Gretchen jolted. “I’d forgotten he was coming. He would have been on the boat today.” She checked her watch. “He’s probably on his way.”
“Georgie was picking him up.” Amy didn’t look at either of them as she spoke.
Then he’d definitely be here. Georgie wasn’t the type to take no from him. Gretchen placed her hands on the back of a chair. “How are things between you two?”
Amy shrugged. “We’ve barely spoken more than polite conversation since he’s been here.”
Gretchen hesitated, but the sadness on Amy’s face made her speak. “He’s still coming to terms with everything. Sam said he wasn’t the chattiest person to begin with.”
“That’s right, you’ve been on the boat with him,” Faith said. “What’s he like?”
“At first he wouldn’t leave the cabin and rarely spoke. This week he went swimming. He’s very self-conscious of his prosthesis, so it was a pretty big deal for him.”
“How did people react?” Amy asked.
Gretchen grinned. “The women were too busy staring at his sculpted chest to notice his missing leg.” It had taken her by surprise as well, and she’d taken a second look.
Faith raised her eyebrows. “That good?”
“Better than Sam’s,” Gretchen confirmed.
Amy shook her head. “It’s weird to think of my brother that way.”
Someone thundered up the steps. “Let’s get this party started!”
Georgie.
Gretchen grinned. Always one to make an entrance. Faith rolled her eyes playfully. “We’re still waiting on a couple of kids.”
Behind Georgie, Arthur stepped cautiously into the room, eyes darting from Gretchen, to Faith, to Amy. Unsure of his welcome.
Gretchen moved towards him. “Hey, Arthur. How was the boat today?”
He looked a little startled, but gave her a small smile. “Rough. You didn’t miss much.”
“Are you ready to ride?” Faith asked.
He shrugged. “I’m not sure I’ll be much use.”
“You’ll be another set of eyes, and that’s what we need,” Faith told him.
He nodded and glanced at Amy who was busying herself arranging the water bottles on the table. “Hi, Amy.”
She looked up and her smile was forced. “Hey, Arthur.”
Awkward. Gretchen knew little about their history except Arthur hadn’t come to Amy and Brandon’s wedding, and they’d been estranged beforehand.
“Knock, knock,” came the call from the door. Joan stood there with two backpacks on her shoulders.
Gretchen smiled at her. “Are you staying the night too?”
Joan shuddered. “No. I gave Natasha a lift because Kristy was too busy.”
That sounded like Kristy. She always had more important places to be. Joan on the other hand often offered to help her with Jordan. “Can I bring Mischa back to town for you tomorrow?” she asked. “Save you another trip out.”
“That would be incredible,” Joan breathed. “Thank you. Kristy said she couldn’t pick her up because they were going on a family picnic afterwards.”
“No problem.” It was nice to give back.
