Fawn shook her head. “I didn’t want to bother her. Her brother is here. They haven’t been able to get hold of her sister.”
“She’s in the Peace Corps, isn’t she? Somewhere exotic.”
“Poor Jillian,” Fawn said moodily. “I remember a couple of years ago thinking how she and Noah were the perfect couple.” She glanced at Annie. “Speaking of the perfect couple, I haven’t heard the dish on how your date went with Mano the other day. We’ve been too busy to talk.”
Annie turned the radio down. “I think it went okay. I had a good time.”
“That’s all? What about romance? Did he kiss you? Did he say anything about another date? Come on, you’re killing me here!”
Annie grinned. “If you’d go out on a date yourself, you might not be so nosy.” Her cheeks burned. There was no way she was telling Fawn about the kiss at the lava tube. She had a feeling Mano regretted it by now.
“I still would.” Fawn poked her in the ribs. “Come on, dish.”
“He said I was comfortable to be with.” She wrinkled her nose. “Comfortable. That’s something you want from your Lazyboy, not from a woman, isn’t it?”
“That’s good though,” Fawn said eagerly. “Feed him some good food, and he’ll be thinking marriage before you know it.”
“You are such a dreamer.” Annie winked at her. Fawn could always be counted on to lift her spirits.
“You know you love him,” Fawn said. “Even if you’re not admitting it to yourself.”
“Oh, I’m admitting it. I’ve tried to get rid of how I feel, but it won’t go away. Not that I have any real hope.” Talking it out, her cheeks cooled. Once Leilani returned, Mano would forget he ever kissed Annie.
“There’s always hope. He might be the exact one God has in mind for you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“You need glasses.” Annie wished she could believe it, but Mano could have anyone. Why would he even notice someone like her?
“You shortchange yourself, and I’m sick of it. Sick of it, you hear?” Fawn stuck out her tongue. “Did he ask you out again?”
“No. But there’s been no time. We’ve been too busy trying to figure out what’s happened to Leilani and trying to get Tomi out of his mess.”
“Are you scared? I am a little. I’ve been double-locking my doors. It’s been hard to sleep. Noah’s death kind of rattled me.”
“Everything in my life has rattled me lately,” Annie said. “I don’t know where I’m going anymore or what my life is supposed to be about.” Fawn didn’t answer, and Annie glanced at her. “Spit it out. You’ve got something on your mind.”
“It’s because you’re leaving God out of it, Annie. You’ve lost your vision and can’t see the forest for the trees. You’re always going to feel lost until you put God back at the center. He has to be the core equation. When was the last time you read your Bible? A year? Two?”
Annie tried not to get defensive, but her hackles rose anyway. “I’ve been busy. My research hasn’t been going well, and I need to spend every minute on it.” She should tell Fawn about her earlier talk with God.
“Have you ever stopped to think that maybe God is trying to get your attention? God doesn’t like it when we put something else in his place. You’ve put your family above everything else in your life. The order is supposed to be God, family, then career. You’ve got it all out of whack.”
“I don’t have anything in his place. I still pray.” She tried to recall when she’d last prayed and talked to God like a friend before today. Most of her prayers consisted of complaining about what a failure she was. When was the last time she even opened her Bible? Annie couldn’t remember.
“I’ll shut up for now, but you need to think about it,” Fawn said as Annie pulled into the parking lot of the Black Sands Funeral Home.
Annie didn’t answer. She knew she should tell Fawn about her first steps back to her relationship with the Lord, but it rankled that her friend could see so clearly what she’d missed for years. She parked next to Mano’s car.
“Don’t be mad, Annie. If I didn’t love you so much, I wouldn’t have said anything.”
Annie’s irritation melted at her friend’s soft plea. “I’m sorry, Fawn. I know you just want what’s best for me. You’re right. I’ll try to do better.” She was always trying to do better and failing at something. It should come as no surprise. She released her seat belt and grabbed her purse. “Let’s find Jillian. She’s going to need all the support she can get today.”
Mano realized he’d been watching for Annie the minute he saw her come in. He stopped midsentence and forgot what he was saying to his sister.
Kaia turned to see what he was looking at. “So that’s who caused that moonstruck expression on your face. You’re a goner, big brother.”
“She’s like a baby sister to me,” he protested. He knew better though. He’d never been tempted to kiss Kaia like he was tempted to Annie.