Colin gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Thursday . . . evening . . . next week?”
“Yeah, my cousin’s, on my mother’s side. Father’s hosting an after party at their home. You should come so we can catch up.” He felt like the proverbial chalkboard as she raked her fingernail up his arm, and it made him no less squeamish. “Really catch up.”
He jerked his arm away and ignored both Blythe’s comeon and her famous pout. Colin’s uneasy feeling about Thursday’s catering event went from bad to worse.
What were the chances the two gigs were one in the same?
His gut churned with a sick feeling, thinking that Blythe could be there.
And so would Meadow.
And possibly some people who’d taken it upon themselves to torment her.
His friends. Former friends.
Would Meadow believe they were no longer his friends? His biggest fear with it was that she’d revert in her progress of trusting him and slam all her walls back up like an impenetrable concrete barrier between them.
Lord, protect Meadow and the special bond you’re building between us.
He may never get a chance like this again in his lifetime. He was bound and determined to use it to prove to her once and for all where his loyalties lay.
With her.
Not with his old girlfriend, nor his old friends, and certainly not with his old patterns.
“Meadow, don’t read into it.” Flora grabbed the dash. “And stop peeling out!”
Meadow’s hands trembled on the steering wheel. She saw red, and it had nothing to do with the Macy’s sign she swerved around to exit Havenbrook Mall. “She was in his truck. They seemed too comfortable. There’s no way this is the first time.”
Silence ruled the ride until they arrived at the pole barn. Flora said, “There has to be a reasonable explanation.”
Meadow let them in and set her new serving utensils by the sink to be washed. Was Colin dating Blythe? It seemed too ridiculous to ponder.
But he’d duped her before. “I’ve been such a fool to—” She bit her tongue.
Flora’s wedding was a week away. She didn’t need the stress of Meadow’s emotional breakdown. She never should’ve trusted her heart to Colin. Her emotions felt grated.
Her mind was going berserk with confusion. Why was he with Blythe when he’d told Meadow he didn’t want to see her? What had Meadow missed?
His lies?
Was this some big elaborate joke they were all playing on her, like in high school?
Trust Colin.
The thought ushered unbidden. Then again. Stronger.
Trust him. Trust me.
The fear that she may not have the courage to do that caused her soul to sink right back in that bitter lake.
“Meadow, will you be okay?” Flora whispered.
Meadow donned a mask of strength she didn’t feel and fibbed with all her heart. “Of course. I’m always okay.”
You’re going to be okay.
The seemingly failed words hit like a slap in the face. She fought tears.
Lord, I know I need to trust you, but seeing her in his truck left me feeling miles away from okay. Colin said feelings lie. Maybe eyes do too. Please show me what to believe.
Two hours later, Flora brought up the subject again. Meadow was still fuming.
“I keep going over this in my head, and I just can’t see him with her.” Flora affixed gold trim on purple banquet table draping for her food riser displays.
“You saw what I saw.” Meadow ripped a crooked thread out and had to start again.
“Ladies?”
Colin.
As he strode in, he assured them Lake had been picked up and safely deposited at Flora’s place, but neither sister spoke, moved, breathed, or blinked.
He set gorgeous cherry wood trim near his table saw and went to work.
Meadow feigned immersion in her stitchery.
That Flora didn’t leave her alone with Colin to go greet Lake before it was time for them to pick their sisters up from the airport sent ominous confirming flares through Meadow.
Or maybe it was heat radiating off the glares Flora toasted him with as he worked.
That meant Flora may be rethinking her initial good impression of Colin.
Colin never looked up, never said another word. His tense expression and guarded body language spoke of someone harboring secrets.
Meadow should’ve seen this coming. But she’d let herself trust.
Meadow didn’t have a good feeling about this. Not. At. All.
The man was definitely hiding something.
He wanted to tell her so badly. He couldn’t. Not with Flora’s wedding days away.
At least her brother, Lake, had been civil.
Colin was glad he’d opened up. If Lake and Flora trusted him, maybe Meadow could too. He couldn’t kick the fear that Thursday would summon bad memories and crack the foundation of friendship he’d carefully poured with Meadow.