Page 15 of Ocotillo Kisses
“Yeah, that part I don’t know, but she’s helping. Anyway, Sofia volunteered us to help clean up the square. I’m sure she’s going to try to drag you into it, too.”
“Britt too?” Con wasn’t sure if he hoped Britt would be part of it, or hoped she wouldn’t.
“Nah, she didn’t want to do that much. Anyway, I’ll fill you in later,” Caleb said when Mrs. Anders turned to give him a look.
Since his mother had wanted to be a part of the discussion about the Fourth of July celebration, and they’d missed it, he wanted to get her out before everyone started to leave, but she held back. He was pleased to see how many people came by to let her know they were glad to see her. He was tense, waiting for someone to offer condolences, or something to make her sad, but only a couple of people hadn’t been out to the house on the day of the funeral, and his mother took their good wishes in stride.
She leaned a little heavier on Con when they were walking out, so that slowed him down. When he saw Millie Drexler, he touched her arm.
“We saw Britt when she was leaving and she said she’d wait in the car for you.”
Millie nodded. “I figured that was where she was, but thank you. That girl really lit them up, did you see?”
He shook his head, mad at himself that he hadn’t stopped working sooner to get into town for that.
“Good to know she can stand up for herself, anyway.” She looked around Con to his mother. “Alexis, how are you doing?”
“Taking it day by day.”
“That’s all anyone can ask. You need to talk to anyone, you talk to me. I’ve been in your shoes twice.”
Con had forgotten that.
“Is it true Britt is taking over the Fourth of July celebration?” his mother asked Mrs. Drexler.
“She’s helping get it organized before she leaves.”
“I’d love to give her a hand with that. I used to be pretty good at stuff like that before—” She stopped herself, glancing away, then drew herself up. “When I was younger. Do you think she’d want some help?”
“I think she would be just fine with that,” Mrs. Drexler said with a glint in her eyes that told Con that Britt would be fine with it or else.
“Could you maybe have her come out to the house so we could discuss it? I hate to ask, but I don’t drive anymore.”
“Why don’t you come to the car and ask her?”
Con didn’t want his mom to walk any farther than she had to, and he’d parked where he had so she didn’t have to, but she nodded. “Sure.”
They followed Mrs. Drexler to the BMW running next to the curb around the corner. Millie tapped on the driver’s window and Britt rolled down the window, her eyes a bit wide when she saw Con and his mom.
“Hi, again,” she said.
“Mrs. McKay has a question for you,” Mrs. Drexler said before walking around to the passenger door.
“Sure.”
Con’s mom squeezed her hands together as she bent toward the open window. “Would you like some help with the Fourth of July plans? I’m not as up to date as I used to be, but I’d be happy to help you make some calls, or anything like that.”
Britt’s smile seemed genuine. “I would like that.”
“Do you think you could come out to the ranch one day and we could make the plans?”
Britt’s expression shuttered and she glanced sideways at Con. “Is that okay?”
The last thing he wanted was Britt at his ranch, but he wanted his mother happy and feeling useful, so he’d just make himself scarce when she got there. “Yeah, it’s fine.”
What was he agreeing to?
