Ryder scanned the panoramic view of lush green trees and rolling hills from atop the fire tower, waiting for Elizabeth’s response. Yes, he was worked up over Travis’s accusations, but that’s not what caused him to conclude Elizabeth wasn’t all that excited to join him at Angelo’s.
“Oh,” she said, a hint of a question in her voice. “I-I was sort of wondering the same thing. You think we should?”
“Do you? I think I talked you into pizza. You’re too nice to say no.” He raised his binoculars to check for signs of smoke. Among the green, he spied patches of dried, fallen limbs among dried brush. With another week of no rain, the WMA really needed to issue a fire ban.
“Give me credit, Ryder. I know how to say no.” The question in her voice turned to a lilt. “Will said something this afternoon about celebrating. And even an almost-win is worth celebrating.”
“He makes a good point.”
She sighed. “If I sounded like I didn’t want to go, I’m sorry. It’s just I’m not used to everyone knowing my business. Not used to a social life. I’m so behind in school, and I feel like if I don’t go to grad school and get that MBA, I’ll regret it as long as I live. This is one of those do-it-now-or-do-it-never moments. Being sick?—”
“You were sick?”
“Yeah, I was. For over two years. I don’t really like to talk about it. Anyway…you’d better not back out on me on pizza. I skipped lunch to be ready for garlic rolls, soda, and all the pizza I can eat.”
“Two years is a long time, Elizabeth. Are you doing okay?”
“I am. I just can’t overdo it. And remember the part where I said I don’t like to talk about it?”
Yeah, he’d heard, but that wasn’t good enough for him. He wanted to know everything about her—from her favorite color to her pet peeves to how she’d recovered and graduated from MIT with honors.
“Can I say you look beautiful and healthy?”
“All day, every day.”
Gladly. Ryder loved the laugh in her voice. “So, are we canceling tonight?”
“One does have to eat, and Granny doesn’t cook on Monday nights. She claims she has to recover from Sunday’s family dinner.”
“No one does Sunday dinner like Granny D. If we go to Angelo’s, we can order tiramisu.”
“I love tiramisu.”
“Then see you at six?”
“Six thirty,” she said. “Hey, Ryder, where are you? I hear birds.”
“At the old fire tower. Travis was…Never mind. I’ll see you tonight.” He felt dumb enough calling to cancel. He wasn’t going to whine to lovely Elizabeth—who’d battled illness for over two years—about his boss.
A warm breeze whistled through the broken boards of the tower, and Ryder vowed to give it all the love he could muster. Because broken things always needed love.
As Elizabeth got ready that evening, Granny fussed around Elizabeth’s room, up and down the hallway, humming the same tune over and over as she pretended to organize the hall closet.
“It’s no big deal, Granny. Just pizza,” she called, digging her white flip-flops out from under a pile of shoes.
Granny peered inside. “Did you say something?”
Elizabeth laughed. “I know you’re hanging around to see what I’m wearing.” She glanced in the floor mirror, then at Granny. “Well?” She wore white shorts, a navy-blue tank top, and her hair scooped into a top knot with curly tendrils around her neck.
“You look beautiful,” Granny said. “Can I give you some advice?”
Elizabeth pursed her lips and tipped her head to one side. “If I say no, will that stop you?”
“Doubtful.” Granny pulled out the desk chair and sat down. “Have fun, Beth.”
“That’s your advice?” Elizabeth searched her jewelry box for a pair of small blue diamond earrings. A gift from her brother Jonathan one Christmas. “Have fun?”
“You’ve been working sixty, seventy hours a week. It’s okay to let go a little, exhale, see how the other half lives. You don’t want to arrive at Wharton worn out. Your immune system is?—”
