Page 50 of Any Luck at All

When Maisie left, she gave him a hug. “Sorry again about earlier,” she said. “I know I got all weird and mama dog on you.”

“No need to apologize,” he said, and meant it. “Everyone’s entitled to their moods, and their opinions.”

“I’ll check in about Hops tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. Maybe he’d like to see his brothers and sisters again soon.”

“Sure, as long as the rest of them don’t start yacking. I don’t want to leave you with a sick puppy on your hands.”

After she left, the apartment felt aggressively empty, even with Hops, and River found himself staring at his phone. Maybe he should text Georgie. Not to pressure her or confront her about anything. He could keep things light, tell her about the movie. Warn her away from it, as it were. It would be an excuse to reach out, and he found he very much wanted one.

He was reaching for the phone when the text alert went off. For a second his spirits lifted, like he was Hops when presented with a bowl full of food, but a quick glance revealed it was Aunt Dottie, not Georgie. Because of course it wasn’t Georgie.

He unlocked the phone to see it was a text message, and was taken aback to realize it wasn’t just to him—she’d also sent it to Georgie, Jack, and two other numbers.

Please join me at Beau’s house on Sunday at 7 p.m. for a séance. I sense Beau has a very important message for you, my dear Buchanans. I’ll set up video conferencing for those of you who are unable to join us in person. I fear you’ll be unable to partake in the thematic meal I’m preparing, but we’ll be sure to show you everything on the video feed. Until then. Namaste, your friend Dottie.

What in the world was she planning now?

Chapter Nineteen

After returning to her hotel on Friday night, Georgie got an alert reminding her to check in for her flight.

Damn it. She’d meant to change the flight to next week, but all of the space in her mind had been occupied with the brewery debacle and River, and she’d completely forgotten. Something that was quite unlike her. But after a few moments’ reflection, she decided to fly home after all. She only had a few changes of clothes, and if she was moving to Asheville, she needed more of her personal belongings. Besides, after the way her evening had ended with River, a couple of days away seemed like a good idea. So instead of canceling it, she booked a flight back to Asheville on Sunday afternoon, early enough that she could get a good night’s sleep before (hopefully) having a fresh start on Monday.

But when she landed in Boston early Saturday afternoon, she turned her phone on and found a string of texts between her siblings.

Lee:Does she really expect us to “attend” this thing on Sunday night?

Adalia:Relax, Junior. It’ll be fun

Lee:Victoria and I have dinner reservations at Geoffrey’s.

Adalia:Of course you do

Lee:What’s that supposed to mean?

Adalia:That you’re too pretentious for your own good. Mom would want you to “attend”

Lee:That’s bullshit and you know it.

Adalia:Do I? …do YOU???

Adalia:Georgie, is Jack going to this thing?

What on earth were they talking about?

She was about to ask them when she scrolled down and saw Dottie’s text. She could have sworn it hadn’t been there that morning when she’d texted her friend Meredith saying she’d be home for less than twenty-four hours for the last time in who knew how long. Meredith had texted that she and her newest boyfriend had left for Nantucket the night before. She wouldn’t be back until late Sunday night, she’d said, but Georgie owed her an explanation on Monday.

There were no texts from Jack, not even in response to Dottie’s message. He hadn’t tried to contact her since his abrupt departure the day before…had it only been a day? So much had happened since their short-lived tour of the brewery.

She texted back,No. Jack went back to Chicago to wrap up some personal things so he’ll be able to devote his attention to the brewery.No need to tell them he might be gone for a month or more. She was sure Lee would give her flak for that. Or tell their father.

Thinking about the brewery made her think about River. Why had she gone and ruined everything and kissed him? Twice. Now there was the potential for things to be mega awkward between them, not to mention it could prove to be an HR nightmare. If she had any HR employees. But even though Lee would leap to the possibility of some sort of complaint, she knew it wasn’t an issue. River was no liar, and she hadn’t made an unwanted pass at him. In fact, his response proved he’d felt no obligation to respond. But respond he had, and in a way she would never forget.

The heat of the kiss filled her again, as powerful as if she’d just left his apartment, that inner fire fanned by the thought of where things might have gone if they hadn’t been interrupted by Maisie, making her entire body flush as she flagged down a taxi to take her to her condo.

“You need me to turn down the a/c?” the middle-aged driver asked once she was settled on the back seat with her purse and her overnight bag. “You’re looking a little hot.”

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