Elaine came into town today to catch a movie with Ted. They have not had a conversation about their relationship, but both of them now consider themselves attached. In the past two weeks, they have fallen into something of a rhythm with one another. On days that Elaine works, she will text Ted before her shift and after she is done, and they will exchange some thoughts and humor. On days she does not work, she will call him, and they’ll talk sometimes for only a few minutes, sometimes for more than an hour. She comes over on weekdays, since weekends are usually Ted’s busiest days—they both were pleased to have a Friday night free.
I like the way they are together, but I admit that I am still ambivalent. They may be happy enough for now, but Ted still will occasionally text or email Cole, as well. He talks with him about Elaine sometimes, so it is not as if he is unfaithful to her, but a part of his spirit is still seeking connection to Cole. I think I have decided that if his relationship with Elaine becomes more absorbing for him, I will encourage him to slow down with Cole; until then, I do not want to burn any bridges, as the saying goes.
Harrington and Grace are both doing well. Brid assures me that as long as nothing changes with Grace’s condition, she will deliver normally and the baby will be healthy. If only Grace could have heard that reassurance. On a day when she was very worried, Con came over and they spent hours making a paper chain, with one link for every day until her delivery. Every link she snips off now feels like a victory.
Meanwhile Harrington has all the details worked out for his first job—he officially starts a week after Labor Day, just about a week and a half from now, but he is already making phone calls and looking at locations where he and Jared can set up an office. The job, which is different from anything he has done in the past few decades, makes him anxious, but he is putting his heart into it, and therefore I cannot believe anything but that he will succeed.
Shannon is settling in to her new home, her new job, and her new city. She is very pleased to have a bit of authority—there are two people who report to her, and while they are only interns, she very much enjoys bossing them around. I try to get her to be kind to them, and she is, most of the time.
The more interesting point, however, is that she has met someone. On her way to her apartment last night after a long day, she bumped into her upstairs neighbor, who was out on the steps smoking a cigarette.
She was about to say something sharp to him about tar and carcinogens and polluting the environment, but then she really noticed him and she stopped. “Hello,” she said, and her aura turned a rich red.
He looked her up and down and smiled. “Hey,” he said, flicking the cigarette butt away. “You my new neighbor?”
“I might be. Are you the one who stomps back and forth in the morning like you’re doing lunges?” Shannon kept smiling to let him know she forgave him this sin now that she knew what he looked like. He is an attractive young man, but what I found more interesting was that under an off-putting demeanor was a good heart that I could see clearly.
“You don’t know, maybe I was doing lunges,” he teased back. “Gotta keep those glutes tight.”
This was an invitation to look, and Shannon took it. “Then clearly you are doing God’s work,” she said.
He laughed. “I’m Dean,” he said, extending his hand.
“Shannon.” She held his hand for a bit longer than was necessary. “Maybe sometime you’d like to come by my place, and we could do some calisthenics.”
I did not understand that word, but it made Dean grin. “I’d like that. When would be a good time for you?”
She leaned close and murmured into his ear, “Surprise me.” Then she started up the stairs, her hips swinging in an invitation of her own. He took it, too.
I am encouraged by this, and I hope that I can use it to start again with Shannon. I do not yet know much about Dean, but perhaps I can work through him and get her to open her heart again. And if not, there will be another way. If there is anything I have learned from this woman, it is patience.