“A girl? I knew it. She’s going to make my life difficult, isn’t she?”
“I didn’t even know she was in town, Enzo. I’ve not seen her in years. She used to come down in the summers, stay with family, and work at the local diner. I was friends with her cousins.”
“Does she want to live in Colorado?”
“She wants to go to grad school in Pennsylvania.”
“You think she’s going to fall for you and give up her dreams?”
“More like I’d fall for her and give up mine. They need rangers in Pennsylvania, don’t they?”
“No, I hear all those jobs are filled.” Enzo laughed. “But hey, you promised to think about my offer. I’ll be in touch.”
When he hung up, Ryder collected the dogs and went inside. His place in the country was sort of a gift from his parents. Once they realized he wasn’t going to law school with his eye on politics, they handed him the equivalent of four years’ tuition at an Ivy League school and told him to use it for a house. Or investments. He’d spent almost half on this place and put the rest in the bank.
Flipping on the kitchen light, he retrieved last night’s chicken cordon bleu from the fridge and warmed it in the air fryer. Growing up with workaholic parents, he learned to cook from the housekeeper and his Italian nanny. Besides the cordon bleu, he made a mean homemade ravioli.
So…Enzo wanted him back in Colorado? His “I want you here. I believe in you” was hard to resist.
The air fryer beeped. Ryder plated his dinner and headed for the living room. Sitting in the quiet, watching the stars peek through the skylights, he thought Elizabeth and her blue eyes were a far better sight than the Rockies of Colorado.
3
After a hectic week at Dorsey Furniture and Ella’s Diner, Elizabeth treasured her Sunday morning sleep-ins. She started the day with a long soaking bath before heading to Java Jane’s for a large latte and egg sandwich. Finding a cozy corner, she read the local newspaper—print edition—then read the news online, followed by the dozens of management, marketing, and finance articles that dropped into her inbox every week.
She’d developed this routine in college and held it sacred, especially after losing so much time being…ill. She’d never even heard of Epstein–Barr until the doctor’s diagnosis.
However, in Hearts Bend, in Pops and Granny’s place, Sunday morning was church time. This morning, like every Sunday morning, Pops sang hymns in the shower while Granny blasted worship songs from her kitchen speaker. Elizabeth burrowed under the covers and tried to sleep, waiting for the solitude to return.
On this particular Sunday, there was a knock on her door. “Bethy?” Granny said. “You awake?”
“I am if you want me to be.” Elizabeth sat up, shoved her curls aside, and focused on the door as Granny peeked in. “What’s up?”
She looked pretty in her periwinkle blue dress and white sneakers. In her late seventies, Granny kept up with the fashion trends while maintaining her grandma authority.
“You look tired,” she said.
“Long week.”
Granny sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re allowed a day off, you know. Do you work at the diner tonight?”
“No. Tina told me not to go anywhere near Ella’s.”
“Good. You need a day to rest. You’ll be in grad school in a few months, back to the grind. I know you’re all healed up, but that virus can?—”
“I’m careful, Granny, I promise. And I feel like I’ve rested enough for a lifetime. Sitting around feels like a waste of time, like my life is getting away from me again.” There were days when she was too tired to lift her head and she wondered if she’d ever feel whole.
“Did you ever think life wants to show you something you’re not looking for?”
“Those are what you call distractions, Granny,” Elizabeth said. “If life throws something in front of you not pertinent to your plans, dreams, or goals, you kick it aside and keep moving forward.”
“That doesn’t sound very exciting,” Granny said. “I do admire your ambition and how you’ve overcome adversity, Beth. The whole family is proud of you, but take it from an old gal, stop and smell a few roses now and then.” She headed out, but paused at the door. “Pops and I would love for you to come to church with us this morning. It’s one of the roses everyone needs to stop and inhale.” She glanced at her watch. “Is thirty minutes enough time?”
You have to know something about Betty Dorsey. She was smart and kind with wisdom to spare. She loved well. Elizabeth never doubted her grandmother’s affection for her. But when she said things like “Is thirty minutes enough time?” a girl moved. She wasn’t asking a question.
Elizabeth slid out of bed for a quick shower, then dressed in white capri pants, a blue top, and her platform wedge sandals. Church was a big part of her summer memories, but not her life.
When Dad left Hearts Bend for college, he gave up on “religion.” Mom claimed no religious affiliation either, so church never informed the Boston Dorseys’ world, save the occasional Christmas and Easter service.
