“Every time I see Luke, I think how ready I am for a boyfriend,” Bridget whispered from inside the huddle. “I’m still wondering if Derek might be interested.”
Two days later, two weeks after she and Luke had gone treasure hunting at Vogel State Park, Finley was cleared to return home.
Home!
Luke, Meadow, and Bridget helped her make the transition. They cleaned her already-clean house. Made her lunch. Asked if she was comfortable.
She kept assuring them that she was. It was lovely of them to dote on her. However, she’d had more than her fill of the role of patient. She couldn’t wait to return to the much more enjoyable role she’d played all her life—caregiver to animals.
She sat on her deck with Sally, Rufus, and Dudley tucked around her. Her pets stared at her like she was a pastor giving a sermon. She cuddled them, talked to them, played with them, reassured them.
Home. She planned to delight in her bed, her bathtub, the view of the river, her kitchen, her cacti, and all the rest of her eclectic belongings.
She still struggled with post-concussive headaches. Her sense ofsmell had not fully returned. Overall, though, she was extremely pleased with her improvement. Only one thing was putting a damper on today’s excellent mood.
Concerns about Luke.
How was it possible that she and Luke were simultaneously closer than they’d ever been and yet still so separate?
It was possible because he was still acting strangely well-behaved. She was more and more tempted to call him on the carpet for being . . .
Too good?
And he had been good. Wildly good. A five-star boyfriend. No one could have been more devoted. But how much of that was due to his guilt over her injury?
After the earthquake, he’d retreated from everyone who’d loved him. She couldn’t bear it if he stayed in Misty River out of a mistaken belief that he owed her. On the other hand, it would break her heart if he followed his old ways and retreated from her now. Would he retreat if she pushed him for too much, too soon?
Dudley the hedgehog crawled toward her knee. She turned him over and gave him a belly rub.
Relax, Finley. Focus on the positive. Listen to your gut.
Right now, her gut was telling her to give Luke additional space to breathe and heal. After all, she wasn’t the only one who’d been dealt a blow the night Ken had pushed her off a cliff. Luke had been dealt a blow, too. Like her, it was taking time for him to recover. She needed to be as patient with him as he was with her.
But even as she decided to postpone a confrontation, her conscience whispered an indictment.You’re being a coward, it said.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Finley was hosting a party.
Her favorite time of year had arrived in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spring breezes sent pastel wildflowers dancing. Birds sang from the trees. The sun fell gentle and clear. Her heart had been crying out for a tangible way to thank everyone who’d cared for her so well. Her backyard had been crying out for people and pets. A thank-you party seemed like the ideal solution.
She’d moved home two weeks ago. A few days after that, she’d resumed work—albeit shorter hours and less strenuous tasks. A few days after that, she’d floated her party idea to Luke, Meadow, and Bridget.
Meadow and Bridget had been in favor of it, but Luke had shot it down. Too taxing, he’d said.
She’d kept after it. She’d negotiated with him. She’d only invite a few people. Everyone would bring a dish. All she’d have to do was make tea, decorate, buy supplies, and choose which records to play.
Still, he’d resisted. At which time, she’d put her foot down and informed him that she was going to host the gathering with or without his approval. He’d grudgingly come on board.
The night of the party, she donned the new dress she’d purchased for the occasion. Its dusky blue fabric matched her eyes and set off her dark hair. She liked its off-the-shoulder neckline, full sleeves, and short hemline—which showed off legs that hadturned tan during the hours she’d spent relaxing on her deck. She slipped on high-heeled wedge sandals moments before the doorbell started ringing.
Several guests had arrived when Luke walked over and murmured, “Hailey just called me. My family’s about to pull up, and she asked if you’d be willing to come outside. They have something to show you.”
“Of course.”
No sooner had they reached the front of the house than she heard the deep rumble of a motor. A Pontiac slid into view, then came to a stop, Blair at the wheel.
“Luke.” She reached over to grip his hand. “It’s a work of art.” Classy and gleaming.
