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Katie gave her a pained look.
“Stop feeling sorry for me. I’m content with my decision—no,excitedabout it. I can serve my community in a way I’d never be able to if I had to take care of a husband and children.”
“The community won’t warm your feet in bed.”
“I have an excellent feather duvet.”
But Avery reflected on the intimate way Wes had swept thebatter from her lip. The reflexive way he licked it from his finger. He didn’t mean anything by it—that was obvious by his expression afterward—he simply felt close to her and reacted. She loved their warm, intimate friendship.
Avery shook the thoughts away. “Aren’t we supposed to be discussing plans for a certain bachelorette party? Because I have some ideas I think you’ll like.”
Katie released a resigned sigh. “Fine. But I reserve the right to revisit this conversation at a later date.”
“Duly noted. Now, I know we’re a little limited here in Riverbend, but I made a few calls.” Katie had preferred to go to Asheville for the festivities, but she couldn’t drag Avery that far from the clinic. “I know you love some spa time, so what if I set that up right here in town?”
“Um... we don’t have a spa in Riverbend—which I might add is a very unfortunate fact.”
“No, but we do have estheticians and manicurists. I already called the salon about hiring them for an afternoon. The Riverview Bed-and-Breakfast has a small event room and two masseuses. I spoke to them about the possibility of renting the room for an afternoon of bliss, followed by dinner out—if that sounds like something you’d want to do.” It would only be the two of them since the wedding was small, and Avery was the only bridal attendant.
Katie’s face bloomed in a smile. “You are amazing. That sounds perfect.”
Avery took a sip of her coffee and said smugly, “Do I know my best friend or what?”
Chapter17
A bead of sweat trickled down Wes’s back. He stood up on the roof and stretched. The afternoon sun beat down, and the new dark shingles reflected the heat. But the views from up here were stunning. Toward town, the church steeple towered above the other buildings, pointing heavenward. To the back of the property, the mountains rose high, the peaks defined by the gray sky beyond it. At the base of the mountain, the river snaked past, rippling over rocks with a now-familiarburble.
Yesterday he’d finished tearing off the old shingles, and this morning he’d cleaned them up, tossing every last bit of the mess into the dumpster, which had been hauled away at one o’clock. He found the roof decking in good shape—no rotting—but he had to secure some loose boards. He laid the felt underlayment, nailed down the drip-edge flashing, and snapped his lines. He was currently laying shingles, but judging by the darkening sky, he wouldn’t get far.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he checked the screen. Lillian.
He eased down to sit and answered. He could tell in only a few words that she was having a bad day.
“What happened?” he asked.
“What hasn’t happened is the question. My day care is going up in smoke. I haven’t been able to take on any more children, and the transmission on my car is on its last legs. And I started going though Landon’s things over the weekend, thinking I was ready.” She sniffled. “Obviously a mistake. I only made it through one box and I bawled all weekend. Then this morning the two kids I’m watching were little terrors, and I’ve been impatient with them. They’re down for naps now. I’m sorry for bothering you. I feel like I only call when I’m miserable.”
“Hey, now. That’s what I’m here for. I have bad days too.” Most of them had been on the trail when he’d had no cell reception, but he wouldn’t have wanted to drag Lillian down anyway. “There’s no hurry with Landon’s things. Why don’t you just wait until I’m there. We can go through them together.”
She sighed. “I’d like that. I’m just feeling so lonely.”
“Of course you are. He was your brother and you miss him.”
“I hate that we were apart for the last years of his life. I feel like I—like I didn’t even know him anymore, you know? Because of the distance.”
“I can assure you he didn’t feel that way. He talked about you all the time. He loved you so much.”
“Thanks, Wes.” Her voice wobbled on the words. “Can youtell me another story? Never mind, I’m bothering you in the middle of the day—you’re probably busy on that renovation.”
He glanced at the threatening clouds. But what could be more important than easing Lillian’s grief? She loved hearing about Landon’s day-to-day life in Colombia. “I always have time for you.” He launched into a story of one of Landon’s pranks. It involved Wes’s face Photoshopped onto the body of a bikini-clad woman and plastered all over their living quarters. An inside joke—the crew had loved it.
The story had the desired effect—Lillian laughed at her brother’s antics. So he told another story and another. She was crying happy tears by the time he was finished. “Thank you so much, Wes. Talking to you always makes me feel closer to him.”
“Same. And try not to worry so much. Everything will sort itself out.” He wished he had the money to alleviate her financial worries. But when he reached Albany, he’d get a good job, and then he’d really be able to be there for her.
“I know they will. I just got overwhelmed, but I feel much better now.”
“I should be finished here by Friday and ready to hit the trail on Saturday.”
