Page 68 of Sudden Summer

“Do I have to stay and talk to him?” she asked.

“You don’t have to. I’m not asking you to babysit him. But I’m sure a conversation or two wouldn’t kill you. If you can’t manage that, then maybe having a few more meals made with love might do his soul some good.”

“Alright. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Give me the rest of this week to plan out some menus and I’ll send them over with the pricing. You can ask him if he’s got any restrictions I need to know about when you talk to him, okay?”

“Sure thing. Thanks for doing this for me.”

“Right.”

The silence hung heavy in the air between us.

“I think we probably need to get together and talk everything over. Maybe you could come to Beau’s place after you drop off Lach’s first meals?” I asked.

“Yeah. I think that sounds okay.”

“Good. I’ll text you in a little bit.”

“Okay.”

“I love you, Lainey Belle.”

“I…I love you, too.”

Good. Two phone calls down, one more to make. From the smell of warm smoke blowing around the house, Beau had turned on the grill out back. I was in for a treat, my mouth already salivating at the thought of what he was cooking up.

Lachlan answered after the first ring.

“Did Beau fuck up with you already?”

I laughed. “What a way to answer the phone!”

“Just figured that would be the only reason for this call. Remember that time he scared you out in the field, and you screamed so loud it cleared the trees of all the birds?”

Oh boy, did I. Lach helped me come up with the prank of the summer that year to get back at Beau.

“Of course I do. And I remember how mad he was having to walk home from the springs naked as the day he was born when your dad had all those important investors here.”

Lachlan’s laughter filled the line. “Yeah. God, we’re a good team. I’m assuming that’s why you’re calling? You need me to think of something epic to get back at him for screwing up?”

“Sadly for you, no. Beau has been wonderful. Especially after…”

He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to dinner. To see you. To give you a hug. I fucking hate that I can’t help find who it was because I’m stuck…here.”

“Well, that’s actually why I’m calling. There is something you could do to help me.”

“Why do I feel like you’re cooking up a scheme?”

“I’m not cooking anything.”

“Mhm.” I didn’t have to be in the same room as him to know he was shaking his head at me, not believing a word.

“Okay, look. Lainey needs a boost to her new business, and I’ve already given her a little seed money, but I need to get creative.”

“I don’t like where this is going,” he groaned.

“You’re awfully dramatic. I just set you up with a meal plan.”

“I can cook for myself, I’m a big boy. Ma taught me well enough that I can manage.”