The Love List by Jean Joachim Page A

do?"
    Carrie continued down the stairs,
intentionally putting her foot down hard on each step to make
noise, alerting Emma and Fran of her arrival. When she reached the
bottom, the two women standing by the front door had turned to face
her. Emma had her coat over her arm.
    "I'd like to apologize to Grey," Emma said,
moving toward the stairs.
    Carrie stepped in front of her, blocking her
way. "Grey's sleeping, Emma. He's not to be disturbed."
    Emma backed away and turned her gaze to the
floor.
    "I…I…I'm sorry, Carrie. I didn't mean to harm
Grey."
    Carrie stood silently, frowning at Emma.
    I should forgive her. It would be the
honorable thing to do. Don't feel like it.
    Colin sauntered in from the living room.
"Emma, don't push it. I'm sure in time, Grey and Carrie will
forgive you. Maybe the best thing would be to give them some
time…some space," he said.
    Emma looked at him and nodded. She reached
out to touch Carrie's arm. Carrie flinched and stepped back.
    "You saved Grey…that's…that's fantastic."
Emma raised her gaze to Carrie's face.
    Carrie nodded and forced a tight, smile on
her face. Emma smiled back and put her coat on while Colin held it
for her.
    "Good bye, dear," Fran said, opening the
door.
    As Emma walked out, Colin put his hands on
Carrie's shoulders and turned her toward the living room.
    "I think brandy is in order," he said,
steering her toward the sofa in front of the fire.
    Before she could sit down, Colin shoved a
brandy glass in her hand and Jenna hugged her, then Barbara, too.
Carrie wasn't surprised by hugs from Grey's sisters but the bear
hug from John caught her off guard. When she sensed a slight tremor
go through him as a smidgeon of bottled up emotion appeared to
break through his defenses, her eyes watered. Blinking furiously
didn't help as a few tears escaped down her cheeks. When she broke
from him, Carrie wiped her face with her palm and looked up to see
his eyes bright with unshed tears. He turned away as she cast him a
questioning glance and cocked an eyebrow.
    "Got kind of used to having Grey around.
Thanks, Carrie," John muttered before taking his seat again in a
roomy wingchair.
    Carrie nodded not trusting her voice as
emotion raced through her body. She plopped down on the sofa,
fatigue sapping her strength. Colin leaned over and poured a
healthy dose of good brandy into her snifter.
    "Here's to Carrie!" Colin said, raising his
glass.
    Everyone joined in. After the brandy was
finished, the doorbell rang. It was four o'clock and Gavin, Jason,
the Deputy Sheriff, and a few other friends were at the door. It
was time for the backyard touch football game.
    Colin showed everyone in and told them about
the near-disaster with Grey and the lake. At twenty-nine years old
and healthy, Colin bounced back quickly after the ordeal. The guys
went out in the backyard while John dug the football out of the
back coat closet.
    Carrie went upstairs, took off her jeans and
shoes and snuggled into bed next to Grey. Note to my love list,
never leave lover alone with his ex-girlfriend, even for five
minutes. He threw his arm around her in his sleep. She rolled
on her side and backed up against him, gave a sigh and fell
asleep.

Chapter Eight
     
    It was almost seven o'clock in the evening on
Christmas Day when Carrie and Grey woke up. The room was dark and
Carrie was disoriented for a moment.
    "Carrie?" The fuzziness of sleep thickened
his speech.
    "Grey? Are you all right?" Carrie lifted her
head off the pillow.
    "Of course. Sleepy, that's all."
    He sat up and switched on the small lamp on
the nightstand next to his side of the bed. He had ripped the
gloves off his hands while he slept and the hat had fallen to the
floor. Carrie shielded her eyes from the glare with her hand. He
got out of bed, feeling a rush of cold through his clothes and
opened the door. The scent of ham, cauliflower and cheese casserole
wafted up from the kitchen and Carrie heard Grey's stomach rumble.
Hotter air floated up from