Page 8 of Dance in the Light
“Why would Ryan need to be here?” I asked.
“Why not Ryan?” One of Marcie’s pals asked back, wiggling her eyebrows. “He isthe manto call for fixing just about anything.”
Dammit. That was the trouble with small towns. If there was a hunky man who could fix things, he was in high demand. So Ryan apparently repaired cars, rescued women from the side of the road, and made house calls fixing air conditioners. Lovely.
I suffered through another shower game until a tall woman with brown hair held up in a net and wearing a white apron over jeans and a blouse came out from the kitchen, wiping her brow with a towel.
“We’ll be bringing out the trays of food for the buffet now,” she said to Megan. Then she did a double take on me. The look of recognition flew across her face, and she rushed from the room.
I jumped up, recognizing her too. It surprised me to see my old friend from school. I found her through the kitchen, heading out the back door.
“Trudy?” I caught up to her outside and hugged her tight. “So good to see a friendly face.”
“Cindy? What are you doing here? Your sisters told me you were too busy to come back for the shower.” She stepped back and looked me up and down like I was a ghost.
“I was, but . . . well with Dad’s passing.”
“Right. Sorry. I always loved Mr. Hale. He could scare me with his bark, but he was a total softy underneath. So, have you . . . seen Ryan yet?”
“Yes.” I rolled my eyes. “My car broke down and he towed me to town on the first day. Then I met his beautiful little girl. What a shock? Ryan as a father? I really should have stayed in touch more, so the news wouldn’t have hit me so hard.”
“So hard? I thought you never had feelings for Ryan?” The blood appeared to drain from her face.
Behind me I could hear the unmistakable sound of Bessie, and turned to see Ryan parking his beloved truck. He got out and leaned into the cab, plucking Rose out of her seat.
There went my insides again. The more I saw Ryan with Rose in his arms, the more I wondered a million could haves and should haves, even if the nice boy I once knew had turned into a growly man.
In a muscle tank and cargo shorts, he showed off his tanned biceps and thighs, and a day or two of growth on his jaw and chin added just the perfect layer of extra sexiness. Whew, the heat was getting to me.
I stared hard. “I was so hell-bent on leaving town, I didn’t realize exactly what I was giving up and leaving behind.”
Ryan reached into the truck bed for his toolbox. He turned but only got a few steps before he froze when he saw us.
“Mama!” Rose cried out and pointed at us.
Trudy launched herself away from my side and bounded up to her, swinging her around and laughing. “There’s my girl.”
My jaw unhinged. And then my entire face fell like melting plastic when she put her free arm around Ryan’s neck and planted a huge French kiss on his lips. “And there’smy man.”
She hugged him again, but Ryan’s eyes landed on mine. He made a ridiculous deer in the headlights impression.
Then again, the same look was probably on my face. Shock after shock hit me so hard from the moment I had returned to Glendale Falls, it’s a wonder I wasn’t dead yet.
SEVEN
OH, THAT WHITE HAT
CINDY
All the official obligations were over: the funeral, the shower, figuring out a plan for Dad’s house and all his things. Now I could relax and enjoy a final evening with my sisters before Marcie left the next day back to Boston.
Daphne and Gabby stayed home, still in high school and not old enough for drinking yet. But Marcie, Megan, and I hit the Rusty Bucket for wings and a beer. Well, a beer for me anyway.
As I gulped down a few sips, Marcie’s tongue dashed out, wetting her lips.
“Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a cold beer right now. Cin, at least let me put that mug up to my forehead, will you?”
After another sip, I handed it over. “Note to self, if I ever get preggo, make sure I do it in the winter. You two look miserable.”
