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Cass practically skipped into the kitchen a weekend or two later, her forest green planner clutched to her chest.West had a full pot of coffee ready, but she didn’t find him in the kitchen.He stood out on the deck, against the back railing, a pair of binoculars up to his eyes.They lived on the edge of town, with plenty of wilderness around them, and he loved looking for different species of birds out there.
She bypassed the coffee and went outside.“I have the perfect place,” she said.
West turned from the railing, his eyes landing on her planner.“Lord have mercy.”He grinned at her and lowered the binoculars to his side.He rested against the railing and smiled at her.
“I’ve finally figured it out.”She wagged the planner back and forth.“Do you want to see the rough outline?”
“I do,” he said, coming toward her instantly.“I really do.”He paused to pick up his coffee mug from the small round table and looked at her with a hint of joy in his eyes.“Saw a Kentucky Warbler out there.”
“They must be on their way back from Mexico,” she said, as she’d listened to West talk about the birds in this area for two and a half decades.
“Yep.”He stepped around her and opened the door.He ushered her inside, and Cass grinned at him as she went past.
“You’ll love this trip,” she said.“Loads of birds.”
West settled at the table and looked at her expectantly.“Did you plan this just for me?”
“Me too,” she said.“It’s away from here, and it’s still warm, and neither of us have been there.”Cass shook her hair over her shoulder and sat down.She flipped open the front cover.“The Everglades.”She’d written those words at the top of the page.“Florida.”She pointed to the golden “FL” in the corner and beamed at West.“The birdwatching for you, and a beach, fruity drinks, and long walks for me.”
West studied her planner, where she’d listed some options for dates they could take the trip.“I can check my work calendar.I’ve got a case that’s close to wrapped, but I have to go over everything with the prosecutors.”West worked for the state of Texas as a homicide investigator, which meant a lot of moving pieces between law enforcement and the judiciary system.He loved his job, and Cass loved that they could have their small-town life, free from drama and strife.
“That’s why I put options,” she said.“Once we know those, then I’ll start on the rental, and we’ll plan from there.”She’d taken a leaf from Bea’s book and made a list of possible activities.
“What about Conrad?”West asked, sliding his fingers along hers.“Beryl?”
She looked down at the golden retriever who didn’t get too far from her unless she forced him into a room and closed the door.When she came back, he always looked at her like she’d abused him by making him lay on the bed while she hosted the Supper Club.
“My sister said she’d come,” Cass said, smiling at West.“Liz is available on any of these dates.”She twined her fingers with West’s, enjoying the warmth and roughness of his skin along hers.
“Looks like you have it all planned out,” he said.“I like that one that sayseat at the best restaurants.”Food was his love language, and Cass certainly didn’t mind the food at the expensive restaurants they’d gone to over the years.
“I ordered you a birdwatching guide for Everglades National Park.”She closed the planner, feeling happy about all she’d put together.“So have you eaten breakfast?Or should we go grab something?”
Before her husband could answer, their teenage son—the last child they had at home—Conrad, entered the kitchen.He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and the shorts hanging from his skinny hips looked one wash away from disintegrating.Which wasn’t really a problem, because Conrad didn’t wash his clothes all that often.
Cass slept easy at night knowing her soncouldoperate the necessary appliances to take care of himself.He just usually didn’t do so without a lot nagging by one or both of his parents.
“Good morning,” she said, rising to her feet.“You’re up early.”
Conrad grunted and opened the cabinet where Cass kept all their medicines.
Concern spiked through her.“Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m dying,” her son said, his voice full of frogs.
Cass stepped over to him and pressed her hand to his forehead.“Go back to bed.I’ll get you what you need.”
Her son wore a look of misery, and the heat radiated from his skin even after she’d pulled her hand back.She put together a concoction that would bring down his fever, provide him with a plethora of vitamins, and help him go back to sleep.Once she’d delivered those to his room, smoothed his hair off his forehead, and said she and West might leave for breakfast, she returned to the kitchen.
“Will he live?”West asked, meeting her eyes.His concern for their son rode there, he just wasn’t as dramatic about things as Cass.
“I think so,” she said.“I’m thinking breakfast at White Aspen.”
“I’m not going to say no to that.”West rose, pressed his lips to her forehead and added, “I can’t wait for the Everglades, hon.”He focused on her, his dark eyes searching hers, trying to find something Cass didn’t know how to hide from him.“Are you going to live?Without Bea?”
“Yes,” Cass whispered, though sometimes she wondered why Bea leaving Sweet Water Falls had toppled everything in her life.
