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Joe looked disgusted, but Faith giggled. Ryan shot her a smile.
“It’s seriously disturbing how truly clueless you are on many things,” Joe said.
“Let’s go get fudge before this turns nasty,” Joe said, taking the Ryker boys with him when he left.
“The band is going to play, and Branna has told me she’s singing, and Annabelle is playing the keyboard,” Hope said.
“You ever heard Faith sing?” Ryan looked around him to ensure she wasn’t close. He was fairly sure she wouldn’t want it to be common knowledge that she had a great voice.
“Not that I can recall.” Hope looked at him.
“That’s kinda strange, don’t you think?”
Hope frowned. “What are you getting at, Ryan?”
“I remember hearing her once,” he said, not wanting to tell them he’d heard her that day he’d found her naked and wet. “She was pretty awesome.”
Hope wrinkled her nose. “Really? She never sang in anything at school. No choir or band.”
“Ha, weird,” Ryan said, feeling like he’d probably said more than he should, but for some reason he wanted someone other than him to know how good Faith’s voice was.
“All the proceeds today are going to the new facility,” Mrs. C said, looking around.
“What are you looking for?”
“Your mother.”
“I think Ryan may have convinced her to change her mind,” Hope said. “She hasn’t mentioned it the last few days. And I didn’t see her standing outside where the construction is starting with a picket yesterday, like she told me she was going to do.”
“You have to admire that kind of dedication.” Mrs. C sighed. “I’ve never really been passionate about anything but my Hank.”
“That’s so sweet.” Hope sighed.
“And then there are your frosting flowers,” Ryan added.
Mrs. C hip bumped him. “When are you coming back for the next lesson?”
“Never.”
The stage had been set up, and Mr. Hope presented the trophy to Annabelle, who shook the captain of the Ballbusters’ hand and said “Better luck next time” with total insincerity that had all Howlers laughing.
“I love that woman,” Macy said, coming to where they stood. “She’s tough, sassy, and really doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her.”
“Imagine a world filled with Annabelles, though, Macy,” Ryan said. “It wouldn’t be a comfortable place.”
“True, and we already have two, when you factor in Faith.”
“There you go then. You have to have the soft and the hard, Macy. It’s the way of things and makes the world go round. You and I have our place.”
She looked at him with a soft smile. “It’s nice to have you back, Ryan.”
She was so different from the Macy he’d known that she was almost unrecognizable.
“Nice to be back, and if it’s okay to say it, I like this new you.”
“More than okay, and I do too.”
He leaned down, not wanting anyone else to hear his words. “Congratulations.” Ryan kissed her cheek.
