“There’s a lot to tell you.”
“Well, I have a lot of time,” she says, so I dive into the story of how we met and everything that went on after.
Halfway through the story of when I found out Tanner would be my partner for the week, Bernard comes back, with Jade in tow. They pull up chairs and listen to me tell Maisie about everything that happened, including all the beautiful places we visited, Oliver and Lauren’s arguments and escapades, getting lost and then shot at by poachers, and everything in between. By the time I finish, the three of them are staring at me like they’ve never seen me before. Then again, they haven’t; I used to always stick close to home, and I never really took any unnecessary risks.
“Well, that Lauren woman sounds horrible, but I have to say she redeemed herself by helping you when you sliced your hand open,” Maisie says, shaking her head and smiling.
“I’m not even a little surprised you put up a tent on your own just to prove a point to her,” Jade says with a laugh.
“Are we going to talk about her getting shot at?” Bernard asks, and I smile at him.
“No, Tanner doesn’t like to talk about me getting shot at.”
“You say that like it’s happened more than once.” He frowns and I smile.
“Well, this morning, Tanner was taking out the trash when Earl came over to check on my place. He thought Tanner was robbing me, and he pulled a gun on him.”
“Oh shit,” Jade breathes, and I look at her and nod.
“I know, and when I opened the door and stepped outside, he shot over the top of my trailer, scaring me so badly I fell down the steps.”
“Oh my,” Maisie whispers, and I pat her hand.
“I’m all right.”
“Child, you have the worst luck,” Bernard says, then looks at Tanner. “You’re going to have your work cut out, keeping her safe.”
“I’m starting to figure that out,” Tanner replies with a smile in his voice, and I turn to grin at him. His face softens as he reaches out to touch my cheek with the tips of his fingers.
“I think I need to sign up for a Montana adventure,” Jade says wistfully.
“It really was the best time, even with everything that happened.” I laugh, then look at Maisie when she yawns. “Are you tired?”
“Unfortunately.” She reaches for Bernard’s hand, turning his way. “Why don’t you go home and get some sleep? I know you didn’t get much last night with the doctors and nurses in and out of my room constantly.”
“I’m all right. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to sleep without you anyway.” He kisses the top of her hand, then glances between Jade and me. “What are you two up to today?”
“I don’t have plans. I was just going to hang here with Mom.”
“You have a business to run, and all I’m going to be doing is sleeping.”
“I got Jeff to cover the store, so I have the day off. I don’t mind hanging around.”
“I do mind,” Maisie says in that motherly tone of hers. “I’m sure when I get home in a few days I’ll be able to use you girls’ help. But right now, I’m being taken care of, so go to work or do something—I don’t want you guys hanging around all day.” I want to be upset that she wants us gone, but I remember that my mom used to do the same thing when she had to stay in the hospital. She hated me seeing her lying in a bed and hooked up to machines.
“You can come help me pack up orders; then we can bring lunch back here after we drop them off at the post office,” I suggest, locking eyes with Jade.
“Okay, sure, if Tanner doesn’t mind me tagging along with you two.”
“Not at all,” he says, getting up.
That settled, I push up from my chair so I can lean over and give Maisie a hug.
“Get some rest, and we’ll be back.”
“Okay, sweetheart.” She lets me go with a kiss to my cheek, and I turn to give Bernard a hug. I take Tanner’s hand and leave the room, with Jade following behind after hugging both her parents.
“Do you want to ride with us and leave your car so you don’t have to pay for parking twice?” I ask Jade when we get into the elevator inside the parking garage.
“No, I’ll meet you two at the house. I’m going to stop by the bookstore to check on Jeff. Do you want me to bring you a coffee from Brew’s?”
“You know the way to my heart.” I smile, and she laughs as the doors open on the floor where she parked.
“What would you like, Tanner? Wait, don’t tell me.” She holds up a hand while keeping the doors open with the other one. “Hot coffee, black, no sugar.”
“Iced coffee, cream and sugar.” Tanner grins.
“Well, aren’t you just full of surprises.” She gives me a look, then backs out. “See you two in an hour, tops.”
“See you in an hour.” I wave goodbye to her as the doors close, then lean into Tanner’s side and let out a deep breath.
“You doing okay, sunshine?” he asks softly, sliding his arm around my waist while resting his lips on the top of my head.
“Yeah, the last few days have just felt like a whirlwind,” I admit as the doors open. I start to step off, but I stop when Galvin and Chris come around the corner. Like yesterday, seeing them together doesn’t make me feel hurt or angry; it just makes me feel stupid. It’s obvious to me now that they love each other and probably always have. If I hadn’t been so blind to the truth, I would have recognized that Chris’s dislike for me was actually jealousy and that Galvin’s insistence on keeping us separated was because he was trying to protect the man he loves.
“Hey, guys.” Galvin breaks the silence, looking between Tanner and me, and I catch Chris step closer to his side, as if to protect him from me. “Are you two going to see Maisie?”
“We’re just heading out,” I say, leaving out that Maisie was getting tired. Even exhausted, I know she’ll be happy to see him. Like me, she kind of adopted him while we were all growing up, so she might have been upset about what happened between us, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still love him. And given what I know of his parents’ reaction to him marrying Chris, I’m glad he still has Maisie and Bernard.
Bernard is still angry on my behalf, but I’m sure he’ll get over it.
“Have a good visit.” I duck around Chris, pulling Tanner with me out of the elevator.
When the doors close behind us, I wonder if we’ll ever get back to a place where we can be friends, where he doesn’t feel like a complete stranger. Something tells me the answer to that question is no, not with the history between us, and that is possibly more upsetting than anything else, because I do miss him. Or I miss his friendship, even after what he did.