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He gave a low growl.
From the next table a middle-aged man glanced up from his laptop, eyeing Wes. Probably thought he was losing his mind. Maybe he was.
But if anything was clear from his long hours on the trail and all the headspace he’d given Avery, it was this: he needed to make a clean break from her. Tomorrow he’d arrive in Albany, and he needed to focus on Lillian—and the baby. He couldn’t do that with thoughts of Avery swimming in his head, much less texts flying back and forth between them.
With one last wistful glance at Avery’s text, he pocketed his phone, grabbed his coffee, and left the shop.
Chapter36
Even though he’d never seen Lillian in person, he would’ve known her anywhere. She stepped from the blue Corolla, parked at the curb by baggage claim, and ran to him, her wispy white top floating out behind her slender frame. “Wes!”
“Hey, Lillian.” They embraced, holding each other.
In his arms she gave a soft sniffle.
Wes couldn’t help but think of Landon. His friend should be here right now greeting his sister. He should be ruffling her hair and teasing her about her tears. But he’d forfeited all that when he’d thrown his body on top of Wes.
“It’s so good to see you finally,” she said. “I was starting to think you’d never get here.”
“Me too.” He pulled himself from the past and focused on the here and now: the coarse feel of her brown curls, the sharpcurve of her shoulder blade, the sweet floral scent teasing his nose. The sensations warred with memories of Avery: silky hair, soft curves, the subtle tropical scent of her shampoo.
Stop it.It wasn’t fair to compare. He was only just meeting Lillian. They needed a chance to make memories of their own beyond letters and phone conversations. His feelings would deepen with time.
She pulled back and gave him a once-over, grinning. “I’m not used to seeing you with a beard, but it suits you.”
“I’m not used to seeing you at all.”
They shared a laugh.
“I’d better get my car going before security comes around again.”
While she hopped into the driver’s seat, he stowed his pack in the trunk and got into the passenger side. He pushed the seat back as far as it would go and made room for feet among the empty fast-food bags and coffee cups.
“Whoops, sorry. Just throw those behind you. I just got back from training last night and haven’t cleaned out the car yet.”
He set the trash in the backseat with the rest of the empty food containers. “How’d that go, by the way?”
“It was really good. I learned so much about early-childhood education, my head’s still spinning. I can’t wait to put the information to good use. If college classes were that practical, I might’ve actually gone.”
“It’s good they’re investing in you like this. They must want you to stick around awhile.”
She spared him a glance. “I don’t have much choice now, with a baby on the way. I can’t take risks with my future anymore.”
He covertly took her in, noting her chewed fingernails andflushed cheeks. “How are you doing with all that? Are you feeling better about the pregnancy?”
“Honestly, I’ve hardly had time to think about it this week. But it’s starting to soak in—the reality of it all. At least I have good insurance now and a steady job. It’s nice not to have the stress of running my own business. I can show up and play with the kiddos and go home.”
“That’s a blessing.” He wanted to ask her about the baby’s father. Did he live in Albany? Was she planning to tell him about the child? Was she ready to move on? So many questions... but he didn’t want to overstep.
“The good news is I haven’t felt too bad except for some nausea in the morning. Also—a little warning—I cry at the drop of a hat. And I’m prone to falling asleep in front of the TV.”
“All part of the process, I’m sure.”
“I assume you want to head to your new apartment?”
“Sure. I’m eager to check it out.” A friend of hers from church had an inexpensive apartment for rent above their garage. That would allow Wes to settle in and find a job before seeking someplace more permanent. He’d have to buy a used truck and tools on credit. He’d sold his own before he left for Colombia. He hated to rack up debt, but it couldn’t be helped.
As the strains of TobyMac’s “Help Is on the Way” flowed through the speakers, Lillian worked her way through the airport into traffic.
