The Howler, the local hotel, bar, and restaurant, had erected a marquee outside, and it was there the reception was to be held. Summer meant the weather was perfect, and she knew the night would be spent laughing, dancing, and enjoying her friends’ company. Macy inhaled. She never tired of the clean, fresh air she got just stepping outside her door. It steadied her now and helped her refocus.
“Nice little town you have here.”
He'd caught her, and suddenly her body was tense again. She looked out the corner of her eye as Brad fell in beside her, his long stride easing back so he kept pace with her shorter ones.
“We like it.” Macy tried for calm. He was just another handsome man, and she'd been surrounded by them for years.No need to get all flustered about it, Macy.
“Those trees are something special.”
“Some of them are older than this town. You should walk the trails while you’re here, if you have the time.”
“I might take you up on that. Any chance you could be my guide?”
“I haven't walked them in years.”
“All the more reason to then.”
“Are you here long, Mr. Gelderman?”
“Brad, and I'm not sure how long yet, maybe a day or two, maybe less.”
They walked a few paces in silence and Macy felt the ridiculous urge to speak, to say anything that would break the tension she felt in the air. Was it just her that felt it?
“Billy's a nice boy, ma’am. You and his father must be proud.”
“Macy, and we're divorced, and yes, he's wonderful. I-I'm not sure what I'd do without him.”
Macy tended to babble when she was nervous, and now was definitely one of those times.
“Is he going somewhere then?”
“Who?”
“Billy. You just said you didn’t know what you’d do without him.”
“Oh right. No, he’s not going anywhere except daycare.”
“Then I'm sure he'll be around, leeching off you, until he goes to a university or decides to travel. Having said that, I can't imagine anyone wanting to leave here.”
She often took her little town for granted, but when someone said something like that she took another look around her and saw the beauty. “Yes, it's special.”
Macy took the last step and reached for the door handle of the Howler. A large hand beat her to it.
“A gentleman always opens the door for a lady.”
“Thanks.”
Macy walked through and into the bar area. She nodded to a few people as they passed the large stone hearth that in the winter months roared with fire.
“I hadn't expected Packers’ stuff on the walls.”
Macy stopped because Brad Gelderman had. His eyes were on the wall that held NFL paraphernalia.
“It gets to Ethan too. He put up a Longhorns cap once, and Noah Harris, he owns the Howler, threatened to ban him if he did it again.”
The side of his mouth kicked up. “Ethan's passionate about what he loves, and the Longhorns have always been important to him. I'm glad to hear they still are.”
He looked thoughtful as he studied the wall. Like he was looking but not really seeing, and his mind was someplace else.
