Page 24 of A Ferry Merry Christmas
Considering the news that the repair part had yet to arrive, she needed to let him know this wait was going to be longer than anticipated.
Reaching for her phone, she started to text and then decided she’d rather talk to him personally.
He answered on the third ring, and she wondered if he hadn’t been able to hear the call for all the activity and noise in the terminal.
“Hey, there. Any news?” he asked.
From the sounds of cars honking and Christmas music playing in the background, he must have decided to head home.
“Reed, I’m sorry you had to cancel the reservation. I should have called earlier to let you know I wasn’t going to be able to make it.”
“No problem.” He didn’t need to sound so cheerful about it. She’d been looking forward to their lunch.
“What’s up?”
“Unfortunately, not much. It doesn’t look promising that I’ll arrive anytime soon.”
“That’s okay. Oh, and I kept the reservation.”
“You did?” On the one hand she was pleased, and on the other she was disappointed that she hadn’t been there to enjoy the seafood with him.
“Actually, the ferry breaking down worked out better than I could have expected.” Once more he sounded like he was ready to do a happy dance that she was being held as a virtual prisoner on the dark waters of Puget Sound.
“It worked to your advantage, did it?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“I ran into Kellie at the terminal,” he went on to explain. “I’d briefly met her once before; we both work for Microsoft.”
Ah, now she understood and was pleased for him.
“Seeing that you weren’t going to make it, Kellie agreed to join me for lunch. We’re just leaving Anthony’s now.”
Any lingering resentment she held immediately melted away. “That’s great.” It was nice to hear her brother sounding so relaxed and happy.
“It’s good to know you aren’t hanging around the terminal with nothing to do,” Avery said. “I’ll update you when I have some solid information.”
“Great.”
“No need to wait for me. I’ll walk to your condo—”
Reed interrupted her before she could finish. “Kellie and I are headed to Pike Place Market. She’s waiting for someone, too, so we decided to hang out together.”
Avery smiled. Well, at least someone was benefiting from the delay. She ended the call and replaced her phone inside her purse. Dan and Kyle returned to the seats in one of the rows toward the back of the deck. Avery was certain Harrison had sent them on their way while she’d been on the phone. He seemed determined to win her over in the short time they had together.
“Everything okay with your brother?” Harrison asked.
“Better than I expected. He ran into a woman from work. He didn’t say much, but it sounds like they’re having a grand old time exploring the city.”
“That’s great.”
Avery thought so, too. She glanced over at James and noticed that he continued to nervously study his phone.
“Any news from your wife?” she asked, leaning closer so he would be able to hear her.
He looked up and nodded. “Lilly’s pains are five minutes apart. Thankfully our next-door neighbor is with her. She can’t stay long, though, as she has a commitment later this afternoon.”
“Is she heading to the hospital soon?” Avery knew next to nothing about labor pains or when Lilly should consider getting medical help.
“Not yet,” he told her. “She called her OB-GYN and she said to wait until the pains are closer together.”
