18C sunny
Got the book published last night!!
Bowled yesterday pm and will again this am.
Jayk (Erika's dog) remains until later today. He is quite a little character.

Alicia stared blankly after him for a long time and then drew a shuddering breath and started to cry softly.

 Chapter 28

The next morning, Alicia slipped out of bed without awakening Natalie, had a quick shower and went out to the kitchen. Bob was already there, He had started a pancake batter and had a dozen eggs on the counter ready for frying, coffee was ready and he had poured her a cup when he heard the shower water stop.

He glanced up as she came in, “Hope you don’t mind, but I woke up early.”

“Of course not Bob, we can do the cooking together.”

Bob said, “About last night….”

“No please let’s not go there, when you are ready I’ll be here.” To herself she said, ‘I’ll always be here.’

Jim and Irene arrived a little while later and they all sat at the table drinking coffee.

Irene picked up immediately on the strain between Bob and Alicia but said nothing.

A few minutes later Natalie came out still looking sleepy and Bob started to cook the pancakes.

Alicia put the eggs on after the first batch of pancakes were off the griddle and in short order they were all sitting, talking and eating.

Although Irene had noticed right away that neither Bob or Alicia were eating with any enthusiasm, it was Jim finally who said, “Hey, what’s wrong with food, both of you are hardly eating.”

Irene gave him a hard look but couldn’t give one of her kicks as she was too far away. When no one answered Jim he suddenly lost his grin and colored slightly then bent down to his plate and ate without looking up.

Alicia desperately tried to think of something to restore the fun time but the best she could come up with was, “Well at least it’s not raining for your trip h-h-home.”

She stood up from the table and with her back to it asked in a slightly muffled voice, “More coffee?”

No one wanted any but they all accepted another half cup and whiled away another fifteen minutes or so then Jim said, “Well I think we gotta get going.”

Are you sure we can’t help with dishes, dear?” Irene asked.

“No, no of course not. You better get on the road, you’ll still be able to get something done this afternoon.”

They all went out to the front step, good byes were said and hugs exchanged. Bob hesitantly embraced Alicia for a second and whispered something she couldn’t catch.

He had nothing to take but the clothes he was wearing and a shopping bag of the extras. He put them in the trunk and started to get in the car, then stopped and leaving the door open went back to where Alicia was standing with her chin up raised.

He reached out, grabbed one of her hands and pulled her back through the open door and kicked it shut behind him.

“I’m sorry.” He said hoarsely. He took her into his arms and kissed her firmly on the lips. She stayed rigid for a moment then slowly she melted against him and kissed him back. It was a long kiss broken finally by Bob, “I’m sorry.” He repeated. “But I needed to do that, I needed to know what I could lose.”

He turned and went out the door, got in the car and said to Jim, “Go, go now!”