“That couldn’t have waited?”
“I just wanted you to know.” He stalked out, leaving me wondering what in the world had just happened.
When I returned to the kitchen, both Maureen and Ms. Wynona were gone and all of our dirty dishes were put away.
It was a warm day, so I grabbed a book from the shelf in the main living area and went outside to the front porch. A few minutes later, I saw Smoke stalking away from the barn.
Maybe I dreamed about him being angry because that’s the way he was most of the time. But why would I be with someone like that?
“Always a war waging inside that man,” murmured Ms. Wynona, startling me.
“Why do you suppose that is?” I asked when she sat in the chair beside me.
“He can’t stay still long enough to see the life he desires is right in front of him.”
“How do you see that life?”
She reached over and put her hand on mine. “He loves this ranch with all of his heart, yet when he’s here, it doesn’t feel like home to him.”
“Why not?”
“You haven’t been here with him until now.”
I laughed. “I don’t remember much about my life or about our relationship, but the more I’m around him, the more I wonder if we were happy. It doesn’t seem like we were.”
“You’re good for him.” She squeezed my hand before getting up to go back inside.
Was I? More importantly, was he good for me?
* * *
I didn’t see Smoke at dinner and didn’t know what time he’d finally come in. I’d asked Maureen to help me move my things to a different bedroom and then, around eight, told her I felt another headache coming on.
The pain medicine she gave me made me drowsy enough that I slept through the night. When I woke, I could see the sun coming up on the horizon.
After unhooking the IV and closing the port the way Maureen had shown me, I took a quick shower and dressed. I didn’t have many clothes, and the ones I had, I had no idea where they’d come from.
When I came out of the bedroom, Smoke was standing in the hallway.
“Hello.”
“You should pack an overnight bag.”
“Okay.” I was back in the bedroom and about to ask if he had a bag I could use when he wheeled one in. “That looks like it would hold more than a night’s worth.”
“You may have to stay longer.”
He said “you,” not “we.” Should I point that out, or would it be best for me to hold my tongue? Given his apparent foul mood, I opted for the latter.
* * *
Smoke drove Maureen and me into Asheville and walked us into the medical center for my first appointment.
“I’ll check back in later,” he said when we reached the door of the doctor’s office.
“Wait.” I took Smoke’s hand and led him away from where Maureen stood. “You’re leaving?”
“Did you want me to go in with you?”