On the other hand, he said he'd call as soon as his work was done.

Being classified, he could only estimate it would take a week.

On the seventh day, Maggie grabbed up her purse and headed into town with the car Hiroshi had fixed for her just before he left.

The beautiful thing about waiting by the phone was that it could be done without sitting and actually waiting. God bless cell phones with range in small towns, she thought, moving up and down the various aisles looking for something to restock the kitchen of her brother's house with. Hiroshi had left plenty of things during his ten day stay, but they were just like everything else in her life; reminders of someone who used to be there but wasn't anymore.

She nearly jumped out of her boots when her phone rang, conveniently as she started getting hurt all over again. "Hello?"

"I hope you weren't waiting by the phone."

She smiled, her other hand reaching to her free ear to block out the shopping sounds around her. "That's the great thing about cell phones, Darlin'," she answered. "I didn't actually have to wait anywhere. I take it things wen't alright at work? And that is a horrendous echo in the phone lines I'm hearin'."

"That's one of three things. There's either someone around you using a cell phone, too much commotion around you from shoppers, or the intercom overhead is interfering with the call."

"I don't think anyone arou- wait a minute." She started to look around herself, looking for Hiroshi somewhere nearby. "I didn't tell you I was at the grocery store."

"Well then that rules out number two or three. Maybe number one?"

On a whim she turned around, hoping to find him, but finding an empty aisle instead. "Hint?"

"I'm staring at a box of Ramen noodles."

Her feet never moved her so fast and her body nearly knocked him over as she gave him the tightest hug she'd given anyone in a good long while. "Hi."

Hiroshi shut his phone and pulled her closer, amused that it was even possible with the bear hug grip she already had on him. "I promised I would be," he said softly. "I'm not sure how much time I have before another work call gets placed -"

"Then we'll make the best of it." It was a genuine smile that greeted him. "No sense wasting time wondering how much time there is, hm?"