“They would have been late. She would have opened the door to him.”
“Don’t let your mind go there. Didn’t you tell Meredith that? What was that about?”
He’d already opened up to Ford, there was no reason he couldn’t say more. “She knows about Colin.”
“You told her?” Ford asked, not looking shocked by the news.
“A while ago. I woke her when I was dreaming. She got most of it out of me.”
“More than I know?”
He snorted. “Are you going to get jealous of that?”
Ford smirked. “Absolutely not. We’ve all seen a difference in you the past few months. It’s definitely because of Meredith. Unless you prefer not to admit that.”
“There is no reason to deny what everyone is running their lips about.”
“Don’t be grouchy,” Ford said. “We only care.”
“I know. Are we done here? I don’t want to stink. I’m in yesterday’s clothing.”
“You’re used to wearing the same clothes for more than one day. Even going without showering,” Ford said.
Thoughts of his assignments passed through his vision. They were part of his past. He had to keep them there.
“Not something I have to do by choice now.”
He stood up, Ford doing the same, the two of them walking out.
“You know where I am if you need anything.”
“I’m fine,” he said.
“I think you’re getting there. But now I’m worried something else is weighing on you.”
“Like what?”
“The responsibility of being in love. Of having someone count on you,” Ford said. “It’s heavier than anything you’ve ever thought you could manage before.”
“I’m nowhere near it,” he lied.
34
STOLE HER HEART
“Here you go, Meredith,” Bethany said, discreetly slipping cash into her hand on Saturday. “We didn’t really pay for your services and it wouldn’t have been nearly as beautiful as it was without you.”
Meredith closed her fist over it and gave the new bride a hug. “Thank you so much. You were stunning and it looked as if everyone had a wonderful time.”
“Best wedding ever,” Bethany said. “I’m going on the record saying that now. I only wish we could have gotten those bottles of hard cider with our names on it as a favor.”
“They aren’t ready yet,” she said. Maybe it was a mistake to put them on the website. They were still testing labels. Or Reenie was. Clay was working on bottles that he liked the best too.
It was getting there between the three of them.
“We’ll be back for my baby shower in the future and maybe I can get them then. Think about having labels for that too. Or bridal showers here.”
“I’ll do that,” she said, giving Bethany one more hug. “And you enjoy your honeymoon.”
