Grace (BWWM)

Chapter Two

"Joe!" I call.

It's been four months and I have not seen the man since that day I came home with him from the funeral. I drop things off at the door and when I come back later, they're always gone. So he's eating, that's good, but where is he? I knock on the door again, concerned. I leave voice messages, and he calls back late at night or early in the morning, when I'm asleep, so we always miss each other. This time, however, I'm staying until he comes to the door.

The kids are at school and today is my day off from work, so I have all the time in the world.

"This man better not—"

"Grace? What's going on?" I hear him ask, and I turn around to give him a piece of my mind. Does he understand how worried I was? He doesn't have anyone with him, and I was worried he'd be depressed and think about ending it all.

But when I turn, it's someone else I see. I blink in surprise, A very lean older man is walking to me with quick and easy steps. I simply stare, not sure who this is. His eyebrows go up and he raises his hands as if to let me know he's harmless. Things click slowly as I see familiar features, like his hair, which has a few grey streaks at the front, and those somewhat bushy, black eyebrows. I'm assuming that familiar voice came from him as well, but how did he change so much in so little time?

"Joe?" I question, unnerved by the sight that doesn't make sense.

"Yeah," His low voice confirms and now my eyebrows raise. I look him over repeatedly and he looks down at himself as well.

"I hit the gym,"

"Yeah . . . I can see that. You definitely lost a lot of weight," And that's an understatement.

"Always blunt, Grace, that's what I like about you," he says with a small chuckle, stopping in front of me. I don't laugh though, as I'm still trying to understand what I am seeing. He weighed over three hundred pounds before, and now he looks like he's maybe two hundred, max, and is almost lanky looking. I don't think he's even two hundred now. Joe is forty-eight, 14 years older than me, so this is an odd thing. He looks much younger now. His clean-shaven face that was much rounder before now reveals an angular jaw with stubble forming. I eye the facial hair, knowing full well he was always one to shave. And how did he lose that much weight so quickly? If he's still eating like he did, then that's not possible.

"I came to see you. You're never around when I come," I say.

"Ah yeah, I've been busy lately, so that's why. I was actually just heading to the gym. I just stopped by quick to pick something up before I head there. Then I go to work later today,"

"How long have you been going to the gym?" I've never even heard the word "'gym" come out of his mouth before now. He has his hand in one pocket and the other holds a key. His eyebrows lift before coming back down and he has a slight amused smile.

"I didn't know I was supposed to report back to you," he jokes, but his words are a little tense. It's then that I notice shadows under his eyes and how he almost looks sickly with his weight loss.

"How long?" I repeat, though I don't like to do so. He gives me a look but answers.

"Four months. I signed up four months ago,"

"Where were you coming from now?" I ask, and now his jaw ticks once and his brow furrows.

"What's it to you?" he asks. He's not one to get upset quickly, so it's evident that something is wrong.

"Where?" I repeat.

"Jogging. Are you going to twist my arm for that?" he asks, clearly annoyed. I frown, feeling myself get annoyed by his attitude.