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“Whatcha looking at?”
Wes jumped and darkened the phone screen. He smiled at Lillian. “Nothing. Forgot to ask what kind of movies you like.”
“This might surprise you, but give me a good horror flick any day.”
“Like... Stephen King horror orA Nightmare on Elm Streethorror?”
She settled on the couch with a microwave popcorn bag between them. “Anything that scares me to death. Is it weird that I like being scared?”
“Little bit. But I’m flexible.” He pulled up the horror genre and they settled on one. It opened in the typical fashion—teenagers partying in some remote stretch of woods. This wouldn’t end well.
A while later, finished with the popcorn, he dusted off his hands and let them rest in his lap. Lillian had settled on the end of the sofa a couple of feet away. They were much more comfortable with each now than they’d been on their first meeting, and when they fell into silences, it was companionable enough.
His plan had been to further the relationship organically. Subtle touches here and there that progressed to kisses on thecheek and hand-holding. But he hadn’t been able to move past the subtle-touch stage.
He observed her from the corner of his eyes. Her leg was right there, encased in a pair of floral leggings. He should ever so casually set his hand there. Would she be surprised by the action? Appalled? She was hard to read. He couldn’t tell if she thought of him that way. Sometimes she’d look at him with such fondness... and shehadkissed his cheek once.
But he didn’t want to spoil things between them by assuming anything or moving too quickly. Also, he couldn’t quite bring himself to touch her in that way yet. He remembered the chemistry he’d had with Avery. The irrepressible magnetism between them—that inevitable passionate kiss. He pushed away the thoughts. He and Lillian just needed more time for those feelings to develop, that was all. He would get there eventually.
“I haven’t been out here since the funeral,” Lillian said as they walked up the memorial garden’s grassy rise a few days later. She carried a small pot of fresh flowers.
“I hated that I couldn’t be here for you.” The explosion on the work site had set back construction on the hotel they’d been converting, and the need for housing was urgent.
“Landon would’ve wanted you to stay. He really had a heart for those people.”
“He did.” The refugees had been pushed from Venezuela by a crumbling economy that left them homeless, much the same way Landon and Lillian had been pushed from their childhood home. He’d worked tirelessly for the underserved, displaced people group.
“It’s right up there,” she said.
He followed her up the rise, past grave sites, some well tended, others not. She stopped in front of a simple granite marker with his name and the dates denoting his life span. Below that, the marker readBeloved Brother and Friend.
Wes took in the simple burial plot. It didn’t seem like enough for a man who’d given so much to others. So much to him. He deserved a big marble monument declaring him a hero. But there hadn’t been money for that. Wes had sent Lillian two thousand dollars to help with burial expenses, and she’d run a fund-raiser on social media to cover the rest.
“Happy birthday, Brother.” A hot breeze pulled at her curls as she set down the pot of flowers, then she glanced at Wes. “I know the marker doesn’t look like much, but he wouldn’t have wanted anything fussy.”
“You’re right. He would’ve hated having some big shrine.”
“Would’ve called it a waste of money.” Her words trembled with emotion.
Wes took her hand. He was glad to be here for Lillian on Landon’s first birthday since his death. This was right where his buddy would’ve wanted him to be.
“Sometimes I still can’t believe he’s gone,” she said. “The other day I picked up my phone to take a picture of a Ferrari I saw downtown. I was going to send it to him.”
“I know what you mean. It doesn’t feel real sometimes.”
She squeezed his hand. “Thanks for coming with me today. I’ve been dreading it a little. My emotions have been all over the map.”
“I’ve been wanting to visit him. And you’re doing great. He’d be really proud of you.”
Her gaze fell to the dry ground. “I’m afraid he’d be disappointed in me. I got pregnant out of wedlock just like our mom did with him.”
“This is different. You’re not marrying some loser who’s not cut out to be a father—then having a second child with him just for kicks. You’re putting your baby first. And for what’s it’s worth, you’ll always be able to count on me.”
She took hold of his arm, pressing close. “It’s been really nice having you here, Wes. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” It was the least he could do. He put his arm around Lillian’s shoulders, and she laid her head on his shoulder.
Wes’s gaze lifted to the hazy blue sky where billowy clouds drifted past.Don’t worry, buddy. I got her.
