“No,” she said firmly. “The run starts at six sharp. If he’s late, he misses it.”
Holden’s ears perked up.
She hung up and shook her head. “It’s wild to me that one person thinks they can inconvenience an entire group of people. Consideration is well and truly dead.”
She couldn’t be talking about the same running club Clara had just told him about? Of course she could. That’s how small Amber Ridge was.
“Was that about a running club?”
Her frown shifted into a smile. “Yes. We’re called Pulse Pounders. My idea. A few of us from the hospital started the initiative. Mostly me.”
“Are there other running clubs in Amber Ridge?”
“Nope. Exactly why we—I—started the club. I like to help. It’s just who I am.”
Surprising. This woman didn’t have a do-gooder vibe, but then, he didn’t really know her. “Can anyone join?”
“Of course. It’s for the community.” Her brows lifted. “Wait, you want to join?”
“When and where is it?”
“Thursday and Sunday mornings at six a.m. sharp. We meet in the center of town on the grassy area.”
Clara would hate it if he showed up. But it would put his mind at ease. And if she needed to rest, he could rest with her. Hell, he could carry her back to her car if needed.
Chronic fatigue was something she’d suffered from since the chemo. When she pushed herself too hard, she was susceptible to passing out. Just a few weeks ago, she’d just about passed out at Jesse’s house.
“Yeah, I think I’ll join,” he finally said.
Briar’s smile widened. “Great. Well, I guess I’ll see you there.”
“I guess you will.”
Over the next twenty minutes, he took the last of the measurements and finished his sketch. He also took some photos and asked Briar a couple more questions about what she wanted. He still wasn’t sure about this whole ripping-out-a-perfectly-good-kitchen thing, but if there was anything he’d learned about woodworking, it was that people often requested jobs that weren’t to his taste, and that was okay, because it wasn’t for him.
He lifted his tools. “All right. I’ve got everything I need. I’ll go home, draw up some plans, and send you a quote within the next week.”
She nodded. “Sounds good.”
He’d just gotten into his truck when his phone dinged with a text.
Jesse: My sister will hate me for this, but I think you’re right. One of us should join this running club…just to be safe.
Holden: I’m a step ahead of you, brother. I’ve got the details. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Jesse: This is why I like you.
He put his phone in the middle console and started the truck.
He was probably overthinking this entire thing. But maybe Briar having the information about the run was a sign. Like the universe was agreeing that he should go…even if it was the last thing Clara wanted.
CHAPTER 3
“He asked you if that was a smart idea?”
Clara cupped her mug of dandelion root tea, angry all over again just hearing Indie repeat the words Holden had said to her yesterday. “Yep. Andthenhe texted me asking for the time and place of the run.”
Indie’s expressive green eyes widened. “No…you don’t think—”
