of the paperwork. We should
probably hit the highway soon.
Was good meeting you, Kyle.
I don’t want to leave, but I know
I have to go. I give Kyle a long,
sweet kiss. “I wish I could stay, but …”
No. Go on. We’ll talk when you get
back…. He pauses there. Neither
of us knows when or where I’ll get
back to. Merry Christmas. I love you.
ONE LAST KISS
And without looking back,
I go to find Grandpa.
He’s at the nurses’ station,
where he has dropped a signed
copy of Grandma Marie’s latest
book for Officer Strohmeyer
to come pick up later. I watch
Grandpa Scott totally schmooze
a plus-size nurse with orange
hair. I’m sure we can find
another copy for you. Write
down your address and I’ll make
sure you get one. I can pull
strings with the author. He winks,
turns to me. Ready to go?
Before I know it, we’re out
the door and in Grandpa’s new
Lexus SUV, cruising toward Christmas
dinner, me fiddling with the seat