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She thought she heard a hint of snide derision in her tone, but Lily decided she must be mistaken. The parking lot for Casper’s largest public park where the city held all its summer festivities was teeming with people loading up at the various booths of fresh produce and homemade condiments, making it hard to hear. They found a seat facing each other on the end of a picnic table and sat down.
“Mmm, I love these,” Lily said around a mouthful of brat and German mustard.
“I’ve only been here once. It’s easier to run into the store and pick up a frozen entrée for one when you live alone. But these are good.”
That time, there was no mistaking the wistful sadness in Delia’s voice, but Lily didn’t know her well enough to pry into her personal life. She knew from experience there could be private, painful reasons for someone to stay to themselves. They chatted while they ate, watching people, nodding to those they recognized, and she found Delia as companionable as back when she’d joined her and Vickie for a movie. Vickie happened to be with her when Lily had stopped by the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, and Delia overheard them discussing what movie to watch that night. She’d extended the invitation out of courtesy after Delia mentioned an interest in the movie, never expecting her to pounce on accepting.
“Whoa, if looks could kill, one of us would be keeled over. Do you know her?”
Delia nodded to someone behind Lily, and she turned to catch Pam glaring at her from a booth several feet away before Pam spun around and stomped off. So much for her tearful remorse. Maybe she should at least make peace with her former best friend so these occasional run-ins weren’t so tense.
“We were close in college but had a falling out about eighteen months ago,” was all she told Delia.
“About the time you and John split? That must have been hard. I’m sorry.” Lily’s expression must have slipped because Delia’s sympathetic gaze turned sharp, and she asked, “Oh, does your rift have to do with John?”
Lily nodded, hoping she would drop it. She didn’t, and Lily had to call on her patience when Delia grimaced and said, “That sucks. Was that what made you finally leave? I don’t date a lot – too picky, I guess – but I think I’d rather stay single and alone than go through what you did.”
“Alone can be a lonely place after a while,” Lily returned, a tad annoyed with her. “I’ve put all that behind me anyway. Ready? I want to get home before long to finish some chores.” Rising, she pointed to a nearby booth. “They have the best corn on the cob and homemade jellies.”
“Lead the way.”
Lily was glad Delia smiled and didn’t bring up her marriage again as they checked out the booths and filled their bags. If she could bring herself to smooth out her relationship with Pam, she would lay to rest the final chapter of that part of her life.
Chapter Seven
“He’s pouting again.”
Reed kept running the brush over Apollo’s flank, ignoring Slade’s comment to Brett as they dismounted their horses at the corral.
Brett looped the reins around the rail and nudged his hat up. “Now he’s ignoring us.”
“Because you’re both annoying morons,” he replied without looking away from his grooming. His free hand rested on Apollo’s shoulder, the stallion’s warm coat soft against his palm.
“It’s been almost two weeks since you were with Lily upstairs at Casey’s,” Brett pointed out, sliding off Shadow’s saddle.
Naturally, Slade wouldn’t hesitate to jump on that even though he wasn’t there. “And you’ve never hesitated to call someone you’re interested in, so what are you waiting for?”
