I watch her stalk over to the painting crew. Janelle smiles at her, and they exchange a few brief words. Janelle laughs, and her gaze flicks to me. They’re talking about me, probably about what an uptight ass I am.
I don’t care, I tell myself. My mission is to get this ceremonial space finished before opening, and if I upset a few people in the process, then that’s just life.
I pull my clipboard to my chest and march off to find Joel to give him a progress report.
It’s later that afternoon while I’m helping the team spread the mulch that I hear a familiar giggle.
“Uncle Hudson!”
I spin around to find my nephew toddling toward me, his chubby hands outstretched. My heart softens at the sight of the little guy, and I scoop him into my arms.
“You stinky,” he declares, scrunching up his nose.
“I’m spreading mulch. It gets stinky.”
“It’s too thick in this area.” Paige, my sister, moves around the garden in her heavy boots, her critical eye scanning everything.
She designed the gardens in the entire center and has given hours of her time to be here. But as her business has grown over the past few months, she’s been around less and less.
Ryan stands with his hands on his hips, inspecting. It’s still a jolt for me to see my best friend with my little sister.
He nods in greeting, and I return it. Then he grabs a rake that’s propped up against the wall and walks into the garden bed to help move mulch around. If he’s unbalanced on his prosthetic, it doesn’t show. He moves with agility and speed I never thought possible when I dragged his sorry ass out of the veteran’s hospital in Louisville and brought him here.
Paige glances up at him, and they share a private smile. I have to admit, my sister seems happier with Ryan around. She smiles more and has less of an attitude.
“Are you protecting or are you burying that tree?” she barks at Ryan.
I see she hasn’t completely lost her attitude.
His eyes dance, and he lunges at her with his rake. She squeals and steps out of the way. Noah squirms in my arms, and I lethim down. He runs to join his parents, who are laughing as they battle each other with garden implements.
My chest squeezes at the ease with which they are together. I spent so long looking out for my sister, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have someone to laugh with.
I steal a glance at Willow. There’s no denying she’s attractive, with her full figure and easy smile.
But she’s not smiling now. She’s staring at her phone, and her usually rosy cheeks are pale.
I stride over, and she’s still frozen in place when I reach her.
“What’s wrong?”
The words seem to penetrate, and she shakes her head as if shaking off a bad dream.
“Nothing. Just some bad news,” she replies, pocketing her phone.
Her eyes lack their usual spark, and I’d give anything for her to give me a dressing-down right now. I like that better than the pale woman before me.
She doesn’t expound on the news, and despite wanting to push, I know it’s none of my business.
“Do you need a break?”
She shakes her head and tries for a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.” She takes up her brush. “Boss wants this section done by the end of the day.”
The joke falls flat, and she turns to the fence. I barely know the woman, but I know when someone’s lying to me.
I lean in so only she can hear, and my lips are almost touching her ear. I catch the floral tones of her shampoo and the acrylic paint.
“If you’re in any trouble …”
