Page 123 of Book and Ladder
“It’s over, Carli. I don’t want to hear him gloat.”
“By him, do you mean Patrick or his dad?”
“Is there a difference at this point? I guess all of them—the entire O’Connell family.”
“That’s not right,” Carli says. “You don’t get to let them win.”
Winona nods. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Come on.”
“Dirty Dancingreferences?” I say. “Really, Win?”
She shrugs. “Sometimes you have to pull out the big guns.”
“We don’t have to go to the meeting,” Carli says. “But we do have to get you out of this house.”
“I will be getting out of the house soon enough. New job—remember?”
“That’s not the same.”
Winona puts her hand on my knee and says, “Do it for Gran.”
“Low blow.”
“What would she want you to do?” Carli asks.
“She’d want me to show up.” Just like she said in her note.
Carli crosses her arms over her chest. “I’ll just tidy up here while you shower.”
“Oh. Okay,” I relent.
“You’d do the same for me,” Carli insists.
She’s not wrong.
My house feels safer than any public space ever could, but apparently today’s the day I face my demons. So, I shower. I even put on a cute outfit, as if armor can come in denim and soft knit. Then I drive across town, flanked by two of my closest friends.
The town hall feels thinner tonight—fewer bodies, less buzz. The O’Connells got their way, and the Fall Festival’s behind us. Emberleigh and Sydney are holding seats when we arrive. Mr. O’Connell sits in his usual spot. Patrick rushes in after us, sliding into the chair beside his parents.
He glances back at me and I keep my face neutral despite the fact that he looks freshly showered, making his dark hair seem even darker and his face somehow even more chiseled. There’s no question that he’s attractive.
I distract myself by glancing over at Carli. She’s focused across the room in the other direction. My eyes drift to that spot. A few firemen are standing together.
“What’s up?” I ask Carli.
“Oh. Nothing. I was just thinking about the calves at Lawson Ranch. That’s all.”
“Are you sure you weren’t thinking about the rancher himself?”
“What? No. Cody’s my brother’s best friend. His little sister is one ofmybest friends. He’s like a big brother to me. You know that.”
In theory, I do. But I’m starting to wonder if Carli is in denial, or if she has feelings for Cody. Or maybe I’m justhoping one of us ends up in a sweet relationship. If it’s not me, I’d love for it to be her.
The meeting begins. Mayor Briggs stands.
“Tonight we’ll go over winter road safety preparations, then planning for the Thanksgiving Day parade, and then the O’Connells have an item that they’ve added to the agenda.”
Carli leans over and looks at me with a questioning expression.
