The Liar

She looked back at Shelby. “The thing I didn’t know is I’d like working at the clinic even more, and I do. So maybe I had to go off awhile to see that.”

“Is Matt your icing?”

“He’s definitely icing.” Emma Kate grinned as she popped another gummy bear in her mouth. “And at least one layer of cake.”

“You going to marry him?”

“I don’t plan on marrying anybody else. Not in a rush about it, even if Mama wishes I would be. Things are really good as they are for now. I heard they’re going to do that big master bath for your mama.”

“She’s got sample books and magazine pictures. Daddy pretends he thinks it’s crazy, but he’s getting a kick out of it.”

Shelby took a sip of water, then took her time carefully screwing the cap back in place. “Griffin was over measuring the other day.”

“They’re looking forward to the demo. They’re both like little boys about the demo stage.”

“Hmm.” Wondering if she should bring it up—and out—Shelby looked out, caught a glint of a curving stream in a splash of sunlight. Talking about boys here, she thought, was tradition, after all.

“The thing is, while he was over at Mama’s, Griffin pretty much came straight out and said he was interested. In me.”

On a snort, Emma Kate popped another gummy bear. “I saw that one coming.”

“Because he makes moves on women a lot?”

“He makes moves like any normal guy, but no. Because he looked like he’d been struck by lightning when you walked into my mother’s kitchen that first day.”

“He did? I didn’t notice that. Shouldn’t I have noticed that?”

“You were too busy feeling guilty and awkward. What did you say to him?”

“I just fumbled around some. I can’t really be thinking about things like that.”

“But you are thinking about things like that.”

“I shouldn’t be. Richard just died. And that’s not even official.”

“Richard—or whatever the hell his name was—is gone.” As even the thought of him pissed her off, Emma Kate mimed balling something up, flicked it out toward the drop. “You’re here. Your marriage was unhappy, and basically a sham—you said so yourself. There’s no required mourning period here, Shelby.”

“I’m not mourning at all. It doesn’t seem right.”

“Aren’t you tired of doing what you tell yourself seems right? You’ve done that for about four years now, and it looks like it landed you in a mess.”

“I don’t even know him. Griffin, I mean.”

“I know who you meant, and that’s why they invented this thing we call dating. You go out somewhere, have conversations, discover what interests you might share and if you’re attracted to each other. What about sex?”

“Richard didn’t seem interested the last few months before— Oh, you meant with Griffin. God, Emma Kate.” Laughing, Shelby reached for gummy bears. “We haven’t even gone on that invention called dating. I can’t just have sex with him.”

“I don’t know why not. You’re both free, healthy and of age.”

“And look what jumping into sex with someone I barely knew got me last time.”

“I can promise you, Griff’s no Whatever-His-Name-Was.”

“I don’t think I know how to date anymore.”

“You’ll ease into it. The four of us can go out and do something.”

“Maybe. Griff wants to take us out for pizza, and I made the mistake of saying something about it to Callie. She’s asked me about it twice since.”

“There you go.” Problem solved to Emma Kate’s mind, she slapped Shelby on the leg. “You let him take the two of you for pizza, the four of us will have dinner or something. Then you can try a solo.”

“My life’s a pure hot mess yet, Emma Kate. I shouldn’t be dating anyone.”

“Honey, when you’re single, going out with a good-looking guy is living. Go have pizza,” she advised, “and see where it goes from there.”

“You’re going to get sick of hearing it, but I missed you so much. I missed this right here. Sitting in this spot, talking to you about anything and everything, and eating gummy bears.”

“It’s the good life.”

“It’s the best.” And caught up in it, she grabbed Emma Kate’s hand. “Let’s make a vow. When we’re eighty or so, if we can’t make the hike, we’ll get a couple of young studs to cart us up here so we can sit, talk about anything and everything and eat gummy bears.”

“Now, that’s the Shelby Pomeroy I remember.” Emma Kate swiped a finger over her heart. “That’s a vow. But they have to be hot young studs.”

“I thought that was understood.”

•   •   •

SHE MOVED INTO A ROUTINE, a contented one, working on her song list, practicing, weaving herself back into the fabric of the Ridge with her work at the salon.

She found it strange and wonderful how quickly it all came back, the voices, the rhythm, the easy gossip, the sights of the town and the mountains coming to life with spring.

As promised, demolition began, so mornings before she left for work or errands, the house was filled with men’s voices, hammering, drilling.

She got used to seeing Griff and Matt—and maybe she was thinking about it, a little. Off and on. It was hard not to think about a man when he showed up at your house every day with a tool belt slung around his hips, and that look in his eyes.