Page 83 of Class Act

Lizzie folded her arms. “I’m trying to decide if I should be bummed that you’re planning all of this knowing I’ll be gone.”

“You’re running off with your prince charming, I doubt you’ll miss us for long,” Meredith replied, tongue-in-cheek.

Lizzie smiled and laughed. “You’re right. He’ll keep me happy.”

“We’ll miss you, Liz,” I leaned over and patted her arm. “We’re so happy for you.”

“Less than two months to the wedding,” she grinned. “I’ll be Lizzie Walker. Elizabeth Duncan Walker.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” Aryn said warmly.

“You’ve all been so nice to listen to me talk wedding plans during half of our Recap and Recoup sessions,” Lizzie laughed.

“We’ve loved it,” I assured her, meaning that genuinely. We were all so very happy for her.

“You might be moving,” Meredith said, “but the sacrifice will be totally worth it.”

Lizzie nodded. “Doesn’t mean I won’t miss you all so much.”

“Hey now,” Ruby called. “We’re thornback women, bonded whether near or far. And don’t you forget it.”

*****

Sunday evening I made my way up to Leonard and Connie’s house for dinner. I still didn’t feel very much like a ferocious thornback woman, but I’d done enough licking my wounds. I wanted to see my parents and, yeah, food is always a draw. It was Cox’s turn to host, and I’d brought a plate of homemade cookies to deliver to Ford and his kids after dinner. Two could play the drop-by game.

I was feeling more upbeat about my work situation, thanks to the promises of my friends and the awareness that our job wasn’t the only reason we were a group. I’d also come to accept that life was full of changes, and maybe this new path would open some doors that I needed to walk through.

I hadn’t seen Ford for a couple of days, though. He had called me after my friends went home the other night, and we’d had a nice conversation, but I could feel something almost hesitant, and I wondered if I’d scared him somehow. He’d also texted a few times after that, checking in, nothing major, and I realized how much I’d grown to love talking to him daily—how much I’d fallen in actual love with him. That was another reason I was hoping to pop by. I needed to see his face and read his body language. I ached with wanting him but loved him enough to give him space if that’s what I discovered he needed.

I found my parents and the Cox’s in their massive kitchen, already seated at the table, laughing and sipping on drinks. They all greeted me with a cheer, and Mom and Connie both gave me hugs, knowing I felt fragile at the moment. I took a seat near my mom as the doorbell rang. It was at that exact moment that I also noticed three more places set. It was unusual to have extra guests at Sunday dinner but not totally unheard of when we came to Cox’s. Leonard was nothing if not social.

“Miss Hailey,” a little voice squealed as a familiar blonde head lunged in my direction from the front hall.

I didn’t have time to stand before Hillary had launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck from the side and placing her little cheek on my shoulder. I tilted my head to lay against hers, soaking up her energy and warmth. Unexpected emotion flooded me at the feel of her little arms around me. I’d grown to really care for her and Henry, too. Henry was the quieter, more serious Whittaker, and I felt a tug in my chest as he came near and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Hi,” he said with a small smile before taking his seat at the table.

“Hi buddy,” I replied. “And hey Hillary,” I said to her, reaching a hand around to squeeze her shoulder. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Hillary stood straight and started into an explanation, but even though I kept my eyes firmly on her expressive face, I was hyper aware of her dad entering the room and greeting the others. His voice was deep and sent tingles jangling up the backs of my legs. I wanted to follow his progress, drink him in, see if he was his same old self, but I was also a little frightened of what I’d see—or show.

Ford had always had a way of looking at me that made me feel like he could see into my true feelings, and I didn’t want him to deep dive into my heart and find things that he wasn’t ready for. So I kept my eyes trained anywhere but at him as everyone took their seats.

He sat across from me, between his two children, and I couldn’t soak him in without being obvious. My parents and the Cox’s had no idea that we’d ended up in some sort of half relationship. My parents knew we were friendly but not the whole truth.

Ford nodded when I finally looked his way and offered a smile. He looked . . . tired and maybe a little worried, his face lacking its usual carefree exuberance. I returned the greeting, feeling the strain in my own face, before becoming seriously interested in what Leonard was saying from the head of the table.

It was more obvious than ever that I needed to get him to myself at some point. I didn’t want to assume that I was the cause of stress because that felt a little arrogant and dramatic. Maybe something had happened with his business or one of the kids was struggling. Regardless, I wouldn’t sleep until I found out for sure what was happening.

And if I was the cause of his worry? Well . . . I’d deal as best I could.

As I watched Leonard talking, my thoughts ran free. Did Ford know I’d fallen for him? Did he know how happy I was that he was there because just having him in the same room made my heart feel a little stronger? I wished he was sitting next to me where I could feel his warmth and smell his scent and maybe sneak in a side conversation. I sighed, and Ford’s head popped up, which drew my eyes to him. His were questioning, and I merely shook my head and bit my lips, not knowing how to answer him here.

“Leonard said we can swim after dinner,” Henry told me from across the table as the food was being passed. “We could play jump or dive.”

“That’s a fun game.” I smiled at him, both happy and sad that he’d finally warmed up enough to want me to join in.

“Did you bring your suit?” Hillary asked.

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