Page 17 of Suddenly Single
Bethany hesitated at the truth in that statement.“I didn’t say I was coming tomorrow. Maybe Monday.”
“Ha,” Jenny said triumphantly.“I may not be here Monday.”
“Why? Where are you going?”
“I don’t know!” Jenny shouted.“Life’s a journey, Bethany, and I’m on the train! I amliving! I don’t know where I will go from here just yet, but I promise, you will be among the first to know.” She glanced at Edan.She had to hand it to him—he was smooth.His expression was completely inscrutable.
“Look, I have to go,” Bethany said.“Call me when you can talk and tell me what happened.We’ll help you make a plan.”
“I don’t need you to help me make a plan,” Jenny snapped.“I’ll call you later.”
“Fine. Call me,” Bethany said curtly, and hung up.
That was one thing that could be said for the four of them.No matter how mad they got at each other, anger never got in the way of their friendship.
She looked at Edan from the corner of her eye. The sudden silence felt oppressive.“I’m sorry you had to hear that,” she said with a wince.
“No’ my business.”
“My friends think they know everything.”
“It’s no’ necessary—”
“I mean, yes, she has a point, I do tend to flit from one thing to another, but that doesn’t mean it’swrong—”
“You need no’ explain.”
“Ilikehaving different experiences.Ilikesearching for my place.” No she didn’t.She hated not knowing what her place was in this world.
Edan said nothing.And surprisingly, neither did Jenny for the rest of the way to the Cassian Inn.When he stopped the car, Edan wordlessly got out.
Jenny sighed and got out, too.He was already at the trunk and handed her the bags of groceries.“Do you need help getting them in, then?”
“No, no, I can get it.Thanks for the ride,” she said, and smiled.
“Welcome.”
She would be so relieved if he would just smile, even a little.But he merely looked at her, as if he was waiting for her to speak. “Okay.Well.I’ve got it from here.I’m just going to go inside and contemplate the universe for a bit.And I know you’re dying to get down to the river and cut down that bush and get the thing that fell off your fishing pole.”
“It didna fall off,” he reminded her. “And it’s a lure.”
“Whatever,” she said airily.
He walked with her to the door of the inn and held it open for her.Jenny maneuvered in with her two bags of groceries, then turned around to thank him—but Outlander had already closed the door.She heard his car a moment later move off the drive.
Dammit.She liked that silent Scotsman.But she was pretty sure the feeling was not mutual.
Six
Life is so lovely it’s hard to know where to start.
That was quite possibly the barmiest thing Edan had ever heard.
But surprisingly erudite.
He was determined to go back to Scotland. He intended to fix this rift between him and Audra.It was fixable, he was certain of it.But did he really want to join his father and brother in the family deep-sea fishing business? Days on end of nothing but endless sea and waves that could roil the sturdiest of constitutions? Was that really the right place to start? But what else might he do? All he’d ever done was that and help Aunt Clara run her inn.
With his fishing pole and his pruners, his tackle and his dogs, Edan walked up the hill to the old family graveyard.He went in through the rusty gate and stood a moment, soaking in the sun and quiet, the view of the lake and beyond.It was as lovely a final resting place as existed in the world, he supposed, and Aunt Clara had wanted to be buried here.
