But to Gia's dismay, Ricardo called her early the next morning to tell her he'd picked up some kind of flu bug that had him flat on his back. "I spoke to Jupiter and he'll cover me for the rest of the weekend, but he's not sure he can get out here until about seven this evening. Can you stay until then?" He sounded absolutely miserable, and because Ricardo was never sick, Gia didn't have the heart to tell him about her own woes.
When she informed her grandmother about Ricardo's predicament, Gran waved her off with a reassuring smile. "I already spoke to your grandfather this morning, and I believe he's doing just fine." She chuckled softly, and Gia was relieved to see that although Gran looked tired, she also seemed more at ease than she had last night. "He asked me to bring him his own clothes, his own pillow, and his house shoes if he was going to endure another night in the clinker. His word, not mine," she added.
Jupiter called just after five to let her know he was on his way. Gia was taking a short break—her first all day—and they chatted a few minutes about how his week had gone. When he asked her about her own, she hesitated only briefly before telling him about her grandfather's injury.
"Does Ricardo know about your grandfather? He said nothing to me. I could have come earlier, Gia," he said adamantly.
"No, I didn't tell him," she admitted. "He sounded awful. Are you going to check on him before you come here?"
"No, no. I cannot get sick," Jupiter said. "My uncle promised me he is resting. His neighbor brought him soup, he said." He chuckled. "His neighbor likes to look after Ricardo."
Gia's eyebrows rose in question. "Really? Is this neighbor by any chance a woman?"
"A very persistent woman," he attested. "He is in good hands, I assure you."
Gia thought Jupiter might mean that literally.
"I will get there as quickly as I can, okay?"
Jupiter arrived about fifteen minutes before seven, sweeping into the cafe with his air of international appeal and ridiculous self confidence. Gia couldn't help but smile at him from where she stood on the other side of the counter, and he, in turn, had eyes only for her.
"Gia. I am here now." He came around the end of the counter toward her and reached out to cup her face in his hands, his palms cool against her suddenly flushed cheeks. "Are you all right?" He dipped his head and gazed directly into her eyes.
"I'm fine," she assured him, wrapping her fingers around his wrists and pulling his hands away from her face. She wouldn't have minded his single-minded attention so much, except that the whole place had gone quiet as the customers watched the scene play out.
"How is your grandfather? Have you spoken to him? And your grandmother?"
"Everyone is doing well, all things considered," she said. Turning to Brad who was stocking pastries nearby, she said, "Can you take over my register?" When he nodded, she headed back to the break room to gather her things. She knew Jupiter would follow her.
"Thank you so much for coming, Jupiter," Gia said as she pulled from her locker the denim jacket she'd stashed there when she'd arrived that morning. He stepped forward and took it, holding it for her while she slipped her arms into the sleeves. "I hope you didn't leave your aunt high and dry for tonight." She would feel terrible if she'd made things more difficult than they already were for him and his family.
"No, no. It worked out well. My aunt is taking the children to their grandparents’ home in San Diego for the weekend, so I am free to help Ricardo until Monday."
Gia was greatly relieved. "Well, thank you all the same."
"It is no trouble. Now you must go to your grandparents and give them my best regards, okay?" He cupped her chin in one hand and lifted her face so their eyes met. "I forbid you to think of Ricardo's again for the rest of the weekend." Then he winked at her. "But you may think about me all you want."
Gia smirked and then nodded. "Of course," she said. For a moment, his gaze dropped to her mouth, and she wondered—surely, he wouldn't—if he was going to kiss her. Then he surprised her by stepping back and gesturing toward the door. "I will walk you to your car, okay?"
Once she was settled in her front seat and Jupiter had closed the car door for her, a wave of fatigue washed over her. She leaned her head back against the headrest and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before she stuck her keys in the ignition. She'd slept poorly the night before, partly because she'd been attentive of her grandmother's restlessness. Around two in the morning, Gia had gotten up to use the bathroom and had found Gran in the dark kitchen, standing at the sink and peering out the window at the back yard. It occurred to Gia that her grandmother must have seen Gramps go down, too. By the time Gia had made it to his side, Granny G had already been hurrying out the back door.
Gia had made them both a cup of tea, and then crawled into the big bed beside her grandmother, her head resting on her grandfather's pillow. It smelled like him, so familiar and unchanging, like old man aftershave and decades of life experience. Gia breathed it in and reached over to take Granny G's hand beneath the covers, acutely aware of how fragile it seemed, how in the dark, she no longer recognized her grandmother's hand in hers. She lifted a silent prayer for them all; healing for Gramps, peace for Gran, sleep for them all.
She'd eaten a sandwich at Ricardo's, so she headed straight to the hospital. She was half afraid the sight of her own bed would lure her in if she stopped by the house first. Gramps' room was full, not just with family members—Tim and Ren were there with all five of their kids—but also visiting was the pastor and his wife from their church, as well as their neighbor from across the street, Mrs. Sherwood.
Renata took one look at her and in a tone that brooked no argument, she said, "Half an hour for you, missy, then you're going straight home to bed."
Like a good girl, Gia didn't argue. She did stay a little longer than half an hour, but that was only because she fell asleep in her chair and Ren had been out walking the corridors with a fussy baby and had lost track of time.
The house was quiet when she got home and it occurred to her that she hadn't heard from Ricky all day. She dug her phone out of her bag and groaned when she saw the unresponsive screen. In all the hullabaloo the night before, she'd forgotten to charge it. She plugged it in and jumped in the shower; she'd call him as soon as she got out.
Sure enough, Ricky had tried to contact her several times throughout the day. She hurried into her comfortable old flannel pajamas and flopped back on her bed before dialing Ricky's number.
"Gia!" He answered after the first ring. "Is everything okay?"
She felt awful for making him worry. "I'm sorry I didn't call you earlier. My phone died, and I had to work late because Ricardo got really sick, and then I fell asleep at the hospital so Ren sent me home. But everything is fine, though, I promise."
"Aw, man, Gia. Don't apologize. I was just worried, but I'm glad you're okay." He hesitated, and then in a voice that sounded a little unsure, he added, "I'm pulling up outside your house."
"Oh." Gia sat up and ran a hand through her hair. "Oh," she said again.
"When I hadn't heard from you, I finally just drove to the hospital. Your grandma sent me to check on you since you weren't answering her calls either."
Gia groaned. "That's all she needs, to worry about me, too. I'd better call her." She pushed off the bed and crossed to her dresser to look at herself in the mirror. "Want to come in?" she asked into the phone, frowning at her reflection. There were shadows under her eyes and her flannels were ancient—she and Juliette had bought matching puppy pajamas years ago for one of their movie marathon sleepovers—and her hair was still wet, but at least she smelled good.
"Sure."
While she dialed her grandmother's phone, she padded down the hall and through the living room, into the entryway and to the front door, feeling her weariness in her bones. She pulled it open just as Granny G picked up. Waving Ricky inside, she greeted her grandmother and apologized for her dead phone. "Ricky just got here," she said in response to Gran's question. "Yeah, maybe we'll watch a movie or something until you get home." She glanced over at Ricky, her eyebrows raised in question.
"That's fine." Ricky nodded. "I can hang out."
She hung up and turned toward the kitchen, expecting Ricky to join her. But instead, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her up short.
"Hey," he said, his voice gentle, husky. "Come here." He pulled her toward him, drawing her into his arms. Sliding her hands around his waist, she sagged against him, resting her head on his shoulder, her nose pressed into his neck, the curve of his collarbone against her cheek.
"I don't know how much longer my legs will hold me up," she murmured. "Will you catch me if they give out?"
"Yes," he said, his arms tightening around her. "I'll always catch you. It's what I do best."
She pondered that a moment, unsure whether she should be offended or not. She leaned her head back to look up at him. "Always? Do I ask too much of you, Ricky? I mean, do I—do I take you for granted?"
For a long moment, he just looked at her, but in his eyes she saw his answer before he spoke. In a whisper, he said, "You don't ask enough of me, Gia."
And then he kissed her.