He sighed. “I’m actually meeting Colt there this afternoon.”
Her belly gave a little kick. “You are?”
“Yes. Randy, our contractor, is meeting us. We’re going to do some of the work ourselves, but we want to get it done quickly and outsourcing is faster.”
“That sounds good.” Crap. Her voice was too high-pitched, and if the slight frown on Noah’s face was anything to go by, he heard it.
“If you’re not okay with this—”
“I am.” Maybe if she repeated that enough times, she’d convince herself it was true. But what right did she have to tell her brother not to open a business with her husband? None. If they wanted to do it, it was their choice.
“This was Colt’s idea,” he said quietly. “I didn’t have any other plans in terms of work, so I said yes. But say the word and I—”
“You’re doing it. It’s done. Plus, ziplining, bouldering, and mountain bike riding are all your favorite things. It’s perfect for you. Just because Colt and I are separated doesn’t mean the twoof you need to separate. Besides, it’s a small town. I need to get used to Colt being around.” Even if it did feel ridiculously hard.
Mrs. Gerald stopped at their booth and set down their coffees and a slice of pie.
Holy Hannah, the pie looked good. But first, coffee.
She sipped the hot liquid, not even caring that it burned her tongue, because it wasthatgood.
Noah sipped his drink. “Shit. That’s really good.”
“Told you.”
He eyed her pie.
“Fine. One taste.” She pushed her plate across the table.
He spooned some into his mouth before groaning. “Shit, when did this place open and where was it while we were kids?”
“Apparently, it’s been open for years, but Mrs. Gerald made really bad coffee and sold mostly loose-leaf tea. Aspen helped her make it great.”
“Aspen, as in Jesse’s woman?”
“Yeah. Have you seen Jesse, Becket, or Clara yet?”
“No, but Aunt Pam has insisted I attend Sunday night dinner.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, that’s still mandatory.”
“We’re lucky to have her. After Mom and Dad died and Bonnie left, at least you still had them.”
“Webothhad them.”
“Yeah, but I was away in the military. You were here.”
“They’re our family.”
“They are.” His brows flickered. “You haven’t spoken to Bonnie?”
That familiar ache coursed through her belly. The same one she got whenever she thought about Bonnie. “I message her every so often. I don’t get a response.”
He shook his head. “I wish she’d just come home and stop blaming herself for everything.”
Indie swallowed. She agreed. But she also felt angry. Angry that Bonnie had run when they’d needed each other most. It only made everything hurt worse.
But she shouldn’t have expected anything else from her younger sister. Bonnie had always thought about Bonnie first.
