Besides me, Georgie didn’t have anyone in his life who wasn’t compensated for their time and attention. I knew Sophia cared about him. Darren, too. But it sure was nice to stand here in the cold and hear what a good kid he was from someone who wasn’t paid to think so.
I nodded because I couldn’t speak.
In the last eight months, I’d been thrust into this role of guardian, afraid of not being enough, of doing everything wrong. For the first time, it felt like I might have done something right.
Joan probably couldn’t understand all the feelings practically bowling me over right now, but she must have gathered some of it because she took her hand out of her pocket and squeezed my forearm.
“Besides,” she said, some mischief entering her expression. “You’re all the trouble I can handle.”
Grateful for the reprieve, I grinned down at my shoes. My emotions loosened their grip enough for me to glance up and say, “So, you think you can handle me?”
Joan rolled her eyes and whacked me on the shoulder. “We’re running three miles Saturday, and you’re going to wish you hadn’t just said that.”
I laughed, relieved and grateful that she wanted to see me again—even if it was three days away.
Shaking her head, Joan resumed walking. I started to follow, but she called back, “I know your car is parked around the corner, you liar. I’ll see you Saturday.”
I made sure to raise my voice so she could hear me. “I can’t wait!”
seven
JOAN
It was Saturday, and we were nearly done with our run.
Ian was breathing hard, cheeks flushed, his forehead and neck dotted with perspiration.
He’d seemed excited to get back to our workouts, or, at least, it had appeared that way the other night at Mattie B’s. But looking at him now, I thought he might be regretting his decision to join me this morning.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about seeing Dorian Masters at my local watering hole, playing pool with the regulars, and buying a round for the bar. He’d fit right in with my family and friends. Even grumpy Tucker Caswell had been high-fiving the movie star after a game of eight ball.
I’d expected him to turn on that celebrity charm, but nothing about him had seemed faked or rehearsed on Wednesday night. In fact, there were a couple of moments when Ian had looked a little nervous and unsure of himself. I didn’t know what to think about that or the fact that I’d overheard him asking Mercer wedding questions that seemed genuine. And he’d soothed Mac’s nervousness and helped put her at ease by letting her win at darts. Then the leafer discussion had caused him such distress that I’d had to laugh.
Of course, he was just a visitor here—a long-term leafer but temporary just the same. My brother may have let Ian in on our town secret, but that didn’t change anything. Not really. The man was playing pretend, and he didn’t need to get those lines crossed. His part in the film might be that of a Western North Carolina native, but all he was doing was getting experience for his role.
“How much farther?” Ian wheezed.
I checked my watch. “Quarter of a mile. Let’s finish strong. You’ve got this.”
He groaned but stayed in step beside me. I was almost up to my usual pace, and he was hanging in there. I was proud of him. We had some time before the Turkey Trot, and Mr. Muscles over there might just make it.
George had asked me about the 5K road race when he’d visited on Thursday afternoon. But he’d been immediately disappointed when he found out that Ian and I would not, in fact, be running alongside actual turkeys. That had made me laugh.
I’d laughed a lot during George’s visit. He’s stayed for a couple of hours and kept me company.
I’d also met Sophia, his very young, very pretty live-in nanny/tutor/babysitter person. She’d shown up with George in tow and passed me a Tupperware container full of Rice Krispie Treats that they’d made for me to say thank you.
Then the young woman had stayed the whole time, and that made me like her even more. It was good to be a little wary of strangers. George didn’t know me very well. Neither did Ian, for that matter. The fact that she was protective when she didn’t have to be provided a solid reference, in my book.
She was good with the kid, and he obviously adored her. They had an ease between them, inside jokes, and a back-and-forth that was familiar. And I noticed a few friendship bracelets under Sophia’s sleeve, too. Something that had been missing from Ian’s.
But that wasn’t really any of my business.
Checking the distance again, I slowed our pace before saying, “Alright. Good job. Walk around for a minute to cool down before?—”
“Thank God.” Ian collapsed on his back and spread his arms out wide, breathing hard. “That was awful.”
Frowning, I came to stand over him. “You do know how far a 5K is, right?”
