I kiss his forehead. “Yes, buddy, a cookie break sounds good.”
14
PAIGE
The shed door opens with a bang, startling me so much that the plant I’m holding tips onto the bench, scattering soil everywhere.
I spin around, bracing myself for the sight of Ryan. Every time I hear the door creak, I half hope it’s him, and I hate myself for it. But it’s Joel who strides into the building, his arms loaded with bags of mulch.
“Garden center donated a few bags. Thought you could use them.”
I hide my disappointment and point to the corner of the shed. “Stack them there. I’ll put them around the fruit trees.”
It was a last-minute idea to incorporate an orchard onto the grounds. The trees won’t bear fruit for a few years, but it makes me smile to imagine the retreat residents picking fresh apples as they wander the grounds.
Joel dumps the bag on the floor as he asks, “Did Ryan turn up today?”
I scoop spilled soil into a pile, ignoring the tremble in my hands at the mention of his name.
“Nope.”
“That’s a no show for three days.” He scratches his beard. “That’s disappointing.”
I scoop the soil into my hands and put it in the pot.
“You won’t kick him out, will you?” I can’t imagine Ryan has anywhere else to go. And selfishly, I want the chance to see him.
Joel shakes his head. “He’s wounded, and he’s hurting. Veterans get a lot of chances.”
I’m relieved to hear that. I haven’t seen Ryan since our meeting three days ago. I keep thinking I’ll run into him at the center. I’m jumpy going around every corner, and every time I hear footsteps outside the shed, my heart skips a beat thinking it will be him.
“You think you could stop by Ryan’s room and remind him about the repairs that need doing?”
I swallow hard. The thought of seeing Ryan makes my insides squirm. I’m torn between wanting to track him down and wanting to hide.
“I can’t motivate him. Hudson can’t motivate him. It might be better coming from you, someone he doesn’t know.”
I smile thinly. If only he knew how intimately I once knew Ryan.
“Sure,” I say because it’s the only thing you can say to Joel. The man’s given up a lot to open this retreat. He was my very first customer; he took a chance on me when running my own business was just an idea on the back of a napkin.
Joel grins. “Thanks, Paige.”
He slaps me on the back, and I jerk forward. These damn ex-SEALs never know their own strength.
“I’ll grab these other bags of mulch.”
I press the cutting into the soil as Joel heads out to get the rest of the bags.
Noah scrambles to follow Joel, and I hold the door open for him. “You want to help Uncle Joel?” He nods excitedly.
He’s not his blood uncle, but everyone around here is Uncle or Auntie. I watch Noah race to catch up with him and tug at the corners of a bag.
I can’t avoid Ryan forever. In fact, now that I’m over the shock of seeing him, it would be good to clear the air. For one weekend, I trusted him with every part of me. Maybe we owe each other a real conversation.
I saunter over and grab the bag Noah is tugging at. “Let me help you.”
I hold it low, and he keeps hold of the corner, his face set in determination as he “helps” me carry it into the shed.
