Michonne was unusually quiet as I drove. She didn't take my hand either and I was too nervous to make a move to take hers. I kept my arm on the armrest just in case she decided that she would like to but it didn't happen.
"Are we okay?" I asked Michonne who was sitting on the passenger side of my Bentley.
"Why wouldn't we be?"
"Well you are very quiet for starters."
"I have a lot on my mind." Michonne revealed the reason for her standoffish behavior.
"Like?"
"How can I repay you for all this...I never said thank you for not being upset that I took this car to the testing site...How desperately I need to have passed this Bar Exam so I can get my life started. I need to find a place for the kids to call home and based on the school they are in I would hate to uproot them."
"I wouldn't like that and I am certain they wouldn't like being taken out of school for no reason other than you wanting to take them out. Especially, Noah. He has friends now. Abby has Sam to annoy her and Andre is just happy to be alive and going to school is just cherries on top of his sundae. Yeah, I would say we all would hate for you to do that."
"Wow..."
"Wow what?"
"There was a lot of passion there."
"Why wouldn't there be?" I cut my eye at her as I continued, "You are talking about taking the kids and starting your life as if you your life can't start now or that it hasn't started."
I almost missed the turn for the clothing boutique. Everything that she revealed seemed like it came out of left field. Now, I couldn't relax. Anxiety was starting to set in and I didn't have that since Lori.
"Do you expect for us to live with you forever?"
"No. I expect the kids to grow up and go to college and start their lives how ever they see fit and it doesn't bring any shame to you and Granny Mabel. I expect Granny Mabel to be with us for another twenty or thirty years and if not in the physical form we will certainly be haunted by her sitting at the kitchen table or in the living room watching animal planet."
Her laughter warmed my heart. I was no longer on the road to an anxiety attack. She took my hand and squeezed and I squeezed hers right back.
We walked into the boutique hand in hand. I didn't want to let go and I was glad that she didn't.
Immediately the store manager recognized me and hurried over as Michonne was having sticker shock on the gowns that were available.
"Mr. Grimes. It's been a long time where is your lovely wife Lori?" The manager took a look at our hand holding and instantly became embarrassed.
Michonne took her hand out of mine and rubbed my arm, "You have to break the news to her, I will be over there in the back looking for the clearance rack." Michonne walked away.
When Michonne was no longer in ear shot the manager apologized profusely that she may have unwittingly exposed me somehow some way. It was weird to have to put someone else at ease, "I am not having an affair. Lori died in a car crash over six months ago just about. I want my lady friend over there who thinks she may find discounted prices to come back to the front of the store with your guidance of course and help her find what ever it is she wants to wear at tomorrows fund raiser event. I want her to get nothing less than first class service from you while I sit over here. Here's my black card."
"My condolences Mr. Grimes. How many dresses Mr. Grimes, in general?"
"As many as she dare to want from this store. You have my card."