City Sidewalks by Julia M. Toto

Author:Julia M. Toto [Toto, Julia M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christian Fiction
ISBN: 9781611163483
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

15

Christina curled against the passenger door of the SUV. The ride downtown was quiet.

They’d held each other in her kitchen and cried together until no more tears could fall. Now, an awkward silence shrouded them both.

“You OK?” he asked at last, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry I lost it on you.”

“Don’t be sorry. Its good you can talk about it.”

“You were always easy to talk to.”

“You were easy to listen to.” She turned and watched the billboards flash by. Holding him again had revived emotions she thought she’d smothered long ago. Suddenly, she realized an ember still burned, and she didn’t know how to put it out.

She breathed a silent prayer for wisdom, courage, and strength to do the right thing. Then she prayed for Rudy to be comforted in his mourning.

They’d shared so much in the five summers they’d spent together at Tenkiller. Broken arms, and broken hearts.

He’d taught her how to drive.

She’d taught him how to play Texas Hold ’em.

They’d shared their first kiss.

But, the kind of grief Rudy had demonstrated for his spouse wasn’t something she understood. Her marriage to Roger had been one of convenience; another career move. When he’d passed, she grieved for her children’s loss, nothing more. What would it have been like to have loved him so deeply that it hurt so badly to lose him?

“Hey.” Rudy squeezed her hand. “You sleeping?”

“No. Sorry, did you say something?”

“Where you headed downtown?”

She read the green overhead sign and got her bearings once again. “This exit is fine.”

He steered the SUV onto the exit ramp. “Mind telling me what you’re working on?”

“Marketing for a new high rise corporate campus. Business suites, parking garage, fitness center, child care, clinic.”

“Nice. Glad to see downtown thriving. Seems we have a surplus of foreclosed buildings, though. Be good to see more of the old places renovated.”

Christina pushed on the dashboard as he rolled to a stop at the light. “Sometimes, it’s easier to level an old building than to try and save it.”

“Maybe.” He held her gaze, and his voice was low. “But some relics are worth saving.”

She felt her chest tighten, and she swallowed hard. “That next block is where I’m headed. I’ll just hop out and then meet you back here in say…” She looked at her watch. “Half an hour?”

“I don’t mind waiting. My stop’s just around the corner, anyway.”

“You’ll never find a parking space down here. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’ve got to walk around a bit, anyway.” She looked at the dismal sky.

It was early afternoon, but already shadows fell across the tall buildings, making it look more like dusk.

“I have to figure out the best way to get these shots with no sunlight.”

Rudy thumped the steering wheel. “Tell you what. I know somewhere we can park. Let’s drop this chili off first, and I’ll walk with you, if you don’t mind.”

C.J. fidgeted with her camera. “I guess that’ll work.”

Rudy circled the block, pulled into an alley that traversed a row of buildings, and then tucked into a parking lot behind an old stone building.

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