Why was he so bothered that Meredith had?
“Few women are.”
“She wasn’t scared before, but she was after. It’s been more annoyance prior. That’s fine. But I don’t want her scared.”
“You want her aware,” Ford said.
“Yes. She’s used to having her head in the clouds. Being around kids and planning activities.”
“This isn’t what you’re used to either,” Ford said. “Sounds like you’re both at different extremes.”
“Yeah,” he said, finishing his muffin.
“What’s the next step? That’s it, you don’t talk to her again until there is a wedding to prepare for?”
“I didn’t know you were my event coordinator.”
Ford finished his coffee and put the cup in the dishwasher. “Just want my brother to find what I have.”
“I think you’re reaching.”
“I think you’re shrinking back,” Ford said.
“You saw me kiss her in the woods,” he said. “Didn’t you?”
Ford burst out laughing. “I was coming to join you fishing. I thought for sure you’d hear me. You hear everything. But when I saw what I had, I realized you were distracted.”
Which explained why his brother was questioning him more than expected.
“That’s not distraction,” he said. “If I had felt threatened, I would have taken you down.”
“Did she know you had a gun on you? Does she know you always do?” He concealed one on his ankle.
“I doubt it,” he said. “It hasn’t come up.”
“How do you think she’d feel about any of that?”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing I can change, so if she’s thinking anything at all, she better catch up on who I really am.”
Ford grinned. “Which means you’re thinking of something too.”
“I’ve got shit to do,” he said, standing up.
“And I’ve gotten more out of you than I thought,” Ford said. “Keep me posted on anything with the ex.”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
19
GOT A SITUATION
At the end of the next day, Meredith left the school. She was later than normal, but not by much. Not the last to leave either, waving to several other teachers on her way.
One more day this week and then she could relax.
There wasn’t much going on this weekend. Nothing that she had to be on the Ridgeway property for.
Clay had told her there was a baby shower happening on Saturday afternoon that his mother and Reenie were dealing with.
