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“You’re right on time. Come on in.”
Beth swept past her, that citrusy scent now familiar in a pleasantway. They’d met up last week to go over the social media plan Beth had put into place. Katie had tried to explain it to Lisa, and that’s where she’d gone wrong. Marketing wasn’t her forte, and she’d done nothing but confuse Lisa.
As soon as Beth and Katie took seats in the living room, Lisa swept into the room with a tray of drinks, ice clinking in the glasses with each step. The women exchanged pleasantries as Lisa handed each woman a glass, then they got down to business.
“It’s so nice of you to pitch in like this,” Lisa said. “I’ve already seen an uptick in visits to the Trail Days website.”
“I’m glad to hear that. There’s been a lot of interest in the posts. You won’t regret diverting your advertising budget to online ads. Newspaper ads are something we refer to as ‘spray and pray,’ meaning that you’re targeting a lot of people but no one in particular. Online ads allow us to target people with specific interests like hiking, the Appalachian Trail, or festivals in general. I’ve also narrowed down the target audience geographically. And all those people who visit your website... I’m retargeting them with ads.”
“Well, that just sounds wonderful,” Lisa said, “even if I don’t have the least idea how you’re going about such a thing.”
“You don’t have to worry about the particulars. That’s my job. I just want to give back to this community for everything it’s given to me.”
“Well, who am I to turn away help?”
Beth spent a while explaining her strategy, and Lisa seemed satisfied with her explanations and the cost of online advertising.
Katie let the ladies talk since she didn’t have much to add to the conversation. She shifted in her seat, antsy to have Beth gone. Being with her birth mother was awkward and scary enough without adding other people—people she cared about—to the mix.
“How long have you lived in Riverbend, Beth?”
The question jerked Katie from her reverie.
“Seven years this fall.”
“What brought you here? Do you have family around these parts?”
“No, unfortunately. My parents have passed and I never married.”
Katie tensed, waiting for a mention of children.
But just then Jeff came through the door. He greeted the women, gave his wife a kiss on the cheek, then excused himself to shower.
“Goodness.” Lisa glanced at her watch. “That hour sure slid right on by. Why don’t you stay for supper, Beth? We always have more than enough.”
Katie’s stomach twisted in a knot. She’d been so careful in what she mentioned to Beth. She wasn’t ready to reveal the truth to her mother. The Robinsons knew she was from Asheville and that she’d been a foster child. What if someone gave away too much? Sweat broke out on the back of her neck.
“Oh, I don’t want to be in the way,” Beth said.
“Nonsense. The more the merrier. Katie’s staying—she’s dating our son. Our daughter, Avery, will be here and our deputy son, Cooper, is coming too—he’s running for sheriff.”
“I’ve seen the signs around town,” Beth said. “How wonderful. Well, if you’re sure. I don’t have any other plans, and I set a mean table.”
“We’ll put you right to work then. It’s only a Chinet kind of occasion though.”
“My favorite kind,” Beth said.
Since it wasn’t too hot outside, they set the picnic table on the back porch, working together as they chatted about a little bit of nothing. Katie’s pulse raced as she waited for the other shoe to drop. She should have at least told Avery about her mom. They’d grown closer since Katie had moved to Riverbend. And after all, Avery hadconfided in her about the possible genetic defect. But it was hard for Katie. There was still some part of her that felt deeply ashamed that her mother had chosen substance abuse over her.
She wished she could come up with an excuse to leave, but that wouldn’t fix anything. At least if she was here she had some control over the conversation.
By the time the table was set, Avery had arrived and Jeff rejoined them. Beth remembered Avery from the clinic. Cooper was the last to arrive. Katie hadn’t seen him since the coffee shop run-in two weeks ago, and her heart stuttered at the sight of him.
He must’ve gone home to shower because the hair at his nape was damp. He looked fresh in a crisp white T-shirt that stretched over his broad shoulders. When his eyes locked on hers and his lips tipped in a smile, she could hardly breathe.
“Hey, Katelyn.”
Oh, she’d missed that voice. “Hi.”
