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“You want to stay a while and watch a movie or something? I don’t have much in the way of groceries, but I can make us some sandwiches and chips.”
“Sounds perfect,” she replied, curling her legs under her on the sofa.
I made us a plate of sandwiches and grabbed a couple of bags of chips, along with two bottles of water, settling onto the sofa beside her. We talked over most of the movie, and I had no idea what was going on onscreen. It felt like old times, when we used to pile up on Leigha’s sofa. The same sofa she’d ask me to put on the porch, in fact. I wanted to ask why, once again, but I had the feeling it might be a question that had no real answer or an answer that I really didn’t want to know, like she said. After a while, we were falling asleep, and I offered to take her home, but she wanted to stay, and who was I to say no? Especially with her wrapped into my arms where we both knew she belonged.
8
Rain
“You need an engagement ring,” Beau pointed out during our appointment the next morning.
“Oh, I don’t really like wearing rings,” I told him.
Though I suspected that he knew that Jon and I were faking our engagement, it wasn’t really something I could say outright, or I’d be involving him in our deception. I hated lying to him, but I had no choice. Jon said nothing, probably making sure he didn’t contradict me.
“Well, be that as it may, perhaps you might want to consider getting used to having one on your finger. It’ll look better in front of the judge and to anyone who might see you about town. Otherwise, people might get the idea that the two of you are just in this together so you can sell the property to Jon once it’s yours.”
“Is that what they think?” I asked.
“Your Aunt Bertha doesn’t hold back her thoughts, Rain. You should know that better than anyone. It’s in her best interest to make sure this case blows up in your face. Don’t do anything to cast doubt on your situation.”
“OK. I get it,” I told him.
“You do have an engagement ring, don’t you? Don’t tell me a guy like Jon can’t afford a diamond,” he laughed.
“We do,” Jon told him with a wink.
“Good. It’s settled then. Wear it.”
Jon glanced in my direction and smiled, returning to just listening to what Beau had to say. I made some notes of the things I needed to do in order to be best prepared. Afterward, Jon and I went for lunch at the Duck and Dive Diner, or 3D as the locals called it. The menu offered nothing that wasn’t deep-fried in animal fat and served with a side of ketchup.
“This is disgusting. I can almost feel my arteries hardening as I eat it.”
“You mispronounced delicious,” he replied between bites.
“Maybe,” I admitted, stabbing another onion ring and biting off a chunk of it.
“I thought when we’re done clogging our arteries, we could drive up to the cliffs and go diving.”
“Cliff diving? You have lost your mind, Jon Rayburn.”
“What? We used to do it all the time,” he replied.
“I used to do a lot of stupid things. I’d like to think I’ve grown up since then.”
“You definitely have, but we can still go up to the cliffs and look around. The view is gorgeous with all the leaves in full bloom. You can smell the honeysuckles and everything.”
“I could handle a few honeysuckles, then, but I’m still not diving off the cliffs with you.”
“Fine. I won’t make you. I just need to stop by the house and see Dad for a minute on the way. You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, of course not. I haven’t seen your father in ages.”
“He hasn’t changed very much.”
“I wouldn’t dream of asking him to,” I replied.
What I wouldn’t tell Jon, probably ever, was just what had happened the last time I had seen his father. It had been years ago, while Jon was gone and his father was desperate to find him. He had been crying, a broken man. It had been me who had held him, an awkward teenage girl trying to console a grown man. It was a painful memory, most likely more so for his father than me. I put the thought behind me as we finished our food and headed out to his dad’s place.
“Rain! It’s so good to see you!” his dad said as he opened the door. “Jon, you didn’t tell me you were bringing Rain. Come to think of it, you didn’t tell me you were stopping by.”
“I just need to get something I left the last time I was here, when I worked on your bathroom shelves.”
