Scattered laughter. Groans. Babs wiggled in her seat like she was already feeling the pain.
I leaned back and let out a low breath.
Great.
A raw heart and a saddle sore. Perfect combo.
Still, it made me smirk. A little.
“You know,” Babs leaned into me. “One day, you’ll look back and be glad your sister insisted you come on this trip.”
I gave her a sideways glance, determined not to talk about the person whose seat she had claimed. “Of course. I mean, it’s one of the wonders of the world.”
Babs swatted my arm…softly though. “You don’t fool me. But I mean it. Everything happens for a reason, and when things don’t work out the way you expect, it just means you get to try again.”
Damn it, Babs.
“Maybe.”
“No maybe about it.”
She opened her tote and pulled out a photo album. Not digital. A real one, with those cheap plastic sleeve pages that crinkled when you turned them.
“I had some of these printed last night,” she said. “Just a few of us. The photo at Four Corners. And Ed and Eddie at the wineries. Remember that?”
She flipped the page. Her smile was bright and unbothered.
“There’s also a Facebook group for our bus. Tay says she does one for all her tours. Everyone’s photos are in there. Well, the good ones.”
She tilted it toward me.
“Did you see that Roger and Helen are home now? And Helen is already planning a trip for them this fall.”
“Good for them.” I didn’t mean to sound like I didn’t care, but this was just…harder than I would have expected.
“You don’t have to look,” Babs said, closing the book gently. “Not sure I would either.”
I finally twisted around. Mrs. Grady looked to be sleeping. She had her eyes closed and her head resting on the window.
And for the first time since being…blindsided, I wondered if I had been the only one.
Tay had to have known, hadn’t she? I lowered my chin. “Did you know?” I asked. “About Mrs. Grady’s…surprise.”
And Babs, well, Babs looked so crestfallen as she shook her head that I instantly felt sorry.
“I think she knew that I’d say something.” Babs was keeping her voice as low as I had. “And I suppose I would have because what happened last night wasn’t right. I would have followed you if I thought it would have helped.”
That had me melting a little, just knowing that she cared.
“Just know, sweetheart, that we’re all rooting for you.”
The words didn’t register at first. But then…
“Just saying,” Babs said breezily. Too breezily? “You’ve shown so much strength on this trip. And heart. And, well, we’ve all been there.”
What? What did that mean? I frowned slightly, but didn’t push. I was too everything to pull apart why that felt…off.
I needed to get myself together. Just a few more days and I’d be back at home. Until then, I would just have to make the best of things.
