Page 16 of Married With Lies

“It is when I get to see it. I’m out of town a lot.”

I’d rather not think about what he does when he’s out of town. Instead, I wrack my brain for safer topics.

“So what’s Luca been up to? Last I heard he was going to school down south.”

Cale’s brother is a year older than me but we never knew each other well. He went to the public high school and played football. He was an outgoing, good looking kid, forever popular, kept out of trouble. We just didn’t run in the same crowds.

A hint of a smile pulls at the corners of Cale’s mouth as he speaks of his brother. “Luca’s doing really well. He went to college in Georgia and now he’s at law school in Miami.”

“Good for him. A tropical beach doesn’t sound half bad right now.”

Despite the presence of all these people it’s damn cold in here. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if my father actually has the air conditioning on. He has a deep hatred of stuffy rooms. My arms prickle from the chill. As soon as I escape this conversation I think I’ll run upstairs for one of the cardigan sweaters crocheted by Peggy.

“I assumed you’d prefer the snow to the beach,” Cale says.

“You mean because I live in Colorado? Did Baylor tell you all about that too? Did you guys talk about anything else besides me?”

“Yes. We talked about his political campaign and his new wife.”

“Both of them stink. The campaign and the wife.”

Cale stares for a second and then breaks into a real smile. He sure is nice to look at. “You’re all right, Sadie. I think I can help you.”

“Okay. But who says I need help?”

He stands and shrugs out of his blazer. Then he promptly drapes it over my shoulders like a cape. I’m too surprised to do anything but silently agree as I’m enveloped in Cale’s jacket. It comes equipped with Cale’s residual body warmth and an addictive smell of spiced aftershave.

“You looked cold,” he explains once he’s sitting across the table again. His shirt is casually rolled to the elbows, exposing more ink.

He saw me rubbing my arms and shivering. I sure hope my nipples aren’t outlined. That would be mortifying. I pull the edges of the jacket together, just in case. “My dad always keeps the house arctic. It’s as if he thinks we’re all reptiles. So thanks for the jacket.”

The women at the next table, the ones who were checking Cale out a minute ago, are still keenly observing our entire interaction. One smiles. The other wears a sour frown.

“Tell me about your ranch,” Cale says.

Cale has managed to guess my favorite topic of conversation. He may regret it. Once I start talking about the ranch it’s tough to turn me off.

“Bright Hearts Ranch. The original owners called it Desperado Fields but that was the first thing to go. Our goal is to provide sanctuary for animals in the hopes of adopting them out to permanent homes and there have been a lot of hiccups along the way but we, that is me and all the volunteers, do the best we can to stretch our resources and accept as many animals as possible. Dogs and cats mainly. For a little while we had a falcon with an injured wing. Gus is like the Animal Whisperer and helped him rehabilitate. It was a huge celebratory moment when he was healed enough to fly away on his own. It’s my goal to make the necessary barn repairs so that we can start taking horses. You wouldn’t believe how many calls we get about horses that have nowhere to go. And of course there’s always a need for more space for all other creatures large and small.”

As I prattle on and on, Cale listens to every word. His eyes don’t stray once. Even if he’s merely being polite, this is a welcome change of pace. Not a single member of my family is ever remotely interested in my life’s passion. They think I’m insane. A massive embarrassment to the esteemed Wingate lineage.

When I need to pause and take a breath, Cale finally asks a question. “How do you raise funds?”

“Well, it’s a nonprofit of course. We receive donations. Occasionally we hold local adoption events and that helps with fundraising. Some money comes in from the online store where I sell merchandise with our logo but I haven’t been able to devote much time to that venture.”

“And you can’t keep your head above water.”

He says it matter-of-factly. Not a question. Baylor must have told him that too.

My pride feels a little dented, even if the statement is accurate. “Raising cash for a charitable enterprise is a struggle even in the best of times.”

He considers this and seems to find it amusing. “So you came home to beg the Bank of Wingate for a bailout.”

Talk about touching a nerve. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“No real bank would give you a loan?”

“Already drowning in loans.” With delinquency fees and excessive interest but no need to advertise the full scope of my desperation.

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