“That’s disappointing,” he said after a beat.
I clenched my jaw. Devlin was the closest thing I had to an older brother figure, so his words cut me. I was trying to protect the girl. I wasn’t the right person for this.
Devlin’s phone chirped, and he stood.
“Tell your friend the band director I’m sorry, but I can’t help him,” I said.
“Her.”
“Oh for three,” I said softly. “TellherI wished it were different, but I’m not the guy for the job.”
Devlin stood. “She’s not going to like this.”
I shrugged. If I were a different person on a different path, maybe I would be the right fit to help. But I wasn’t. And anyway, I was happy here. Or at least getting closer toward whatever that meant. Things were fine. Why would I want to introduce any complications into my sublime retired life?
“She can be...tenacious,” he added, scratching the back of his neck.
“She’ll find someone.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” And with that not at all ominous goodbye, baby and scary man walked down the porch and to his car.
“Devlin—” I wanted to shout after him that I once single-handedly stopped a fight at a show by diving into the crowd. I could handle a local band teacher, but the words got tangled on my tongue. I didn’t want to disappoint Devlin, but the time wasn’t right. “I’m sorry,” I said.
Devlin shook his head. “Okay,” he said with a wave. He didn’t glance back, his large frame having to duck under my archway covered in creeping trumpet vines.
I wiped my forehead, feeling a chill despite the intense heat.
“Pfft,” I said to myself. “What is the worst she could do?”
CHAPTER 3
MARI
The silence in my apartment was deafening. The uneaten food and presents for my niece and nephew sat mocking me.
At first, I was filled with the numbness at being let down once again. Then, the self-pity that maybe it had been my fault for having any expectations. Then, the guilt of expecting busy people to bend to my will. Finally, came the pain in my chest that felt like a growing chasm that would swallow me alive. I did not care for that feeling. Nope,nope. The best thing was to focus on something else.
Like pie.
I grabbed a fork and a whole pie and wandered to my bedroom. I huddled into my blankets, prepared to wallow away the hours with calories and bad TV. The long, eventless weekend stretched ahead of me. I couldn’t even leave the house and risk running into somebody and deal with the questions about my lack of company.
I forked the pie into my mouth.
“Oh no,” I said around a mouthful of banana cream pie. Cath and the rest of the seniors in the marching band who had volunteered to put on a show needed to be notified of the change of plans. Humiliation burned my cheeks. Had I really thought my family would be excited about a marching band performance from the local high school? That version of Mari was delusional. That Mari bought pies and had high hopes. This Mari needed to just focus on where she was needed. Cath and the students were my focus. They needed me, and I could help them.
My phone vibrated as it rang on my vanity. I shuffled out of bed and raced to answer. A brief shimmer of hope that maybe Jonas and Alice might still come flooded me like a bolt of adrenaline until I saw the name on the screen.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey, Mari.”
“Hey, Devlin. How are you?” My voice came out sort of tight and shaky. When I looked in the vanity mirror, I was surprised to find that I was pale and a little queasy looking. My eyes glistened. I pulled myself together. These pesky emotions would have to be compartmentalized and dealt with later.
“Are you okay? Is this a bad time?” he asked.
“I’m fine.” I kept my tone businesslike.
I shook my head, remembering why Devlin was calling. Cath. This was about her. Her whole unmarred future still sat in front of her. No wasted plans, no forgotten family members, just hope and...jumping catfish. I was being morose.
