ditto
“Are you hungry?” Charles put his phone away too. “We could put our things down and go get some lunch before we settle in.”
“I could totally eat. Also, I have grapes and cheddar, just in case you get peckish.” He was good at dealing with peckish folks. Roper was a turd when he was hangry.
Charles seemed pleased and gave him a kind smile. “Oh, I’d love a snack. What a great idea. We still have the bridge traffic to get through.”
“I have extra sharp and just plain old sharp, plus red and green grapes.” He was an extra-sharp cheddar guy, himself.
He pulled out the Tupperware containers with the food, opening them up, easy peasy.
“Extra sharp please, though honestly, it’s cheese. I’m afraid I have little willpower.” And as if to prove it, Charles reached right in and took two slices. “I think I’m more of a green grape person, though red grapes are sweeter. I suppose it’s good that I don’t have to choose.”
“There you go. I just go for no seeds. Grape seeds are no fun at all.” They got in his teeth.
“Seedless is preferable,” Charles agreed. They both reached into the little tub of grapes at the same time and their fingers tangled. Charles chuckled but didn’t yank his hand away. “Terribly sorry.”
He chuckled. “You first. It’s only fair.”
Charles was the boss, after all, and they were his grapes.
“Green for me, then.” Charles plucked a couple out of the container and popped them in his mouth. “Mm. Is there a better combination than grapes and cheese?”
“Olives and cheese.” That was his absolute favorite. “I do love me some olives.”
“Mm. Also good. Nice and salty.” Charles reached for a bottle of water and opened it, then took a big gulp.
“Yeah. I’ll add olives next time. They can be polarizing.”
Charles chuckled. “Such a diplomatic way of putting it.”
“That’s me. Diplomats R us.” He tickled himself, honest to God. “So are you a green or a black olive guy?”
“Black on pizza, green as a snack. Is there any other way?” Charles winked at him. “I’m not a pimento fan, however.”
“No? I love pimento cheese.” And green olive and pepperoni pizza was his absolute favorite.
“You may have all of my pimentos. Pimento? What’s the plural? I have no idea.”
“Pimentos, I guess. Although I’ve heard folks pronounce them pim-i-entos.”
“Fancy.” Charles peered out the window. “Are we over the bridge already, Alan?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll have you home in a few minutes.”
“You’re a good distraction, Ryder. Or maybe it’s the cheese.”
“Maybe it’s the grapes,” he teased. “It could happen.”
Charles just rolled his eyes.
5
Charles finished checking his emails and got up from his desk to stretch his legs. He often felt stiff after the drive from Lake George, but he’d taken Ryder on a walk around his neighborhood after lunch, which had been a good stretch of the legs, and he was feeling great.
Ryder seemed to enjoy his favorite local pizza establishment, and it was a gorgeous fall day with plenty of sunshine, so he’d drawn out his little tour to include a few of the places Ryder might have reason to visit—the grocery, the pharmacy, his favorite flower shop, the bagel shop, his dry cleaner. Unlike at the lake where everything they needed was a drive, here in the city all of those things were within easy walking distance.
Ryder appreciated the walk and even took notes in his phone as he often did when he wanted to remember something. Charles understood that his attention was simply so Ryder could do his job well, but it was comforting to feel like the things he cared about were important to someone again. Even if that someone was a paid staff member.