Page 35 of Lavender Lake
Her gaze sharpened. “We’ll be talking about Bowman, too.”
I untied the apron and placed it back on the hook. Muddy came down the stairs, an overnight bag in hand.
“That was fast,” I said.
“I always have a bag packed and ready to go.”
“You have a phone charger?” Hadley asked.
“Yep.” Muddy nodded. She quickly hugged Hadley, and then me. “Hold down the fort. I’ll call later tonight.”
She swept out the door in a flurry of energy. Most women half her age didn’t possess it.
“I want to be her when I grow up,” I murmured.
“Join the club,” Hadley remarked.
We took the muffins to the back porch and Hadley settled into a chair with a deep seat. “In a few months, I’ll need help being pulled out of this thing.”
It was just another reminder that her life had taken a turn. A turn away from me. I was happy for her, but Hadley was my twin. My best friend.
But even I knew that when you chose someone and built a life with them, that bond was strong, too. Stronger, even. She’d chosen Declan to be her family. She’d been stuck with me.
“I used the last of the huckleberries,” I said. “Hope Muddy doesn’t mind.”
“Not if we go out and pick a few gallons more,” Hadley said, taking bite. She moaned. “Dear God, what have you done?”
I sniggered. “Lemon and huckleberry. Made with olive oil instead of butter.”
“This just became my new pregnancy craving.”
It was afternoon and the sun was high in the sky. But it was the perfect temperature, and the air was clear. Notably absent were the smells of Manhattan. No aroma of urine or hotdogs. No scent of BO while shoved into someone’s armpit on the subway.
“You didn’t call me back,” she said.
I blinked. “I completely forgot.”
“Understandable. But we have a lot to talk about.” She reached for another muffin. “Let’s start with Dad’s girlfriend.”
“Let’s start with how the whole town knows about her and apparently all agreed not to tell me,” I snarked.
“Whole town? Hardly the whole town,” Hadley said.
“Gracie knew. And she couldn’t get away from me fast enough when I asked her about it. Same with Lucy. So don’t deny it.”
“Fine. We all knew how you’d react. Declan was rooting for you, though. Now he owes me five bucks.”
“Five bucks? That was all he bet?”
“He wanted to bet more, but I told him you were my twin and I know you.” She quirked a grin, but then it slipped. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when I found out a few months ago.”
When I didn’t say anything, she went on, “Now you.”
“Now me what?”
“Now you apologize for your reaction.”
“I will not,” I scoffed. “I was blindsided. And already uneasy about coming home. You know how hard it is for me to be here. I was ambushed, Hadley.”
