Him & I

Rivers and Roads

Nothing is as it has been
And I miss your face like hell
And I guess it's just as well
But I miss your face like hell
Been talking 'bout the way things change
And my family lives in a different state
And if you don't know what to make of this
Then we will not relate
So if you don't know what to make of this
Then we will not relate
Rivers and roads
Rivers and roads
Rivers 'til I reach you
——Rivers and Roads, The Head and the Heart

September 4, 2018

As he had suspected, Grayson was headed back to Utah alone. He tried to remind himself that he was the one that had told Cait to help her father, but it was small comfort.

Cait had gone back to New York the previous evening, needing to be in the office that morning. She had a whole lot going on and also had to reschedule some things that she'd planned in Utah, although Phil was picking up some of the slack on her charity project for her.

They'd had a good time in Jacksonville. After spending time with his friends, Sunday had been church and family and that had been good too. They'd met with Grayson's pastor about the beach ceremony and then spent time with his extended family. And before Cait left on Monday, they'd spent time just with his parents and Tonan, all of them relaxing together and enjoying each other's company, knowing it would be awhile before Grayson was back in Jacksonville.  And Grayson had finished packing the last of the things that would be shipped from Jacksonville to Salt Lake City.

But then Cait had to leave and Grayson had to try not to show how disappointed he was. He'd told her that he was going to stay at the condo now, and he could tell that upset her a little. That she wanted to be there with him. But duty called.

Grayson looked out the window of the plane at the landscape below with a sigh.  He'd expected that he wouldn't be alone in Utah.  But at least for the time being, that was exactly what he was.

*****

She was going to have to find a job, because that was the reason that her family thought she'd moved to Salt Lake City.  So she wouldn't be able to ask for more money once she exhausted the graduation gifts and the money her parents had insisted she take when she'd announced her move. 

And it was going to be expensive to keep her hair done, to get manicures and pedicures and to buy expensive clothes and accessories.  But Grayson deserved someone who always looked her best.  There would be lots of cameras and attention on her once he finally came to his senses. 

She couldn't wait for that to happen.  And she was willing to give him a nudge if she needed to.

*****

Cait was moving from one meeting to the next and was trying to keep track of what she needed to say, or not say, in each. She felt like she'd put in a full day when Margaret appeared with a grilled chicken salad and a Diet Coke and insisted that she eat something.

"He might come in tomorrow for a couple of hours," Margaret told her. "It'll be Connor's first day of school and he said he'd try to stop by."

"When are they getting in today?" Cait frowned.

"Got in about an hour ago, but your father was going to meet with Connor's principal and teachers and then his soccer coach. And Joan was taking Connor to an appointment," Margaret rattled off.