“Is it?”
“Yep. The roads are gonna be clear and I need to get going.”
“Then the four of us will see you in town.”
“The four of you?”
“Kieran and Sara are over here helping Oksana and me decorate our tree.”
“Right. I knew that.”
“We were gonna hang out here, but I see a trip to the Buffalo in our future. I’m not through chewing your ass, and the other three have a ton of questions.”
“I can’t stand around gabbing. We’ll be busy.”
“We’ll chose our moments carefully. By the way, when do I get my copy?”
“As soon as I have a chance to print more.”
“You’ll need a bunch and chances are you’ll run out of time, ink and paper.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, bro.”
“Ah, but I have a solution. Bring a copy with you, give it to me when we get there, and we’ll hop over to the shop and make copies while you’re bartending. My printer’s better and faster.”
Rance laughed. “You’re getting ballsy in your old age.”
“Damn straight, and it’s your fault. Yours and Oksana’s.”
“That makes me proud. I’ll take a copy to work. See you soon.” He disconnected and checked the time. Calling Angie back would likely make him late for work. And after promising Lucky a copy of the book, he’d have to ask Granny for hers, after all.
Lucky had quickly figured out everyone would want copies. But printing out that many would be asking a lot. He’d suggest to Lucky that one copy per couple was enough. His phone lit up again. Beau.
Somehow he’d failed to consider that his group text would create a tsunami of phone calls. He let Beau’s go to voice mail and sent another group text apologizing for getting everyone riled up when he had to leave for work and couldn’t respond.
Lani came to the door of the library. “We should go or you’ll be?—”
“I know. Let’s do it.” He turned off his phone and tucked it in his pocket, “Mom, Andy, we’re leaving!” He started toward the entry.
“See you later,” his mother called back. “Drive safely.”
“I will!”
Lani kept pace with him. “You look stressed.”
“I didn’t plan this very well. I didn’t anticipate that the text would create so much excitement.”
“Didn’t you?” She shoved her feet into her boots.
“I know, I know. I should have, but I didn’t, and now everybody wants to talk to me. Or in Lucky’s case, give me hell for not telling him sooner.” He helped her on with her coat and shrugged into his own.
“Lucky’s upset?”
“He was. I think he’s okay now. But stirring up my sibs might give us a logistical problem.” He tugged on the brim of his hat, opened the door and ushered her out. The snow on the porch was already starting to melt.
“They’ll want to get together?”
“They might, especially after Mom sends her text about Irving Quick.” He took her hand as they started down the steps but released it at the bottom. “Just follow the path I made when I fetched the manuscripts. While I was at it I created one around to the passenger side.”
