“An afternoon stroll around Heritage Park is exactly what I need. But only if you join me.”
Sawyer smiled. “That was never a question.”
Paxton left a note on Carmen’s desk, letting her know where they would be in case anyone came to the law practice looking for them. Even though they had yet to be visited by anyone from the community regarding the proposed flood-protection system, being available to answer questions was one of their duties during this phase of the project.
She locked up using the key Matt had given them, and she and Sawyer then walked the short distance along the brick sidewalk to Heritage Park.
They entered underneath the arching wrought-iron entranceway. Fragrant vines of coral honeysuckle twined within the sign’s intricate lacework. The park, like most of the downtown area, had experienced a resurgence in the past few years. Various clubs and civic organizations took turns maintaining the grounds, and every six months there was a community-wide cleanup day, where everyone pitched in to do their part in keeping downtown Gauthier beautiful.
They were even dabbling in a bit of culture. An art installation was on display in the park. Several steel pieces—nothing that Paxton could decipher the meaning of—surrounded the park’s central feature, a classic wooden waterwheel that, after years of sitting idle, was finally churning again.
Instead of checking out the artwork, Paxton headed straight for her favorite area of the park, the arbor. In the spring its rustic, spindly branches were covered in sweet-scented wisteria, fostering the perfect hideaway to steal a few moments of peace.
“I love this place,” she said, pulling in a deep breath even though the last blooms of wisteria had left with the hot summer sun. “On my list of top ten things I’ve missed about Gauthier this past year, this park is number two.”
“What’s number one?”
“My dog, of course,” Paxton said.
He chuckled. “Not your mom?”
She shook her head. “Belinda and I talked on the phone every single day, but I missed not having Heinz around to nuzzle.”
“Why didn’t you bring him with you to Arkansas?”
Paxton shrugged. “I have a condo in Little Rock. Heinz needs space to run. And he’s always been Belinda’s companion just as much as he’s been mine. I didn’t even bring him with me when I bought my house over on Pine Street here in Gauthier. I couldn’t take him away from everything he’s known.”
“You sold that house, right?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
Paxton’s forehead scrunched up with her confused frown. “Because I was moving.”
“So Little Rock wasn’t just a trial run. You plan to stay there?”
Her steps slowed until she stopped completely. With a shake of her head, Paxton admitted, “I still don’t know.”
Sawyer leaned back against one of the arbor’s thick support beams and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Can I ask you something?” he said.
The weighted tone of his voice told Paxton she probably didn’t want to hear what he had to say, but she decided not to be a coward for once and answered, “Go ahead.”
“Did you leave because of what happened between us?”
She’d expected his question would be along these lines, but she was still a bit awed by his boldness.
“That happened three years ago, Sawyer. I left last year, two yearsafteryou were already married and living in Chicago,” she pointed out. “Why would you think you had anything to do with my leaving?”
He hunched his shoulders, looking chagrined. “Wishful thinking.”
“So you wish that I was still so affected by that one night we spent together that I had to pick up and leave everything I love?”
“When you put itthatway, it makes me seem arrogant.”
Her brow arched. “You think?”
