Page 47 of Promised Summer
I knew my friend was trying to comfort me, butthere was also truth in his words. There was no point in worrying about it now. I just had to wait until I asked him what was really going on.
I told myself I would enjoy the rest of the evening with my friends, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop worrying about Ryan leaving and taking Karla with him. The little family unit we’d become would be shattered.
I wasn’t even in the right mindset to tease Clay about grilling Dan on who the ‘pretty little thing’ was, as I usually would have. I knew my friends were aware of my worries. Dan was very apologetic for mentioning the silly rumor and tried his best to comfort me. They all did. That was probably why they stayed longer than they usually would’ve. To try and take my mind off things.
I was thankful they stayed, because if I’d been alone, there was no doubt I wouldn’t have been able to resist texting Ryan for answers. And this really wasn’t the type of conversation we should have over a tiny phone. This felt way too big for that.
But when nine P.M. rolled around, and I still hadn’t heard a peep from Ryan, I started worrying. My friends had returned to their own homes. Alone in my empty cabin, it was feeling less like a home now.
I really tried to give Ryan his space and gave Lily tons of pets to distract my hands, but I eventually couldn’t hold back anymore and texted him to ask if he’d handled the matters he had to take care of today.
I wanted to see him, but more than that, Ineededto hear his voice. So, when he sent a voice reply saying he had, I called him.
“Hey!” Ryan said, picking up on the first ring. He sounded very chipper. I could only wonder if the joy stemmed from my call or if he’d received some other good news.
Like finding a place outside of Kither Springs…
I pushed the thought away, refusing to believe the rumors until Ryan confirmed them. I wanted to hear it straight from his mouth.
“Are you coming back now?” I asked, managing to push down the questions I really wanted answers to.
“Yeah, I’m almost back in the town’s limits. I have something exciting to tell you,” he said, and I could just imagine him standing in front of me, blue eyes dazzling in his excitement to share the news.
I only hoped the news wouldn’t break my heart.
“Yeah?” I replied. My voice was gruff, but I tried to keep it upbeat.
Ryan still noticed and asked, “Did something happen today?”
“No, I just…I miss you,” I said honestly. At least that I didn’t have to fake. “Can you come over tonight?”
“Okay,” he replied, voice soft and gentle. I could almost hear the indulgence in it.
“Are you with Karla? Maybe you two can spend the night?” I asked hopefully. I didn’t want to sound needy,but it was really hard not to let the insecurity seep into my tone.
“No, I didn’t bring her with me today. I just called her to say goodnight. It seems she’s doing well even without me by her side. I don’t know whether I should be happy or sad,” he said with a laugh.
I couldn’t help but smile along with him. “She’s growing into a strong young lady.”
“Hey, now! She’s still just a baby. She’ll always be my baby,” he mumbled.
I laughed and agreed with him. “So you’ll come over? Maybe spend the night?”
There was a pause for a minute, and then, sounding a tiny bit breathless, Ryan replied, “Yeah. I’ll head over now.”
“I’ll wait for you,” I said, already turning on the porch light. I told him to drive safely before hanging up and perching myself on the rocking chair outside.
Lily followed behind me. She pawed at my leg, her doggy eyebrows moving in alternating waves. She was probably confused about why I was sitting out here this late when I’d never done that before.
I laughed, stroked her soft fur, then told her to go potty. She’d been needing to go a lot more often lately, and I’d spread puppy pads around the cabin just in case she needed to go in the middle of the night.
With her due date bound to come soon, I haven’t been taking her with me to the construction site either. On the rare days Ryan agreed to work at my cabinduring the day, he and Karla would watch her. Otherwise, I dropped Lily over at my mom’s.
Lily went to do her business. Her belly was round, swaying side to side as she waddled away. If it wasn’t obvious she was pregnant before, it was very apparent now.
She soon came back and settled by my feet. I reached down to give her ear scritches as she dozed off. We stayed like that, her sleeping, and me watching the distance for signs of Ryan.
It wasn’t long before the headlights shone through the trees, and Ryan’s car came into view. I shot to my feet, and Lily gave me a look that could only be called annoyed for disturbing her rest.
