Page 101 of A Lesson for Laurel

“I can do that,” she said. “Is he home?”

“He is.”

“Then I’ll call now. It was nice talking to you.” She hung up with her aunt and then called her father. “Hi, Dad. Am I interrupting you?”

“Nope,” her father said. “I was going to go mow the lawn soon and do some yard work. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Just wanted to tell you how happy I am. That things are going well with me and Easton. Better than I ever thought possible. He’s a great guy.”

“I’m glad to hear that. So I don’t have to worry about breaking any bones?”

“Never,” she said. “I thought you liked him.”

“I do,” her father said. “Doesn’t mean I don’t worry he’s going to break your heart, but you have to decide if you’re even willing to open your heart again.”

“I have. I did. I love him. He loves me.”

No way she was confessing much more than that. Not how they said they loved each other or all the tingles she felt in her body when she thought of Easton. Not just sexual either. Emotional ones she didn’t know she was capable of even having!

“He should love you. You’re a great person. A special person.”

“So is he,” she said softly.

“I’ve heard all I need to,” her father said. “I’m happy for you. Just hope it stays that way.”

“Me too,” she said. “But I’ve got a good feeling about this. And I’m not rushing.”

“Even better,” her father said.

33

A DIFFERENT LIFE

“Did you hear what happened to Aster?”

“No. What?” Laurel asked three days later when Ivy came rushing in. She’d thought it was odd Ivy and Brooks hadn’t gone on their honeymoon yet, but they were waiting a week. She didn’t ask specifics and it wasn’t her business.

“Earlier this morning he was outside with Zane working and he had chest pains and Zane rushed him to the ER. Thankfully they found out that it was bone fragments from his gunshot wound, but with the open heart surgery and all a year ago, they had no clue.”

“Gunshot?” she asked. Laurel knew he’d been in the service a year ago or so but had no idea why he left. She wasn’t one for getting in the middle of other people’s lives just like she didn’t like people getting involved and questioning hers.

“You don’t know?” Ivy asked. “First, Aster will be fine. I just got done talking to Raine. They are going to release him soon. He’ll have to have surgery, but guess some bone fragments were pressing on nerves and that is why he’s been having issues with his left arm.”

She hadn’t known he was having any issues there either. Again, not her business and it’s not like she shared health issues with anyone.

“I’m glad that it seems like it’s something fixable.”

“It is,” Raine said. “But you said you didn’t know about his gunshot. I shouldn’t have said that. I think I figured most knew now. It’s not a secret.”

“I’m not surprised he might have been shot in the service.”

“It wasn’t that,” Ivy said. “He stopped the attempted abduction of a teenage girl and was shot in the chest. He went back to Texas not long ago and helped Daphne pack up and move here, but he had to testify in court. That is why I assumed you knew. I know you two work together more than most.”

“No,” she said. “We don’t talk too much about those things. Mainly work. I’m sorry that happened to him.”

“He’s a hero,” Ivy said. “A true one. Such a great guy. I’m so happy for Raine and him. Anyway, that is why he had to leave today.”

She knew he’d left early with Zane, but no one had said a word as to why.

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