Mistletoe and Magnolia: A Magnolia Bloom Novel Book 2 by Paula Adler

Author:Paula Adler [Adler, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781951282042
Publisher: Dragon Dreams Press, LLC
Published: 2020-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

17

Kiki

The thing about being insanely busy is time passes without me really noticing. I accept that might not be good for everyone, but it is for me. My almost daily run with Harville has become sacred to me. So much so I’ve barely gotten over to the garage and worked on my project car languishing in the bay. Today, the morning is dark and quiet, the temperature crisp and cool, the air sweet and clean as I take deep breaths and stretch. These rare few weeks of a Texas autumn are precious, as priceless as the time I spend with him.

And as fleeting. I don’t like the days ticking by, the evil watchman in my mind constantly tapping against the glass as if to say, Time’s up. The aching sadness trying to rise promises me one little hit would take the edge off, make this ache go away.

Which is a giant warning klaxon. I’ve put in extra meetings to fight the siren song and sent texts to Traycee, hoping she’d go with me. She’s gone along a couple of times, but bowed out the rest. It’s been an exercise in staying in my own recovery lane to not hover over her. I call, check in, either drive or ride shotgun to meetings she’s willing to attend, but otherwise stay out of her business.

I worry about her.

I share my concerns with Harville as we stretch on our oh dark thirty Halloween run. Turns out, one, small-town pastors are crazy-busy, and two, the more modern branch of the American Presbyterians are not categorically opposed to Halloween.

Who knew?

St. Andrew’s is having a Fall Festival Craft Show and Celebration today to serve the members of the congregation who do have an objection to the classic American party, and I admire Harville’s nonjudgmental way of serving all the members of his congregation. He plans to join me in the Fun Run later this afternoon and spend the evening at the castle for the events planned there.

I wish my pulse wasn’t so giddy at the prospect. There’s been safety in the brevity of our regular time spent together. Just enough time to enrich a friendship, but not let myself get too invested. I haven’t dared. We either run or work out most mornings, stop by any of the various eateries in town for a quick coffee or breakfast, catch up on what’s happening at the castle or the church, then go on about our days.

It’s been utterly lovely to feel seen. To be heard.

“What’s up?” Harville folds his jacket with the neatness I’ve come to expect from him, another of his facets I appreciate. “You’re a thousand miles away.”

“I’m worried about Traycee and Bethanie. Then I start to panic with all I have to do before this evening. I’ve been here three months, and it feels like twenty seconds one day and ten years the next. Fina is losing her mind, because even though she’s about to get Mina and CT off on their pre-wedding trip, she’s obsessing about the dude arriving from Denmark.

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