Chapter Three
“Oh, dear. Miles Fisher’s cornered Owen again. I’d better rescue him,” Dany said, and raced off before Carly could clarify that wasn’t exactly what she’d meant with her warning.
She considered following Dany, but figured she’d done all she could and instead searched for Reese again.
When ten minutes later she couldn’t locate her, Carly returned to the kitchen, grabbed a red plastic cup, ladled up the red fizzy liquid from the crystal punch bowl, and sank onto a metal folding chair next to a tall, full potted plant in a corner.
Her hands wrapped around the cup filled with a concoction of ginger ale and cran-raspberry juice served at every town function her entire life, while Carly worked on what torture she’d dish out to Reese as repayment for today.
She sipped the punch, wondering how many gallons she’d consumed in her lifetime.
If she averaged two glasses an event, and attended ten weddings, anniversary or baptisms a year by now she could fill the community pool.
Maybe Reese was right about her needing to socialize more if she sat here calculating how many gallons of punch she’d drunk in her life.
Better that than hearing about her friends’ lives and loves while hoping they wouldn’t ask about hers.
You know, same old stuff. Trying to teach my father economic basics so he won’t end up living in a van down by the river and hoping my brother will get his act together so he doesn’t end up there too.
Bitterness, even tempered with humor, wasn’t pretty.
Though it could be worse. She could be in Owen’s shoes today.
From her secluded corner, her gaze found him.
As if sensing her staring, he turned, and his brilliant green gaze bored into her.
He nodded slightly and the left side of his mouth curled upward.
Her lips parted, and the hand holding her cup trembled.
Oh, dear. She recognized his look and smile, despite not having seen them for years.
They had appeared every time before Owen kissed her.
She knew it, and so did he.
Warm, fuzzy tingles raced through her, awakening parts of her body asleep so long she worried she’d challenge the Rip Van Winkle nap record. She’d forgotten how wonderful desire could feel. At least she thought that was what this was. Considering the length of its absence, she couldn’t be positive.
“You coming back to earth soon?” Addie Connell teased, as she waved a hand before Carly’s eyes. When Carly looked up, her friend continued. “I guess you didn’t hear me ask if I could join you hiding here in the corner.”
A blush spread up Carly’s neck into her face.
How long had she and Owen been locking eyes?
Had anyone else noticed? Her gaze swept over the people clustered around the kitchen, but they seemed engrossed in their conversations.
Only Addie noticed her fascination with Owen.
“Sorry, with it being so loud it’s hard to hear. ”
“Especially if you’re distracted by a certain ex-boyfriend who’s returned to town,” Addie countered as she fiddled with the zipper of her turquoise hoodie.
“Do you think anyone else noticed?”
“That you two were staring at each other for almost two minutes?”
What could she say? Sorry, I know I was ignoring you Addie, but it’s been so long since seeing a guy made me feel anything I got caught up in enjoying the experience?
Carly waved a hand at the empty chair beside her. “Please sit. I’d love the company.”
Because they’d dated best friends Owen and Landon in high school, she and Addie had become friends of a sort, though their lives couldn’t have been more different.
Addie had two doting parents, was homecoming queen, and second in their class academically behind her quarterback boyfriend.
However, when the pair left for College Station, she and Addie lost touch.
“I’m hoping this spot’s out of the way enough that I can get a break,” Addie said, her once bright green eyes dim since she’d lost her husband, as she sank onto the folding chair beside Carly.
“I can’t imagine how painful being here is for you.”
Addie nodded toward Owen. “This is really rough for him too.”
“I know.”
A friend of Addie’s mother stopped beside them.
“Addie dear, I didn’t get to speak with you at the funeral to say how sorry I am for your loss.
Landon was a fine young man. I also wanted to invite you to our widows’ group that meets the first Thursday of the month.
This Thursday we’re heading to the movies. ”
“Thank you for the invitation,” Addie said, her shoulders rounded, as she twisted her wedding ring.
“It’s never easy losing a husband, but time will help you heal. At least you’re young and have a chance to remarry. You should join our group. That would help too.”
Carly gasped at the older woman’s comment. What was she thinking? Obviously not about what she said. Addie needed to join a group of widows twice her age as much as a dog needed cooking lessons. “It’s too bad your group meets the same day as Addie’s and my book club.”
“That is a shame, Carly, but I’m glad you’re seeing that Addie’s getting out. It’s good for both of you, in fact. Since your last young man moved, you’re too much of a hermit, Carly.”
She flinched. Ouch. That stung.
The truth hurts, doesn’t it?
Desperate to get rid of the woman, Carly gazed into the living room, then pointed her index finger at her chest and shook her head.
A twinge of guilt wriggling through her for her deception, she said, “Mrs. Sharp is motioning this way. I thought she wanted to speak to me, but I think it’s your attention she’s trying to catch. ”
“She probably wants to talk about the women’s program at church. She and I are responsible for arranging this month’s speakers.”
When they were alone again, Carly leaned close enough to whisper in Addie’s ear. “When I get her age, if I don’t have enough brain cells and social skills left to think before I speak and I say something like that, slap me.”
Addie flashed her a weak smile. “Apparently more than one person in this spot destroys its cloaking capability.” When her joke fell flat, she bit her lip, and tears pooled in her eyes.
“I don’t know how much more I can take. If one more person tells me time heals all wounds, I’m going to tattoo it on his or her forehead. ”
“If you do, I’ll provide an alibi when the police question you,” Carly whispered back. Then she grabbed the other woman’s hand. “Better yet, I’ll prevent the crime. Let’s get out of here.”
Addie nodded, relief washing across her face, and pointed to the left at the garage door. “I think that’s our best bet for a clean getaway.”
When people tried to waylay them, Carly plastered a smile on her face, and insisted they’d chat when she and Addie returned from retrieving something from her car.
A couple minutes later they were walking toward downtown, away from the cars lining the street and the noise spilling from the Crawford house.
“Thanks for arranging the escape. I really didn’t want to come, but my parents insisted.
” Addie gasped, covered her mouth, and turned to Carly.
“That came out wrong. I wanted to see Owen and support him, but I wasn’t ready for everything else.
And my parents meant well. They thought socializing would be good for me.
Silly me. I thought coming would be easier than arguing with them. Wrong.”
“You think they’d let you start small and work up to town events. These things can be daunting.”
Addie picked up the pace. As Carly fell in step, she realized how much she’d needed to burn off steam.
Bits of rock and gravel cracked and crunched under their feet as they walked along the old, cracked blacktop.
After a few minutes, old stone and brick buildings came into view above the cows in pastures and tree groves, followed by the two-story limestone courthouse as it stood on guard in the center of the town square.
Between shops being closed on Sunday and most folks involved in chaos at the Crawford’s, Carly and Addie had downtown pretty much to themselves.
“All I can say is I’m sorry for what you’re going through. I wish there was more I could do, but I learned when my mom died there isn’t.”
“Getting me away from the party was a huge help. I also appreciate you not treating me differently. So many people are uncomfortable around me now. They panic if they mention Landon’s name or go out of their way to avoid bringing him up.”
“People care, but they don’t know what to do. They don’t know which hurts more, mentioning him or not.”
“That I understand. What’s worse is everyone giving me advice on how to cope with my grief. Stay busy. Take time for myself. Keep to what’s familiar. Change every routine. It makes my head hurt.”
“If someone says something helpful, great. Otherwise blow it off. You’ve got to find your own way to cope.” Carly thought about what she’d said and slapped her palm against her forehead. “Oops. That sounded like advice, so never mind. I don’t want to be one of those people.”
A genuine laugh bubbled out of Addie. “So far that’s the only advice worth listening to.
Do what works for me. I don’t think I realized it, but I’ve been waiting for permission to protect myself when I get waylaid like I did earlier.
Next time that happens, I’ll handle it better.
” Addie paused in front of McAllen’s Bookstore, peered into the large front window, and pointed at various novels displayed.
“By the way, I think we should start a book club. My only suggestions are we avoid those depressing-make-me-think-about-the-meaning-of-life books and romances. I’m not ready for those yet.
Maybe we could read a cozy mystery, and we have to add wine. ”
“I think that’s a great idea. Let’s get together for lunch next week and hammer out the details like who to invite. Then we’ll come here to pick the first book.”