Incandescent

As he stepped behind the radio, I asked Grant if he wanted to see the horsehair I’d found in the chairs I was reupholstering.

“That is so cool,” he said, kneeling down to feel the texture. “Is there anything I can help with?”

“Sure.”

I put him to work ripping the rest of the old stuffing from one of the chairs. He seemed to enjoy it, asking all sorts of questions while we worked side by side.

We got lost in the work until the bell above the door rang at the front of the store.

“Be right back.” I headed toward the customer to hand them the picture frame I’d restored.

After I rang them up at the cash register, I returned to the back room, where Grant and Delaney were fiddling with the dials on the radio and had gotten it to work. “No way!”

Delaney was beaming. “Told you I could do it.”

“I had no doubt.” I pressed my shoulder to his, and just that brief contact sent my stomach into a free fall. God, I had it bad. “The customer is going to love it.”

They only stayed a while longer before Delaney was reminding Grant that they needed to get back to Ruby.

“Thanks so much for the visit,” I said at the door, feeling sort of emotional that they’d shown up at all. “Actually, hold on a minute. Be right back.”

I headed toward a table under the far window to retrieve something I’d been thinking about for weeks. Maybe today was as good a day as any. Especially since things felt so upside down, I didn’t even know when I’d see them next.

“I have something for you, Grant,” I said, holding the box in my hand. “Call it an early Christmas gift.”

“Why early?” Grant asked in a strained voice, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Why not?” I handed him the present. “A gift is fun any time of the year.”

I could feel Delaney’s gaze pressing in on me, but I kept my focus on Grant, not wanting to betray how broken up I was feeling right then.

“What is it?” Delaney asked as Grant lifted the cover.

“No way!” Grant said, lifting the spyglass out of the box, and I heard Delaney’s gasp. “Dad, look.”

Delaney’s eyes were wide, and he looked stunned. “That was really awesome of you.”

I shrugged. “I came across another one from the same era, and I knew the perfect person who had to have it.”

“Thanks so much,” Grant said, studying it closely before carefully placing it back in the box. “I know exactly where I’m gonna put it in my room.”

When I walked them to the door, my feet felt heavy, and I wished they could stay for longer, even though I had plenty of work to get back to.

“See you at group?” Delaney asked in a hopeful tone.

“Yep, unless I get busy.” I didn’t tell him I would try my best because it might end up being one of my only links to him.

“Okay.” He frowned. “Well, thanks again. For everything.”

It felt like a goodbye or the closing of a chapter, and I had trouble breathing. “Yeah, of course. You too.”

He held my gaze for one more second, then followed Grant to the car.

Just as I was heading to the back room, the door flew open, and in walked Grant, a little out of breath.

“Everything okay?”

“Since we’re giving early gifts,” he said, handing me a large envelope, “my dad said it was okay.”

My pulse was battering in my ears as I opened the envelope and pulled out one of the photos from his day in the park. He was leaning against a tree with a radiant smile.

“You came through for me, Abe.” I felt stinging behind my eyes. “I love it. Thank you.”

And then Grant was throwing his arms around me and pulling me in, which really got me choked up. “Thanks again for my spyglass. Will you be hanging out with us anytime soon?”

“Sure I will,” I said around the boulder in my throat. “Especially when things die down around here.”

“Okay, good.” He pulled away, then looked over his shoulder to where their car was parked. “Because Dad’s been sort of mopey the last few days.”

My chest ached. “Maybe it’s because of Ruby’s accident.”

“I think it’s more than that.” He bit his lip as if measuring his words. “Your friendship means a lot to him.”

When Grant’s eyes met mine, it was as if he saw right through me.

“It means a lot to me too. Just like your friends mean to you?” I asked.

“Yeah, like that.” He flushed bright pink and looked away. “Well, see you.”

I stayed at the door as they pulled away from the curb, feeling overly sentimental. Or maybe like I was grieving all over again, but this time something different.

27

Delaney

When my cell rang Sunday morning, I was surprised to see it was a call from Tristan.