Right Next Door by Debbie Macomber

Chinese meal she’d ever tasted. Jeff apparently thought so, too. The boy couldn’t seem to stop eating.
    It was while they were laughing over their fortune cookies that Robin heard bits and pieces of the conversation from the booth behind them.
    â€œI bet they’re celebrating something special,” an elderly gentleman remarked.
    â€œI think their little boy must have done well at the baseball game,” his wife said.
    Their little boy, Robin mused. The older couple dining directly behind them thought Cole and Jeff were father and son.
    Robin’s eyes flew to Cole, but if he had heard the comment he didn’t give any sign.
    â€œHis mother and father are certainly proud of him.”
    â€œIt’s such a delight to see these young people so happy. A family should spend time together.”
    A family. The three of them looked like a family.
    Once more Robin turned to Cole, but once more he seemed not to hear the comments. Or if he had, he ignored them.
    But Cole must have sensed her scrutiny because his gaze found hers just then. Their eyes lingered without a hint of the awkwardness Robin had felt so often before.
    Jeff chatted constantly on the ride home with Robin. Since she and Cole had both brought their cars, they drove home separately. They exchanged good-nights in the driveway and entered their own houses.
    Jeff had some homework to finish and Robin ran a loadof clothes through the washing machine. An hour later, after a little television and quick baths, they were both ready for bed. Robin tucked the blankets around Jeff’s shoulders, although he protested that he was much too old for her to do that. But he didn’t complain too loudly or too long.
    â€œNight, Jeff.”
    â€œNight, Mom. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
    â€œDon’t go all sentimental on me, okay?” she teased as she turned off his light. He seemed to fall asleep the instant she left the room. She went downstairs to secure the house for the night, then headed up to her own bedroom. Once upstairs, she paused in her son’s doorway and smiled gently. They’d both had quite a day.
    At about ten o’clock, she was sitting up in bed reading a mystery when the phone rang. She answered quickly, always anxious about late calls. “Hello.”
    â€œYou’re still awake.” It was Cole, and his voice affected her like a surge of electricity.
    â€œI…was reading,” she said.
    â€œIt suddenly occurred to me that we never had the chance to finish our conversation the other night.”
    â€œWhat conversation?” Robin asked.
    â€œThe one at the front door…that Jeff interrupted. Remind me to give that boy lessons in timing, by the way.”
    â€œI don’t even remember what we were talking about.” She settled back against the pillows, savoring the sound of his voice, enjoying the small intimacy of lying in bed, listening to him. Her eyes drifted shut.
    â€œAs I recall, you’d just said something about how it isn’t any of your business who I lunch with or spend my weekends with. I assume you think I’m with a woman.”
    Robin’s eyes shot open. “I can assure you, I don’t think anything of the sort.”
    â€œI guess I should explain about the weekends.”
    â€œNo. I mean, Cole, it really isn’t my business. It doesn’t matter. Really.”
    â€œI have some property north of here, about forty acres,” he said gently, despite her protests. “The land once belonged to my grandfather, and he willed it to me when he passed away a couple of years back. This house was part of the estate, as well. My father was born and raised here. I’ve been spending a lot of my free time remodeling the old farmhouse. Sometime in the future I might move out there.”
    â€œI see.” She didn’t want to think about Cole leaving the neighborhood, ever.
    â€œThe place still needs a lot of work, and