needed to get the house fixed. I needed to pitch a new column to Max Campbell. I needed to make a decision about Fred.
I was not about to jump on a plane to France, so I left him a series of messages in which I shared my plans and explained the fact
“Nan asked me a question, and I came up here to think about my answer.”
“And?” Mick asked.
“I’m still thinking.”
He said nothing, but the look of anticipation he wore told me he knew I’d crack.
“Don’t you have anyone else down on her luck you could interrogate?” I asked.
Mick’s rich laughter echoed through the night sky. “I’m all yours tonight, Halladay,” he said.
A shiver raced across my shoulders, and I suspected it had nothing to do with my lack of jacket and everything to do with Mick’s words.
Mick shrugged out of his denim jacket and draped it across my shoulders, the move so familiar, so natural, it made me ache.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and dropped his voice low. “Start sharing, Halladay. We’re burning nighttime.”
I took a deep breath and began. “Well, you already know about Fred.”
I looked to Mick for a response and he nodded. Good enough.
“And I lost my column because obviously I’m not hip enough to pull in buckets of readers.”
Another look. This time a shrug.
“Then there’s the issue of the house.” I threw my hands up in the air. “Apparently the termites caused so much damage it’s not safe for me to move in.”
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Starting to,” I said; then I continued. “Tonight, my mother invited Ted Miller to dinner. Want to know why?”
He nodded. Good man.
“Because he’s an eligible bachelor, and she’s not about to let the deposit on the country club go to waste.”
At this, Mick spoke. “So she doesn’t have a lot of faith in your fiancé?”
I shook my head. “Apparently not.”
Mick’s dark brows lifted toward his hairline. “Tough break, Halladay.”
“Then I saw Nan sitting all alone by Grandpa’s grave.” Sudden tears welled in my eyes. “That just makes me sad.”
Mick frowned, obviously taken aback by my sudden waterworks. “Hey, hey.” He reached for me, but pulled back without making contact. “You’ll figure it all out, Abby.”
I’d heard that before.
I shook my head and gathered myself, not wanting to add “full meltdown” to my list of accomplishments.
“I should take the cab back,” I said. “You want a lift?”
Mick shook his head. “Nice night for a walk.”
Our eyes met and held.
For a moment, I felt transported back to high school, back to the countless heartfelt conversations Mick and I had shared. There had been a time when we’d told each other every hope, dream, or plan that had crossed our minds.
Then thirteen years had passed in silence.
“Thanks for listening,” I said, even as regret and sadness simmered to life inside me.
Mick gave me a dismissive shrug before he turned to leave.
“Your jacket,” I called out as his long stride quickly lengthened the space between us.
“You keep it,” he answered without turning around. “Looks like it belongs on you.”
Before my brain could formulate so much as a thank-you, he was gone—vanished into the mist swirling in from the river.
I stood still, letting my emotions settle inside me. Then I slipped my arms into the sleeves of his well-worn jacket, breathed in Mick’s scent, and headed for home.
CHAPTER NINE
I accomplished two things over the weekend.
I’d picked up my car from the municipal lot and parked it over in the yellow Victorian’s gravel drive. Structural damage might keep me out of the house for a bit longer, but at least the car could sit in its new driveway. Plus, I’d begun to enjoy driving the cab, not that I was ready to admit that to anyone.
Second, I’d spent the weekend plotting the rebuilding of my life.
Destiny’s blunt but accurate words bounced through my brain as I broke down exactly what I needed to do. I needed to get the house fixed. I needed to pitch a new column to Max Campbell. I needed to make a decision about Fred.
I was not about to jump on a plane to France, so I left him a series of messages in which I shared my plans and explained the fact
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