“You can’t count on Bennett to solve Darren’s problems.”
“Not solve but help him figure out how to move on. There’s always hope, right?” Allison’s accompanying laugh sounded close to tears. Hope was her only foothold to happiness, and Harper couldn’t bring herself to weaken it further.
“Of course there’s hope.”
Allison propped her chin on her palm and leaned onto the table, her tone lighter and teasing. “Enough about my boring problems. I want to hear everything.”
“We saw the property before heading here. It was really nice. Perfect, in fact. Small retail space in front and a larger well-ventilated area in back that we could convert into a roasting—”
“Not that. I mean, that’s awesome, and I do want to hear everything. But first, I’m dying for deets about you and Bennett. What’s going on?” Allison wagged a finger. “And don’t blow me off like you did on the phone. I can hear it in your voice when you talk about him.”
“Hear what?”
“Lus-s-t.” The way Allison drew the word out sent them into pealing laughter. It was like a release valve.
“I didn’t blow you off on the phone because nothing had happened last time I talked to you.”
“But something has happened now?” Allison’s eyes widened.
Harper put a hand over her mouth and whispered, “We kissed. It was weird and wonderful and way confusing.”
“Confusing how? Because of Noah?”
“Yeah, sort of.” She didn’t have the emotional fortitude to delve back into the deep-seated reasons. “It’s been a long time since I’ve liked a man and had the urge to … you know.”
“Do you feel like you’d be betraying Noah?”
“No. Yes. Bennett’s history with Noah is almost as long and strong as mine.”
Allison toyed with the stem of her wineglass. “Have you gotten anything else out of him about why he gave you the money?”
“I think it stems back to a vague promise Bennett made. Guilt money is all I can imagine. It’s like he holds himself responsible somehow for Noah’s death. The couple of times I’ve broached the subject, he’s iced me out.”
“That’s weird.”
“Yep.” Harper drained her glass in the silence.
“There’s only one thing that really matters.…” Allison paused until Harper looked up. “Is he a good kisser?”
Giggly laugher ensued. Harper’s cheeks warmed with the memories of the night before. Nothing they had done had been particularly scandalous, but the step she’d taken with him had been like Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon—a giant leap for her.
Allison held up the bottle with her eyebrows raised in question. Harper covered her glass. “No more for me, thanks.”
“Will you please eat something? The kids won’t touch those stuffed mushrooms.”
The riot in her stomach had subsided. The wine and laughter had settled a sense of relative normalcy. The fraying of Allison and Darren’s life didn’t seem in imminent danger of rending completely in two.
She popped a mushroom into her mouth as Allison rose to pull out a covered pan from the refrigerator. “Are those your pork chops?” Harper’s mouth was already watering. “You are such a fabulous cook. You should write a recipe book. I could help you put it together.”
Allison slid the pan into the oven and closed it with her heel. “Another business venture? Don’t we have enough to handle?”
“Ugh. You’re right. Bennett is telling me I need to go to auctions to buy the equipment I need, but I have no clue what I’m doing.”
Allison leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “Why don’t you enlist Madeline or Joyce?”
The two women from Allison’s group had taken a leadership role in planning and brainstorming and had been the most active during their long-distance chats and texts. Still, Harper wasn’t sure about entrusting them with major purchases.
“Did you get a meeting set up? It’ll be good to sit down around a table to hash out the details instead of texting,” Harper said.
“Tomorrow morning. Here. I thought a coffee meeting would be apropos.” Allison’s smile was energetic and as close to easy as it had been since they’d arrived. The sound of men’s voices carried closer. Bennett came around the corner first, his and Harper’s gazes melding.
“Perfect,” Harper said.
Darren chucked their empty beer bottles into a recycling bin in the pantry. “What’s perfect?”
“Allison has set up a meeting with a couple of the base wives who are interested in helping get the business off the ground.” Harper examined Darren as subtly as possible. His face was flushed, from either the beer or the cool breeze, but the color gave him life and vibrancy, helping to offset his rumpled appearance.
“Bennett was telling me all about it. You’re doing something good in Noah’s honor. I think that’s pretty amazing.” Darren grabbed two more beers, uncapped them, and handed one to Bennett, clinking the necks. “To Noah.”
“To Noah,” Bennett repeated before taking a swig, his eyes anywhere but on her.
Guilt splattered her mood like a Pollock painting. Others would see this business as a memorial to Noah and part of her motivation was to honor his memory, but it was also a selfish endeavor.
The kids came in and Allison got them set up in the den with snacks and video games, which based on their reaction was an unusual privilege. A tutu-clad Sophie stopped to give Harper a hug and whispered in her ear, “Will you read me a story tonight?”
“Sure thing, princess.”
Sophie skipped off singing a Disney song.
Darren and Bennett joined the women at the table to pick over the appetizers Allison had laid out. Although the conversation remained superficial, a tension pushed and pulled between Allison and Darren. It was dark and worrisome.
“I would love to book one of your survival weekends, man. They sound awesome,” Darren said between bites.
“No need for you to book one. Winter is slow. How about next weekend? Anyone else from the team around? We could make it a mini-reunion.” Bennett stared at Darren, his brow furrowed.
Allison had straightened and touched Darren’s arm lightly, her gaze pinging between Bennett and her husband. “That sounds like fun. You should go.”
Darren shifted his arm away from her, and a flash of hurt crossed Allison’s face. She slumped back in her chair.
“It would be amazing to get together. I’ll ask around.” Darren peeled the label off his beer. “But I might have to work. You know how it is.”
He had no intention of calling anyone or going anywhere, but no one exposed his lie. During dinner, the kids dominated the conversation, which seemed to suit everyone fine. It made things easier.
While she and Allison loaded the dishwasher, Harper said, “I hate we’re kicking the girls out of their rooms.”
“Are you kidding me? They’re setting up a fairy tent in the den. It’s all Sophie has been talking about. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ryan doesn’t end up sleeping with them.” Allison gave the counters a final wipe down. “I wasn’t sure whether to put you and Bennett in the same room or not?”
“Not.” She shot back to the night before and waking next to his strength and heat and her innards turned gooey. She waited until Allison tossed the rag over the faucet. “Are you and Darren okay?”
Allison sighed and shook her head. “Okay? What does that mean anymore? We sleep in the same bed, but he never touches me. Never wants me to touch him.”
“Is he…” Harper couldn’t even put her fears into words. Allison and Darren’s marriage had seemed so solid.
“Cheating? I don’t think so. It’s more that he’s become sensitized to everything—noises, touch, bright lights.”