“Oh, good.” Her face brightened with relief. “My imagination was coming up with all sorts of terrible scenarios.”
“Poplar Springs is a safe place,” I said, but I was touched that she was concerned for me. “My evening consisted of paperwork, which is about as far from excitement as a person can get.”
“You could have brought that home,” she suggested. I liked the way she referred to my house as home. It made me feel warm inside even if I knew that our cohabitation was temporary.
“I do sometimes, but I spread it all over the kitchen table and make a mess. I didn’t want to inconvenience you.” Nor could I afford the distraction of having her near when I had to concentrate. I already struggled to do that in my office. At home, it would be impossible.
“It’s your house,” she pointed out.
“I don’t want to be rude.”
That got a smile from her for some reason. “I’ve never seen you be rude in my life,” she said, and I didn’t know how to respond to that. “I like this show,” she continued. “Do you mind if I sit down and join you?”
“Not at all,” I said, and she sat on the opposite end of the couch, tucking her legs underneath her. I turned the volume back up and we watched an old episode ofParks and Recreation. When we both laughed at the same moment, she shot me a smile.
“I don’t know why this show is so funny, but it is,” she said, and I felt the tension between us ease. Watching a show together late at night had the air of a truce between us. I studied her, wondering again what had happened to bring her home and if there was any chance she’d stay.
The fact that she was worried about me and that something bad had happened in town suggested she cared. Did that mean the town and some of the people were growing on her? I hoped so, because having her around was growing on me.
I cleared my throat while the next episode loaded. “So, what’d you do out at Lost Valley this morning?”
Her smile lit up the room as she launched into a description of the ride the women took to the meadow out near the Caffertys’ old hunting cabin, which was a stop on some of their longer trail rides. “The meadow grass and blooms were waist high, so when the horses walked through them, it was as if we were swimming in a lake of petals. I took a lot of pictures, and I have all these ideas for a series of floral designs to add to my portfolio.”
“That’s great.” Of course she was figuring out how to incorporate it into her work. “And you went out on horseback?”
She nodded with enthusiasm. “I rode a pretty chestnut named Red. When Fiona first asked me to come, I almost said no. I hadn’t been on a horse since high school and I was worried I’d make a fool out of myself, but it all worked out. I can’t wait to see the video. Zoe promised to send it out as soon as it was ready.”
Caitlin went on to share that she’d already looked up a couple horse rescues in Austin, and that she planned to reach out to them as a volunteer to help exercise the horses when she got back. I was pleased that she was finding things to do and friends here in town, but it unsettled me that she seemed to want to transplant all her good experiences back to Austin rather than staying in Poplar Springs to enjoy them here. She really was full focused on leaving this town behind and getting back to her other life.
A life I would never be a part of. I worried that Jake would be proven right. When Caitlin eventually returned to Austin, it would be like breaking up with her all over again.
THIRTEEN
BRIAN
At lunchtime the next day, I entered the diner. I wished I had time to sit down in a booth, order a big meal, flirt with my favorite waitress, and leave an enormous tip—but I was too busy to do more than pick up a takeout order and eat at my desk. I couldn’t help thinking it was a shame that today of all days found me too rushed for a long lunch. Our evening on the couch had done a lot to restore a friendship between us and I wanted to enjoy time with her while I could.
“Where’s Caitlin?” I asked when Aurora brought me the bagged order.
“She seemed upset about something, so I sent her on break a little early. I think she’s out back. I’d check on her, but…” Aurora gestured to the full diner behind her.
“I’ll do it,” I said. My workload was enormous today, but I didn’t like the thought of her being upset.
I headed to the small parking lot. Caitlin was facing away from me, but her hands covered her face. “Caitlin?” I kept my voice soft.
It took her a few seconds to turn, and I imagined that she was trying to compose herself. “Getting lunch?” she asked, and I held up the bag in a silent answer.
“Want to split it with me?”
“Not hungry.” She shook her head. “I just needed a minute, some fresh air, you know.”
“Aurora said you seemed upset about something.” I could see it on her face, too. “Did your mother pop in again?”
“No, not that. I did see her in Hastings yesterday, but she didn’t see me.” Her hands dropped to her waist, and she rubbed them together nervously.
“Then what?” Now that things were friendlier between us again, I couldn’t resist prying a little. If she was in trouble, then I wanted to help—and I hoped that now that we were friends again, she’d let me. “Why don’t you come sit down with me and we’ll talk?” I was almost surprised when she turned and moved past me to sit on a small bench. I sat next to her and waited for her to begin.
“The short version is that my ex-boyfriend stole money from me,” she said after a minute. “I’m trying to recover it, but I keep hitting roadblocks.”
