Page 69 of Learning at 40

I step over to Anna as my car blocks the drive, and I’ll need to pull out first for Mason to follow.

“Take care of you,” I tell my friend, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Take care of you,” she says back to me, mumbling into my shoulder. I press a kiss to her temple and pull back. “You need anything, call me.”

Anna nods. I know she won’t call. She knows she won’t call. The boys hug everyone next before piling into the car. Mason steps up to Anna, and I wait for some reason. The tension on his face is something I’ve never seen before.

“Ask me to stay, and I will.”

Anna doesn’t look up at him but toys with the hem of her shirt. “No, you need to go.” Her head nods as if convincing herself, and Mason’s hands slip into his pockets. He nods once to agree, but the pain in his face says it all.

“Archer’s coming home,” Anna states. That could mean tomorrow or Christmas or next August, but if Anna thinks her brother is an answer to something, I can’t argue with her. The eldest McCaryn needs to get here.

I give a final glance in the direction of River’s house. I can only see the upper half with the height of the arborvitae. The tree fort isn’t visible from here. In my head, I say a final goodbye and then climb into my car to head for home.

26

[River]

I worked both the day Zack left and the next, so it’s on my day off that I’m awakened by the sound of a utility truck of some sort in reverse. The annoying blare—wheet, wheet, wheet—grows louder, and I realize the noise sounds as if it’s coming closer to the house. As I scramble to the window that faces the road, I see a truck is indeed in my driveway. A second truck follows the first. Doors slam shut as I race down the staircase. I open the front door in a rush and step into the yard.

“Excuse me!” I holler over the whirling noise. “I think you have the wrong house.”

A man approaches me with a tablet in hand. “Are you River Nagle?” I stare at the man a moment, noticing he looks up and then quickly glances to the side.

“I am.”

He isn’t looking in my direction but lifts the tablet to eye level and reads off my address.

“That’s correct.” My arms cross over my chest. “And?”

A swift shift of his gaze occurs, then he looks back at the tablet. I peer down at my attire and realize I’m wearing a rather thin nightdress. My nipples and more are on display through the sheer material, and I cross my arms higher over my breasts.

“We’re here to remove the fence.”

My mouth gapes open, and I glance over at the metal chain link.

“I didn’t order fence removal.”

The man doesn’t blink but reads off his tablet again. “Says here removal of chain link fencing around property. Ordered by your husband.”

“My husband?” I stammer. As those closest to me know the truth, and those distant only know rumors, no one I know could have done this.

“Mr. Zack Weller. Strange you have different names and all, but who am I to judge. I can see you’re a modern woman.”

I don’t even have time to unpack that comment before I’m simply muttering, “No boundaries.” The man has no flipping boundaries whatsoever.

“Speaking of boundaries, he mentioned that I’m to pass along this message. He doesn’t want any boundaries between you.” The foreman’s eyes shift right and then back to his tablet, which I’m certain he’s no longer reading, just staring at. “Strange message, but he said you’d understand the meaning.”

Silence falls between us for a moment as I glance back at the fence. It really is ugly. I’d have a natural border along Anna’s property and a solid wood structure on the opposite side of the backyard. Removal would open the front as the fence went all the way to the street, surprisingly blocking in the front yard.

“Ma’am, do we have your permission to begin?”

I scoff. It’s the first time I’ve been asked for such a thing regarding my yard when it comes to Mr. Zack Weller.

“How much is it?”

“Says already paid in full.”