Page 45 of The Wedding Ranch
Over tea, scrumptious tiny sandwiches, and petit fours desserts, Lorri and Pam relaxed, both feeling better for having the wardrobe and gift decision resolved.
Pam brought Lorri up to date on everything that had been going on in her and Bobby’s lives. Things were good, except Bobby had hurt his knee playing softball. “He isn’t in his twenties anymore,” Pam said. “I swear, this weekend warrior stuff is going to be a killer on his joints when we get older.”
“That ought to be delightful. Especially the part where you’re not supposed to say ‘I told you so,’” said Lorri.
“Oh, I’ll be saying ‘I told you so.’ And enjoying it. Hey, I’ve talked about Bobby and I all day. What is going on with you? Is Mister good? Run into the hero from the county fair again yet?”
“Things are good. I love Dalton Mill.”
“Wait a minute. I thought the plan was to just live in that new house for a year and then move back. I miss you.”
“I know. I miss you too, but the serenity of that small town is hard to beat. I’m telling you, you’d love it there too. Bobby could put a huge workshop on the acreage. He’d love every minute of it.”
Pam held a finger up. “Don’t you dare give him any ideas. He’d sell the house and the Prius, buy a pickup truck, and move us himself.”
“Wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen.” Lorri would love it if Pam were closer. “You work from home. What’s the difference?”
“I’ve lived in Raleigh my whole life. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“But it’s inspiring. I thought there wasn’t an ounce of original creativity left in me until I moved here.”
“It’s your gift. That doesn’t go away. You have such talent, and it’s good news you’re finding it again, but I’m afraid Dalton Mill is not on my wish list. I’m glad you’re settling in there though.”
“Yeah, I get out and walk the dog between meetings. I know every neighbor on my street. It’s so different.”
“And Ryder?”
“I don’t know. He’s nice. Very good-looking too.” Lorri smiled, thinking of the way they met. “Did I tell you the part where he almost gave me CPR because my lips were blue?”
“No. Your airway must have been blocked.”
“Nope. I…” Lorri started laughing, then completely tickled with herself, she laughed harder until she could barely breathe, which made Pam laugh too.
Pam was laughing and she didn’t even know why. “What? Tell me.”
“I’d been eating…”
“Stop laughing, I can’t understand you.”
“I’d been eating blue cotton candy and my lips were blue. He thought I couldn’t breathe.”
“Oh my gosh. That’s hilarious.”
“He said I almost got accidental CPR. I must have hit my head pretty hard because I told him that wouldn’t have been the worst thing that could’ve happened.” She nearly choked on her laugh.
“You did not. You were flirting!”
“I did. I don’t know what got in to me. I was quite the smarty pants. I guess because I knew I wouldn’t see him again.”
“Did you exchange numbers?”
“No! Not even last names. Well, wait. He did ask me mine, when he was making sure I didn’t have a head injury. Look.” She swept her hair back from her forehead. “Can you still see the bruise?”
“I can. Lorri, don’t let Craig ruin love for you. Y’all’s marriage had fizzled a long time ago. Craig was your way out of your parents’ house after all that mess with your brother. Who could blame you?”
“I still find it so hard to understand how Jeff and I could’ve grown up with the same parents, very same privileges and discipline, but turn out so different.” Lorri would never understand it. “Even now, I can’t forgive him for what he put my parents through. All he put other people through.”
“The accident?”
