ChapterThirty
Kendall
I licked my lips nervously, my belly spinning.“I can’t believe this is happening,” I said, being honest about my own uncertainty.
Jude reached over, catching my hand and lacing his fingers through mine.His thumb began to stroke in an idle, comforting pass on the inside of my wrist.“I kind of can’t either, but I’m all in.”
“So what are you doing today?”I managed, trying to distract myself.I couldn’t be going around getting turned on all the time with Jude because we actually had things to do, like life.
“I have a hike to lead.Haven texted that the group was getting ready.”
“In the winter?”I eyed the snowy landscape rolling by.We were in the heart of winter with several feet of snow blanketing the ground.
“Well, snowshoeing,” he added.
“Oh, I love snowshoeing!”
His chuckle spun around my heart.“I know you do.Anytime you want to go with me on these hikes, you’re welcome.Although I know you’re usually busy at the rescue,” he added.
“That is the story of my life, busy at the rescue.I have to study tonight.Is that going to be okay?”
Jude cast me a side-eye.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”I pressed.
He shook his head, bringing his eyes back to the road.“Of course, it’s okay for you to study.You’re getting your veterinarian degree.I know that’s important to you.You don’t have to entertain me, Kendall.If having dinner at the resort takes too much time because you need to study, we’ll go back to your place and I’ll make some dinner for you.The better guess is my mom will make us something to take with us.”
I smiled, my heart feeling warm.“I know she would.”
“Back to my point, I already know you need to study.I’ll hang out and watch something on TV.”Jude let out a sigh.“And, I also have to finish up my certification for the electrician thing.”
“Oh, I forgot you’re doing that.”
“Well, it’s because I’m doing it really slow.”He chuckled.
“I think it’s good, you like being able to do anything needed.”
“I do.As it is, Cole’s the one who does everything electrical at the resort, and he could use some help.”
“You all are for sure adding the extra rooms, right?”
Jude let out a sigh, smiling at the same time.“Yeah, we are.We need to.At this point, we have a waitlist that’s almost a year long if we were to book everyone who’s waiting.”
I squeezed his hand.“I’m so happy for you all.”
He squeezed back.“I know you are.It’s been a long time coming.”
“When did you say Lincoln was coming home?”I asked.
“It sounds like sometime in the next couple of months.It’ll be good to have him here.”
“How’s he doing these days?”I knew how much Jude worried about Lincoln.
Jude was quiet for a moment, lifting one shoulder in a shrug when I glanced over.“He sounds okay, better than he has in a long time.”
“You all miss Bree.Hopefully, Lincoln coming home will maybe help him… I don’t know.I don’t want to say let it go, because I know he’s always going to feel something.But maybe he can find some peace in what he can’t change.”
“That’s what we all hope.”Jude’s voice was low, and the subtle reverberation of pain echoed in it.
