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“Best coconut cream pie ever,” Joe called. “And it’s the special tonight.”
“Sounds good.”
Autumn approached, and he moved to allow her room. She perched on the end, her face still serious.
Linda reappeared, and they ordered food, lots of food. Ford and Nash could eat, and he knew the Ryker Falls boys were the same. Their coffees and sodas arrived first, and he took his and sat back. Autumn stayed tense, her eyes moving around the people she could see and then returning to Ritchie.
“Does he have bad table manners?”
“What?” Her eyes shot to Ford.
“Ritchie. You keep looking at him. I just wondered why.”
“He’s my son. I am watching to make sure he behaves. It’s what parents do.”
There was definitely a snap in her voice now. He wondered where the woman whose hand he’d held in the plane had gone.
“The few times I’ve seen him, his behavior has been great, but you’d know him best.”
She turned away, and he caught his brother’s look and shrugged. Something was off.
He leaned closer so only she heard his words. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Something is off with you, and seeing as how when we started this trip, it was only your fear of flying, I can’t work out what has brought about this mood change.”
“It’s nothing. Really, I’m fine.”
After that, she tried really hard to be fine, smiling and laughing with everyone. Ford wasn’t convinced.
They spent some time walking through town after the meal. Joe brought fudge, as did Ted, whom Mandy said had a sweet tooth. They then wandered back to the Circle Left, which he’d learned was a square dancing term. A lot of places in Lyntacky were named that way.
Autumn said good night and took Ritchie upstairs to their room. The others left too, and Ford got himself a whisky from the bar before walking up the stairs and down the hallway and past his room to a door at the end. He opened it and found himself on a verandah.
It was dark now, and the household lights twinkled below him. Sitting in the swinging seat, he thought about the puzzle that was Autumn. He’d nearly finished his drink when he heard footsteps.
Chapter26
“Sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was out here.”
“I’m not anyone. I’m the man you sleep with and who held your hand on the plane trip here. I hope we’ve moved past me being just anyone.” Ford wasn’t sure why he was pissed off, but he was. He had no right to know the inner workings of this woman’s mind, and yet he felt like he wanted that right.
“Ford—”
“Want to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“Nothing is bothering me.”
“Right. So this tense shit and attitude is normal for you, is it? Nice to know. Thanks for the heads-up. You’ve hidden that well since arriving in Ryker Falls.”
“I do not have an attitude.” Her tone was snippy now.
“This is you not having attitude?”
She exhaled slowly, and he watched her shoulders slump.
“Come and sit, Autumn. Talk to me. I’m good for it. I mean, I told you what was going on with me, and you shared about your ex. What’s a few more secrets between friends?”
