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“I saw Reed Kincaid driving away when we came in earlier,” Levi said as he finished drying a plate and handed it to Lily.
Lily reached above her to the open cabinet and placed it on top of the others. That same warm tingle she experienced whenever John’s partner had exhibited his unconditional support before and after John’s death returned at the mention of his name. “Yes, he stopped by but didn’t stay long. I’m sure it’s been hard for him also.” She should have asked after him, and now felt bad for letting her own mixed emotions blind her to his grief.
Levi folded the towel in half and laid it on the counter before leaning against it and crossing his arms. Tilting his head, he regarded her with a speculative look. “Did you invite him to stick around?”
“Well, no. I figured he would if he wanted to, and that he must have things to do.” She blew out a breath, disgusted with herself. “Thoughtless of me, wasn’t it?”
“What?” Vickie asked, entering the kitchen carrying a plate stacked with paper cups that she dumped in the trash. “You’re never thoughtless, and often too considerate of others. Don’t listen to him.” She jerked a thumb toward Levi, who took the gesture and comment with a raised brow.
“Unfortunately, big brother is right. I didn’t even ask John’s partner how he was holding up.”
Vickie released a dramatic sigh and fanned herself. “The all-day five-o’clock shadow does it for me every time.”
She flicked Levi a teasing grin, and Lily guessed her brother’s whiskered jaw and mustache also did it for her. Levi frowned, and Lily chuckled for the first time in two weeks, reaching out to pat his shoulder. “If you’re jealous, make an honest woman out of her.”
“You’ll have to take that up with her. Won’t she, Vic?”
Lily was familiar with that displeased tone and cast Vickie an uncertain glance, the compact kitchen island separating them. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to step on any toes.”
“You didn’t, but, to be honest, after witnessing your struggles since Levi and I hooked up, I’ve been gun-shy. You know the saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.” Vickie walked over and hugged Levi, and he unfolded his arms to give her a quick squeeze. “Take it as a compliment and ask me again sometime. I’ll let you two chat.”
“Get that look off your face and don’t worry about us,” Levi stated. “We’re good. Much better than you and John ever were.”
“And now you’re waiting for me to say you were right all along?”
Her brother had made his dislike and distrust of John clear from their introduction. She hadn’t listened because Levi had done pretty much the same with every guy she introduced him to from the evening of her first date at sixteen. With John, however, his overprotective streak had skyrocketed, she mused, remembering one of his explosive tirades.
Levi threw up his arms in exasperation, the censure and worry in his dark eyes cutting Lily to the quick. “Honestly, Lily, why? The son of a bitch isn’t worth your loyalty, let alone one tear. I swear, if he brings you to tears again, I’ll pound on his pretty face until no woman will even look at him, let alone sleep with him.
Lily hated disappointing her big brother but couldn’t bring herself to give up on John yet, no matter how much his infidelities hurt. “And then I’ll have no one because you’ll go to prison for assaulting a cop. Please, Levi, respect that I want to handle this on my own, in my own way.”
“He’s highway patrol, and I don’t give a shit, he doesn’t deserve your loyalty. Someday, you’ll meet someone who will treat you better, and you’ll regret wasting so much time and effort on the jackass.”
“You don’t have to say it. We both know I was right all along,” Levi answered, pulling Lily back to the present. “When are you taking off?”
“First thing in the morning, after you and Vickie leave.”
Lily hoped the weeks she planned to spend with their relatives in Florida would give her the time and space she needed to come to terms with the guilt of John’s death. Everyone, from Levi, to her friends and John’s co-workers, had been telling her they’d seen no signs her husband was so traumatized by their impending divorce as to take such a drastic step. Just the opposite, in fact. The night before, Lil and John had enjoyed a much friendlier phone conversation than they had shared in months, and he’d admitted he would always regret losing her but was ready to let go. She hadn’t wanted to ruin their friendly talk by mentioning she was aware he’d been seeing someone, and whether it was Pam, her once best friend, or someone new, she didn’t know or care at that point.
She worked up a reassuring smile for Levi. “It will be fun to see Aunt Donna again and hang out with our cousins. With their kids, there’s a slew of family now. I plan on spending as much time in the sun this winter as I can before returning. Jealous?”
Levi shook his head, wrapped an arm around her in a hug, and replied, “Nope. I’m headed back overseas to finish my assignment. You can send pictures. Night, sis.”
He would check the doors for her, so Lily finished wiping down the kitchen then padded into the third bedroom, avoiding the main one she had once shared with John. Levi had been staying here since arriving last week and there was no room in her one-bedroom apartment. She wanted to see him and Vickie off in the morning before closing down the house for her extended absence. There was no one she was closer to than her brother, and with him taking off again, she was looking forward to getting away before she went through everything in the house and put it up for sale.
It sounded corny now, but she’d fallen head over heels in love with John Wainscott at first sight, finding his attentiveness and rakish grin irresistible. He’d wooed her with both over the next six weeks, reeling her in until she answered his proposal without hesitation. For months, she’d been blissfully happy, never doubting he loved her as much as she did him. That surety, along with all the ways he would try to prove the depth of his feelings regardless of his infidelities were one reason she’d stuck it out for so long. His struggles with his failings were difficult to live with, and even more difficult to explain to others who didn’t witness them, but also why she’d tried so hard not to give up. Volunteering to help the homeless put her in touch with people suffering from varying addictions, and she’d held out hope John would overcome his weakness for straying to keep her.
Stupid of her, given those words that opened her eyes with a painful sucker punch to the abdomen.I love you, Lily, but I’m not going to change. I don’t want to change,he had hurled at her when she’d confronted him that night after Pam had fled the room.
Lily boarded a plane two days later, vowing to put her mistakes dealing with her failed marriage behind her before returning to Wyoming.
Seven months later
Trina’s blue eyes were shadowed with concern when she flicked her gaze from the house to Lily. “Dare I say congrats?” she asked.
Lily shrugged, a sense of relief filling her from seeing the Sold sign in front of the house she’d once shared with John. “You better. I already spent the equity on my new place,” she returned with a wry grin.
She’d thought selling the home she once loved would hurt, but the six months she had spent away from everything and everyone who reminded her of her folly had done wonders. Living with her aunt and uncle and hanging out with her cousins this past winter had shown her what committed relationships were like, what a man meant when he told his spouse he loved her.
