I’m out.”
“Why don’t I go with you? We can take my car. We can have a quick lunch and then I’ll help you get the groceries.”
She blinked. “You’re offering to go grocery shopping with me?”
He laughed quizzically. “Why do you look so startled? How do you think I’ve gotten food for myself during the past decade that I’ve lived on my own? The grocery fairies don’t visit this area, as far as I know.”
“I just assumed a busy surgeon would pay someone to do that for him.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Until a couple of months ago I’ve been a student or a resident. My extra cash has been going toward paying off student loans. I do my own cleaning, my own cooking—when I bother—and my own shopping.”
“I’m sure you’d like to relax after working this morning. Just let me know anything you need, and I’d be happy to get it for you.”
“If you’d rather I stay here …”
Something about his expression reminded her very much of Waldo’s please-play-with-me face. She found herself just as unable to resist with Mitch. After all, she rationalized, he had lost his home. She supposed he was feeling at loose ends today, maybe in need of distraction, even if it was for fast food and grocery shopping.
“You’re welcome to come along,” she said lightly, tucking her bag beneath her arm. “That way you’ll be sure to get exactly what you like.”
He smiled. “Sounds good to me.”
Her steps faltered a little toward the doorway, but she lifted her chin and kept moving. It was too late to back out now.
They had lunch at a bakery-café not far from the supermarket where Jacqui usually shopped. Mitch had a turkey panini with chips and a pickle spear; Jacqui ordered half a veggie sandwich and a cup of vegetarian black-bean soup.
Glancing at her plate, he cocked his head in curiosity. “Are you a vegetarian? I noticed you skipped the bacon at breakfast.”
She shrugged lightly. “I’m not a true vegetarian. I like fish and chicken, occasionally, but I simply prefer veggies and fruits.”
“I like veggies and fruits myself. If you prefer cooking vegetarian, that’s perfectly fine with me.”
“I have no problems cooking meat. Your brother-in-law is most definitely a carnivore.”
Laughing, Mitch reached for his water glass. “Well, he is a lawyer.”
She smiled wryly. “Low blow.”
“Just kidding. I like the guy. I’m glad he and Alice are part of our family now.”
“The three of them make a lovely family.”
Jacqui had been a silent spectator during much of Seth’s courtship of Meagan. Meagan had initially interviewed Jacqui for the job as Seth’s housekeeper when his previous employee had fallen and broken her leg, but Meagan had been helping out only as Seth’s friendly neighbor at the time. From the relative anonymity of her job, Jacqui had observed during the next few months while Seth and Meagan had grown closer, then moved apart. The busy attorney and harried surgeon had been afraid their demanding careers and other obligations would be insurmountable obstacles between them. Jacqui suspected they had worried as much about hurting Alice as about having their own hearts broken. But love had overcome their fears, and they had become engaged at Christmas.
Jacqui had attended their small, tasteful wedding, and she didn’t think she’d ever seen a happier couple. Since that time they’d managed to arrange their hectic schedules to allow as much time as possible for each other and for Alice. Jacqui liked to think her capable behind-the-scenes management of their household had smoothed the way for them, at least to some extent.
“Hey, Mitch.”
In response to the greeting, both Mitch and Jacqui looked around. Three men in baggy shorts and T-shirts were passing the table on the way to the exit. All of them looked as though they knew Mitch, judging from the way they nodded to him.
“Hey, Nolan. Scott, Jackson. How’s it going?”
“Been shooting some hoops in J-ville,” one of the men answered for the group. “You playing football tomorrow?”
“Maybe. I’ll have to buy some shorts.”
“Heard about your house,” another man spoke up. “Sorry, bro. Anything you need?”
Looking as though he appreciated the offer, Mitch shook his head. “I’m good, Jackson. Thanks.”
“Let us know if you think of anything,” the first guy said again, looking at his companions as if for confirmation. They all nodded earnestly.
“Thanks, Scott. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Co-ed game,” Scott added with a flirtatious smile toward Jacqui. “Be sure to invite your friend.”
Mitch nodded. “I’ll do that.”
“Friends,” Mitch explained after the trio had moved on.
“Yeah, I got that.”
“Hadn’t even thought about losing all my sports gear yet.” He toyed with the remains of his sandwich, regret etched on his face.
“I’m sorry. It must be difficult to lose everything.”
“It’s daunting,” he agreed. “But I suppose it’s a chance to start fresh, too. Too much stuff just ties you down, you know?”
She wouldn’t know about that. She’d never really owned enough that she couldn’t throw everything in her car and move on a moment’s notice. But it wouldn’t always be that way, she promised herself. As soon as she could afford her own place, she couldn’t wait to buy furniture and decorations. Things that made a house a home.
“I guess clothes are my most immediate need,” Mitch mused. “I’m supposed to go on a trip to Peru in September, so I’ll need clothes and luggage for that.”
“Peru?” she asked, hearing a hint of excitement in his voice. He seemed to want her to ask him to explain, so she figured she might as well humor him for the sake of conversation.
He nodded. “Some friends are making a five-day Machu Picchu trek. Eight days total for the trip. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
“Then you should go.”
“The fire came at a bad time—not that there’s ever a good time for a fire—but now I’ve got to make living arrangements and replace some stuff. Still, I think I’ll be able to put it all aside and take a week off for the trip. To be honest, it’ll be my first time out of the country, other than a four-day senior trip to Cancun, Mexico, the summer after high school graduation. Been too busy studying and working to go anywhere since.”
She wondered if that trip would assuage the restlessness she sensed in him—or merely whet his appetite for more traveling. From what she’d seen, when a man got it in his head that he wanted to travel, there wasn’t much that could hold him back. “I hope you get to go and that you have a great time.”
“Thanks. Have you been out of the country?”
“My dad decided to move us to Canada once. I must have been about nine. We stayed in Vancouver for about six months, then moved to Seattle for a while.”
“So you didn’t grow up in Arkansas.”
“We moved a lot,” she said somewhat evasively. “We lived in Arkansas for a year when I was in junior high, and it was always one of my favorite places, so when I had the chance, I came back here.”
“Where else have you lived?”
He seemed to be making conversation rather than prying, but it still made her a little uncomfortable to