Page 6 of Safe With You

The two guys by the truck came to mind. Would they still be there? Surely, they wouldn’t try something out in the open in broad daylight, but who was she to say? She’d heard enough stories not to assume anything or ignore a bad feeling, especially after what Ethan had said. If he was willing to accompany her, it might be wise to let him.

“If you really don’t mind.”

“Of course not.”

Katie returned to her car while Ethan discussed their plans with his parents. When she reached it, she realized he still had her keys, so she stood and waited for him. A minute later, he strode toward her. He held up the keys.

“Want me to drive?”

Since the seat was still adjusted to his height, she nodded. It was one less thing to think about.

They both got in, and as they buckled their seatbelts, Ethan sent her a quick smile. “My parents are thrilled to have you. They were afraid we wouldn’t get to see you again before you left. I think we’re all eager to catch up after so long. It’ll be like old times.”

Now that she’d accepted the invitation, anticipation stirred within Katie. Perhaps she could recapture some of the belonging she had found with the Harts as a child, even temporarily. She needed that right now.

They pulled away from the cemetery as heavy raindrops pattered against the windshield, and Katie settled back into her seat with a sigh. All at once, the sleepless nights and the emotions of the past four days descended on her. It would be so nice to change into something comfortable and try to relax.

Once they’d turned onto the highway running through town, Katie tipped her head to look at Ethan. She couldn’t help staring and taking in how much he’d changed from the teenager she once knew. She probably had too, though many days it did not feel like it.

He must have noticed and glanced at her. His brows dipped, though he kept his eyes on the road. “What?”

She shook her head. “It’s just crazy seeing you again. I didn’t even know if you were still in Two Lakes.”

“It’s been a long time.” A wistful undercurrent tinged his voice.

The same wistfulness ached deep down inside Katie, where the trauma of leaving had never completely healed. “It has been.” A long time and a lot of life lived. They had so much to catch up on. Where did they even start?

The basics, she supposed. “How have you been? What have you been doing?”

“Good, for the most part. I have my own woodworking business now.”

“Really? I thought you planned to work with your dad.” For as long as Katie had lived in the area, Ethan’s dad and grandpa had operated a successful construction company. Joel had joined them when he graduated, and Ethan had said he would too.

“I did for a while. I worked with Dad and Joel right out of high school, but I realized I was more drawn to cabinetry and furniture than construction, so about a year ago, I decided to try doing it full time.”

“And it’s going well?”

He shrugged, slowing at a stoplight. “It’s the first year of business, so I wouldn’t call it a success just yet. I sell to some shops in the area, and Dad and Joel recommend me for custom orders when they can. I hope it will continue to grow as I become more established and make more connections. I still work with Joel when he needs an extra hand. My dad is mostly retired, so Joel has taken over the business. What about you?”

She winced. How did she answer that question? Like Ethan, she would love to run her own business, but that dream seemed so far out of reach it wasn’t even worth mentioning. “I’m between jobs at the moment. Not exactly by choice.”

“I’m sorry. That must be difficult.”

He had no idea, and she let the conversation fall silent. If she tried to talk about it now with the funeral emotions still so strong, she’d start crying again, and she didn’t want that.

A minute or two passed. Then Ethan’s voice rose over the patter of the rain. “So, Christopher doesn’t seem to have changed much, considering I haven’t seen him since he was, what…ten?”

Katie jumped on the change of topic, thankful he hadn’t asked any questions about her lack of employment. “Only bad changes. We haven’t had contact in years, but from what I see in passing on his social media, he’s into some dark stuff.”

“Drugs?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Does he have a job or anything?”

“I don’t know. Probably not. I know he never finished college and used to live with friends down by Lake Geneva, but I’m pretty sure he lives with my mom and Grant now.”

Her family was a mess any way you looked at it. And though she had fought to do better, could she really say she had succeeded?

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