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“I don’t expect you to hold my job for me indefinitely.” She wasn’t surprised when Trina insisted on not filling her position when Lily mentioned taking an extended trip. However, with guilt plaguing her from John’s sudden death, she didn’t need something else troubling her conscience.
Trina ignored her comment, as when she’d uttered the same thing last week, and pulled her in for a quick hug. Always on the move, at forty, her boss possessed an enviable energy level Lily would love to tap into right about now. To admit she was drained was putting it mildly.
“I appreciate you taking a few minutes to swing by. I’m sorry I couldn’t help with the back-to-back receptions today.” The warm weather months were few and their busiest time for weddings.
“Got it covered. You take care, and call me.” With that, Trina breezed out, leaving Lily bereft until Levi and Vickie entered the house several minutes later, returning from making a run for more ice. Levi had been her rock since their parents’ unexpected death in a car accident eighteen years ago. She had been only twelve when faced with that devastating loss. If not for her older brother, who had put his life on hold to be there for her, the same as now, she didn’t know how she would have gotten through. Back then, he had turned down an overseas journalism opening to remain stateside for her. This time, he had cut short an assignment after Vickie informed him of John’s death, returning to Wyoming immediately to see her through yet another loss.
She managed a smile as they carried in the ice and another covered dish, setting it on the table already laden with food. Her brother would never gloat over someone’s death, but he must be chafing at the bit to let loose with his happiness that Lily was no longer tied to John in any way. They had argued many times since she’d first learned of her husband’s uncontrollable wandering eye. Levi, like so many others, was unable to understand why she’d stayed and tried as long as she had.
Lily spoke a few words to one of John’s co-workers before joining Levi and Vickie at the table. “You’re going to have to stick around for a month to help me eat all this,” she said, nodding at the array of food.
Regret crossed Levi’s face. “I wish I could...”
She held up her hand. “I’m kidding. Although, I doubt Vickie would mind.”
The two had been together for four years, Vickie the only woman Lily was aware of who had stuck with her brother this long despite all the long absences his job covering hot spots around the world required.
Vickie shook her head, giving him a teasing grin. “We would get on each other’s nerves if he hung around all the time.”
“Brat.” Levi tugged Vickie’s short blonde hair, a gesture she didn’t seem to mind. “Besides,” he told Lily, “knowing you, you already have plans to give most of this to the shelter. None of it will go to waste.”
“But freeze that Mexican casserole for when I visit. And some of those brownies.” Vickie pointed to a pan of dark chocolate squares then put a finger to her lips. “Mmm, and maybe a little of that barbeque...”
“Is Vickie hogging all the food again?”
Lily turned, surprised to see Delia Jenkins, a friendly associate she’d met when she switched to John’s pharmacy after getting on his insurance. Touched by her unexpected support, she replied, “Delia, thank you so much for stopping by, and yes, she’s trying to.”
Delia met Vickie on one of Vickie’s weekend trips to Casper from Cheyenne and joined them for dinner and a movie at her place right after she split from John. Lily had never socialized with the pharmacist but, when she and Vickie had run in to Health Mart and Delia heard about their separation, she had all but invited herself over for a night of support. At the time, Lily and Vickie hadn’t appreciated the offer, but Lily found herself grateful that night for the extra shoulder to cry on. She hadn’t told anyone the one and only time she’d caught John red-handed had been at the last department Christmas party held at a fellow highway patrolmen’s home. She’d gone looking for him and found him in a spare bedroom, screwing Pam, her best friend from college, the only friend she’d stayed close to since graduating, against the wall. The painful double betrayal had been the catalyst she’d needed to end their marriage.
“Nice of you to drop by,” Levi stated, his tone neutral, but Lily caught the censure in his gaze.
Frowning at him, she shook her head slightly, just enough for him to know she wanted him to stow his dislike. Levi seemed to forget at times that she was all grown up now and didn’t need or want an overprotective guardian. He had approved of very few of her friends during her pre-teen and teen years, and, given he’d only met Delia once, his disapproval was even more annoying.
“I’m sorry I’m a little late, but I overslept then had to get out of this guy’s place without waking him.” Delia rolled her eyes. “What a loser.”
“Maybe you should...”
“Tell me all about him later,” Lily interrupted her brother.
For some reason, Delia had rubbed Levi wrong when he had accompanied Lily to the pharmacy on a weekend visit. Once her sibling decided he didn’t like someone, there was no getting him to change his mind.
“I will. We’re short-staffed today, but I can stay a little while. Do you need anything?” Delia asked with sympathy.
Vickie grabbed Levi’s arm and tugged him toward the kitchen. “The crowd has thinned, so we’ll get started cleaning up while you two chat.”
Giving her a hug, Delia whispered, “I am so sorry, Lil. Now, what can I do?”
During these past months, whenever Lily shopped at the drugstore, Delia had made the effort to ask about her, how she was coping, if there was anything she could do for her. It was much-needed support during a time when she could really appreciate the extra effort from anyone who hadn’t betrayed her, even a casual acquaintance like her pharmacist.
“Nothing I can think of, but thank you for coming by.”
“Of course.” Delia squeezed her hand. “I’ll get back to work, then. Let’s go to lunch sometime, or do another girls’ night.”
“I’d like that, but after my trip. I plan to get away for a while, visit relatives.”
Delia blinked, as if surprised by that, but then smiled and nodded. “Excellent idea. You need to do something for yourself. You’re always doing for others. Give me a call or stop by when you return.”
“I will. Thanks.”
