Riverbend Gap, page 8
13
Just a few more hours and it would be the weekend—a hard one. Tomorrow morning Katie would leave for Max Patch bright and early. She’d honor Spencer by making the journey he couldn’t make himself and scatter his ashes at the summit.
She was both anticipating the trip and dreading it. She was grateful to have Gavin accompanying her; she’d been nervous about making the trip alone. But she worried about involving him in such a private, emotional moment. She wasn’t sure she wanted to share that with him. It felt . . . too early in the relationship.
Katie took a quick break between patients, slipping into the office for a sip of stale coffee. The week had passed quickly.
Avery had been distracted by the news of the rerouted trail. The town alone wasn’t big enough to sustain the clinic—it depended partly on the illnesses and injuries of hikers. Would the clinic survive the coming lean months? Avery was concerned business would suffer and she’d have to let Sharise go.
Was Katie’s job also in jeopardy? She winced at the selfish thought. The Robinsons—the whole town—had so much more to lose.
Katie took another sip of coffee, grimacing at the taste, then headed to the next patient. When she reached the exam room she tapped on the door and entered at the sound of a woman’s voice.
“Good afternoon, how are—?” She stopped short at the sight of the older blonde woman seated in the plastic chair beside the desk.
Beth Wallace beamed. “Well, hello. How nice to see you here.”
Katie’s birth mother wore a bright-pink top that gave her an airy, happy appearance. White capris and strappy sandals completed her youthful outfit.
Pull it together. Katie stretched a fake smile across her face and took a seat in front of the computer. “Likewise. What brings you in today”—she glanced at the file—“Ms. Wallace?”
“Beth, please. I did something to my wrist while I was gardening of all things.”
Gardening. Katie must’ve gotten her green thumb from her mother. She forced herself to focus on the computer screen.
“It hurts when I twist it to the right. It’s probably just a sprain, but it’s my dominant hand so I wanted to be sure.”
“Of course.” Katie went through the list of questions, somehow maintaining a professional demeanor. Her mother’s only meds were vitamins and supplements. She seemed remarkably healthy for a forty-six-year-old recovering addict.
“Do you like to garden?” Katie asked.
“It’s a hobby. Something to keep my hands busy, you know? I used to smoke and . . . well, do all kinds of things I shouldn’t. I find I fare best if I stay busy. My yard looks like a botanical garden.” Her laughter was melodious.
“I like gardening too.”
“Well, I’ve been here enough seasons to know what grows well and what doesn’t, so if you need any tips, let me know.”
Katie offered her a tremulous smile.
She’d never considered that the woman might show up at her workplace. Her heart thumped. Next she’d have to take the woman’s vitals, and her hands were trembling.
But she couldn’t put it off any longer. She stood, grabbed the blood pressure cuff, and slid it onto Beth’s arm. As Katie removed the stethoscope from her neck, she fumbled with the tubing, almost dropping it. Seriously, Katie! Finally she put the diaphragm under the cuff and inflated it.
“How have you been, Katie? I haven’t seen you lately.”
She hadn’t been back to AA since Beth gave her the business card. Katie slid her gaze up into eyes so like her own. How could her mother not recognize her own eyes staring right back at her? “I, uh, I’ve been pretty busy with work and getting settled in to my new place.”
“You’re new to town, aren’t you?” Beth chuckled. “I’ve been here long enough to recognize most everyone, even if I don’t know them by name.”
“I moved here in May.” She didn’t want to mention Asheville, so she removed the cuff a little early. The Velcro gave a loud rip. “One hundred ten over seventy. Perfect.”
She placed the oximeter on her mother’s finger, then put the stethoscope’s ear tips in her ears and placed the diaphragm on her left lung. Katie went through the task, trying to keep her expression blank as her mind spun. This is my mother’s heartbeat. I grew inside this body. This heartbeat was my lullaby.
She blinked away the thoughts, hoping the woman couldn’t tell that her hands were shaking or that her heart was about to thump out of her chest.
She recognized the clean citrusy scent of Beth from the time they’d spoken two weeks ago. It was pleasant and subtle, probably a body wash or shampoo instead of a perfume.
Katie went about her work, taking the time to surreptitiously observe her mother. Crow’s feet fanned from the corners of her eyes. Her lashes were short and light, her eyebrows nicely arched. Her nose was small and dainty like Katie’s, but her lips were thinner. Had Katie gotten her full lips from her father? Katie had her mother’s square shoulders and thin build, and the woman’s skin tanned to a warm golden brown the way Katie’s did. What else had she inherited from this stranger who was also her mother?
“Everything okay?”
Katie jumped. She hadn’t moved the stethoscope for a while. Her face grew warm as she curled the instrument around her neck and backed away. “Everything’s fine. The doctor’s running on schedule, so she should be in shortly.”
Eager for escape, she headed to the door.
“Katie . . .”
She turned and tried for a smile, but her lips wobbled, and the rest of her face felt masklike.
“I was wondering if you might like to grab a coffee sometime. It can be difficult coming into a little town where everyone knows everyone. When I got here I didn’t know a soul, and it took me a while to find friends.”
“Oh.” Katie blinked. Beth must be trying to befriend her. Alcoholics Anonymous was a supportive group, and the woman did head it up after all.
And a coffee date would give Katie a chance to find out just who her mother was. Find out if she might welcome her long-lost child back into her life before Katie risked rejection by telling her who she was. This was the chance she’d been waiting for, wasn’t it? Why was she suddenly so nervous? So hesitant?
“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” Beth laughed, a sudden tinkling sound. “Look at me, coming into your place of business and pushing myself on you.”
“No, not at all.”
“Listen, no pressure. You have my card. Give it some thought, and if you decide you’d like to grab a coffee, give me a call.”
If she gave it some thought she’d chicken out for sure. “No, that’s okay. I—I’d like to grab a coffee sometime.”
Her mother’s eyes lit up. “Wonderful! Are you familiar with Millie’s Mug and Bean? It’s just on this side of the bridge.”
“I go there almost every morning.”
“Perfect. What day would work best for you?”
“I’m off on Saturdays, but I have plans this weekend.” I’m scattering your dead son’s ashes. Did she even know Spencer had died? Would she even care? “But I’m free next Saturday. Maybe nine o’clock?”
The woman’s wide smile reminded her so much of Spencer’s, her knees almost buckled.
“Wonderful. It’s a date.”
* * *
Cooper shifted in his desk chair. He was almost finished with his paperwork, hands down the worst part of his job. There’d been a domestic situation on Cherry Street. The woman had a bruised cheek but refused to get checked out. Said she’d hit herself with a cabinet door. That she’d accidentally dialed 911.
Cooper scowled at the memory of her husband’s smirk and condescending tone. The human in Cooper wanted to slug the guy. The professional knew he could only advise the woman of her rights and acquiesce when she insisted it was an accident.
The couple was only visiting the area, staying in a rental. They were from Asheville, and Cooper could see there’d been two other “accidents” in the past. Times like this, his job sucked hard-boiled eggs.
“Getting all trained for your cushy job as sheriff?” Rodriguez strolled into the office, appearing every bit the confident deputy.
“If being a sheriff means more time behind a desk, kill me now.”
“You should be so lucky. Why the sour face? You’re off this weekend, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, just finishing up here.”
“Heading up the mountains on your bike?”
“You know it.”
“When you going to let me borrow that thing?”
“You’ve never even ridden a bike.”
“I could learn.” Rodriguez sank into his chair. “Chicks dig motorcycles.”
With his jet-black hair and ripped muscles, the guy didn’t have any trouble getting “chicks.”
Cooper finished the form and slid back from his desk. Freedom. He’d spent much of last weekend in Mars Hill and White Rock, pressing flesh at various events. He was ready for some downtime. “I’m out of here.”
As he headed down the hall toward the exit, Sean Curtis, the other candidate for sheriff, entered the building. He was in his midthirties, average height, and sported a slim build. With Sean’s perfect teeth and side-parted brown hair, Cooper thought he looked more like a news anchor than a deputy.
The man tossed him an easy smile. “Hey, Cooper. Headed out for the weekend?”
“That’s the hope.”
“These weekends campaigning can be a drain, huh?”
“You said it.”
Sean held the door for Cooper. “Hard to believe we’ve got less than six weeks to go now.”
“Hard to believe. There’s fresh donuts in the break room.”
Sean patted his flat stomach. “Gotta watch the figure. Have a good weekend.”
“You too.” Hot air hit Cooper’s face like a furnace as he exited the building, but the heat was preferable to awkward small talk with his opponent. They’d always kept it cordial, but tension was inevitable in a small office like theirs. And it had only gotten worse a couple months ago when Roy Gilmore, the sitting sheriff, publicly endorsed Cooper.
He shook away thoughts of his campaign. He was headed home where he’d order a pizza and enjoy the game. In the morning he’d sleep in, then head up into the hills for some bike therapy.
His cell rang as he slid into his truck. He started the engine, lowering the windows, then checked the screen. Gavin.
“Hey, Brother, what’s up?”
“Hey, Coop. Have a good week?”
“Not bad. Just got off work.”
There was a beat of silence. “Um, listen, you’re off this weekend, right?”
“Yeah . . .” Cooper sincerely hoped Gavin didn’t need an extra set of hands at the campground. “Please tell me you don’t need me to dig a drainage ditch for free again.”
“Hey, I fed you pizza, didn’t I?”
“My back hurt for a week.”
“Nah, listen, it’s nothing like that. There’s definitely a problem at the campground, but nothing you can help with unless you have a plumber’s license I don’t know about.”
“What’s going on?”
“The biggest cabin has issues. We have a family coming on Monday, and the boss insists we fix it over the weekend. I got Bleeker Plumbing coming to do the work.”
“Okay, so what’s the problem?”
“I have to oversee the project, and I promised Katie I’d do this thing with her. See, her brother passed away in December, and she has plans to scatter his ashes up on the trail. I don’t want her going alone.”
Cooper’s face fell. Oh no. This wasn’t going to happen. Couldn’t happen. “Gavin, come on. That’s a private thing.”
“She’s not a hiker and I don’t feel comfortable sending her out there alone.”
“What about Avery? I’m sure that would be a lot more comfortable for Katie, and Avery’s a capable hiker.”
“She has to work. And with the upcoming bridge closure, she can hardly afford to turn away business now.”
Cooper bit back an expletive. He had to get out of this. He shouldn’t be alone with Kate, not even for the few hours this hike would take. Not with the thoughts and—dare he say it—feelings he’d been having.
Cooper scratched the back of his head. “I don’t know, man. She should probably just put it off a weekend, then you could go with her.”
“Sunday’s her brother’s birthday—or would’ve been. She’s been waiting months to do this.”
Cooper dropped his head into his hand. Come on, God. Throw me a bone here. I’m trying to do the right thing.
“I’m sure she’d be fine,” Cooper said. “She’d probably rather go it alone than have a virtual stranger along.” He balked at those words. Kate hardly felt like a stranger to him, and he’d be willing to bet she felt the same way. Even more reason to get out of this. “Can’t Avery take off work this one time?”
“Come on, Coop. I’d feel a lot better knowing she had a man along.”
The trail was generally safe, the hikers friendly and supportive. But a while back there’d been a stabbing. A man died and a woman was gravely injured. Then there were the bears. And the chance of injury. Gavin’s fears weren’t completely unfounded.
Truth was, Cooper wanted to be with her—and that only proved what a bad idea this was. He’d be better off digging a drainage ditch. Ten drainage ditches. Gavin had no idea what he was asking, but there was nothing Cooper wouldn’t do for his brother.
He let out a long, deep sigh. “All right. If she’s okay with it, I guess I’ll tag along.”
“Hey, that’s great. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver. I’ve already loaned her my overnight gear so she’s all set. You’ll just have to pack a—”
“Wait . . . Overnight gear? This is an overnight hike?”
“All the way up to Max Patch.”
Max Patch. A wave of relief came over him. They could just drive to the mountain, take the short loop trail, scatter the ashes, and be done—few hours, tops. “Oh, that’s great. We could just drive there then and walk up.”
“Coop, it’s part of the journey. Her brother wanted to do that hike—Riverbend to Max Patch—and now he can’t.”
“Right. The journey.”
“She’s had this planned a long time. We already dropped her car up at Max Patch, so you’ll be all set for the return home after . . . you know, she scatters his ashes.”
Dread swamped him even as guilt pierced his heart. Poor Kate. This had to be awful for her. He’d just have to gut his way through it. He could do that for her, for his brother. Couldn’t he?
“All right. I guess I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, man. You’re a good brother.”
Cooper hoped and prayed he was good enough.
14
Katie handed the server her menu and settled back in the wooden chair, her mind on that nerve-wracking meeting with her mother. The coffee date was one week away, and Katie was both eager and dreading it. What if that path only led to more disappointment and heartache? What if she discovered her mother was happy to leave her children in the past? Katie didn’t think she could handle another rejection.
Across from her Gavin surveyed the specials menu. His dark hair had grown out and flopped over his forehead, giving him a boyish look that tweaked at her heart.
Being a Friday night at suppertime, the Trailhead Bar and Grill was packed. A band was setting up to play in the far corner, and the smell of grilled steak and Parmesan fries hung temptingly in the air.
Gavin leaned forward, elbows on the table. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just . . . Long day, I guess.”
“And a long weekend ahead.”
“Yeah.”
The scattering of Spencer’s ashes had been heavy on her heart since she’d collected them from the funeral home. She was actually anticipating it. Spencer’s remains didn’t belong in a glossy oak urn, no matter how lovely it was. She was eager to finally lay him to rest at a place he loved, following a hike he’d always wanted but been too sick to do.
Oh, she knew his ashes weren’t his essence. His soul was in heaven. But she longed for the peace of having this last sacred rite done.
“So, hey, about this weekend . . . I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
She noted the flicker of regret on his face. “What’s up?”
“There’s been some major trouble with one of the cabins—plumbing issues. I have a large group coming on Monday, a family reunion, and my boss doesn’t want to cancel the booking. He’s out of town and insisting I stay and oversee the repairs.”
“Oh. I see.”
“I’m not leaving you hung out to dry though. I don’t want you doing this hike alone.” He gave her a wary look. “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Coop if he’d accompany you, and he’d be happy to go along.”
“Coop?” Katie’s mind spun at the sudden shift of events.
“I know you don’t know him very well, and maybe you wouldn’t be comfortable with this, but I’m hoping you’ll consider it.” Gavin winced. “I hope I haven’t overstepped, but I was worried about you being out there alone. I know you can take care of yourself, but there’s no cell coverage for much of the hike, and if you have an accident . . . I’d trust Coop to watch out for you, that’s all.”
“I’ll just ask Avery. I’m sure she’d take the day off if I asked her to.”
“It’s your decision, of course. But I’d feel a lot better if you had the security of a man since you’ll be gone overnight.”
“Right.” She envisioned two solid days with Cooper. Overnight in the shelter. Scattering her brother’s ashes. Katie’s heart fluttered and she shifted her gaze away. She didn’t hate the idea.
“He’s also done this hike before, so he’ll know what to do if you run into wildlife.”
She imagined how the two days would unfold. Imagined having Cooper’s company on what was, admittedly, a very private affair. And she felt . . . okay with it. He had a calm, soothing presence, wasn’t one to intrude where he wasn’t welcome. He was intuitive. He’d give her space if she needed it. And she couldn’t imagine anyone she’d feel safer with.
Just a few more hours and it would be the weekend—a hard one. Tomorrow morning Katie would leave for Max Patch bright and early. She’d honor Spencer by making the journey he couldn’t make himself and scatter his ashes at the summit.
She was both anticipating the trip and dreading it. She was grateful to have Gavin accompanying her; she’d been nervous about making the trip alone. But she worried about involving him in such a private, emotional moment. She wasn’t sure she wanted to share that with him. It felt . . . too early in the relationship.
Katie took a quick break between patients, slipping into the office for a sip of stale coffee. The week had passed quickly.
Avery had been distracted by the news of the rerouted trail. The town alone wasn’t big enough to sustain the clinic—it depended partly on the illnesses and injuries of hikers. Would the clinic survive the coming lean months? Avery was concerned business would suffer and she’d have to let Sharise go.
Was Katie’s job also in jeopardy? She winced at the selfish thought. The Robinsons—the whole town—had so much more to lose.
Katie took another sip of coffee, grimacing at the taste, then headed to the next patient. When she reached the exam room she tapped on the door and entered at the sound of a woman’s voice.
“Good afternoon, how are—?” She stopped short at the sight of the older blonde woman seated in the plastic chair beside the desk.
Beth Wallace beamed. “Well, hello. How nice to see you here.”
Katie’s birth mother wore a bright-pink top that gave her an airy, happy appearance. White capris and strappy sandals completed her youthful outfit.
Pull it together. Katie stretched a fake smile across her face and took a seat in front of the computer. “Likewise. What brings you in today”—she glanced at the file—“Ms. Wallace?”
“Beth, please. I did something to my wrist while I was gardening of all things.”
Gardening. Katie must’ve gotten her green thumb from her mother. She forced herself to focus on the computer screen.
“It hurts when I twist it to the right. It’s probably just a sprain, but it’s my dominant hand so I wanted to be sure.”
“Of course.” Katie went through the list of questions, somehow maintaining a professional demeanor. Her mother’s only meds were vitamins and supplements. She seemed remarkably healthy for a forty-six-year-old recovering addict.
“Do you like to garden?” Katie asked.
“It’s a hobby. Something to keep my hands busy, you know? I used to smoke and . . . well, do all kinds of things I shouldn’t. I find I fare best if I stay busy. My yard looks like a botanical garden.” Her laughter was melodious.
“I like gardening too.”
“Well, I’ve been here enough seasons to know what grows well and what doesn’t, so if you need any tips, let me know.”
Katie offered her a tremulous smile.
She’d never considered that the woman might show up at her workplace. Her heart thumped. Next she’d have to take the woman’s vitals, and her hands were trembling.
But she couldn’t put it off any longer. She stood, grabbed the blood pressure cuff, and slid it onto Beth’s arm. As Katie removed the stethoscope from her neck, she fumbled with the tubing, almost dropping it. Seriously, Katie! Finally she put the diaphragm under the cuff and inflated it.
“How have you been, Katie? I haven’t seen you lately.”
She hadn’t been back to AA since Beth gave her the business card. Katie slid her gaze up into eyes so like her own. How could her mother not recognize her own eyes staring right back at her? “I, uh, I’ve been pretty busy with work and getting settled in to my new place.”
“You’re new to town, aren’t you?” Beth chuckled. “I’ve been here long enough to recognize most everyone, even if I don’t know them by name.”
“I moved here in May.” She didn’t want to mention Asheville, so she removed the cuff a little early. The Velcro gave a loud rip. “One hundred ten over seventy. Perfect.”
She placed the oximeter on her mother’s finger, then put the stethoscope’s ear tips in her ears and placed the diaphragm on her left lung. Katie went through the task, trying to keep her expression blank as her mind spun. This is my mother’s heartbeat. I grew inside this body. This heartbeat was my lullaby.
She blinked away the thoughts, hoping the woman couldn’t tell that her hands were shaking or that her heart was about to thump out of her chest.
She recognized the clean citrusy scent of Beth from the time they’d spoken two weeks ago. It was pleasant and subtle, probably a body wash or shampoo instead of a perfume.
Katie went about her work, taking the time to surreptitiously observe her mother. Crow’s feet fanned from the corners of her eyes. Her lashes were short and light, her eyebrows nicely arched. Her nose was small and dainty like Katie’s, but her lips were thinner. Had Katie gotten her full lips from her father? Katie had her mother’s square shoulders and thin build, and the woman’s skin tanned to a warm golden brown the way Katie’s did. What else had she inherited from this stranger who was also her mother?
“Everything okay?”
Katie jumped. She hadn’t moved the stethoscope for a while. Her face grew warm as she curled the instrument around her neck and backed away. “Everything’s fine. The doctor’s running on schedule, so she should be in shortly.”
Eager for escape, she headed to the door.
“Katie . . .”
She turned and tried for a smile, but her lips wobbled, and the rest of her face felt masklike.
“I was wondering if you might like to grab a coffee sometime. It can be difficult coming into a little town where everyone knows everyone. When I got here I didn’t know a soul, and it took me a while to find friends.”
“Oh.” Katie blinked. Beth must be trying to befriend her. Alcoholics Anonymous was a supportive group, and the woman did head it up after all.
And a coffee date would give Katie a chance to find out just who her mother was. Find out if she might welcome her long-lost child back into her life before Katie risked rejection by telling her who she was. This was the chance she’d been waiting for, wasn’t it? Why was she suddenly so nervous? So hesitant?
“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” Beth laughed, a sudden tinkling sound. “Look at me, coming into your place of business and pushing myself on you.”
“No, not at all.”
“Listen, no pressure. You have my card. Give it some thought, and if you decide you’d like to grab a coffee, give me a call.”
If she gave it some thought she’d chicken out for sure. “No, that’s okay. I—I’d like to grab a coffee sometime.”
Her mother’s eyes lit up. “Wonderful! Are you familiar with Millie’s Mug and Bean? It’s just on this side of the bridge.”
“I go there almost every morning.”
“Perfect. What day would work best for you?”
“I’m off on Saturdays, but I have plans this weekend.” I’m scattering your dead son’s ashes. Did she even know Spencer had died? Would she even care? “But I’m free next Saturday. Maybe nine o’clock?”
The woman’s wide smile reminded her so much of Spencer’s, her knees almost buckled.
“Wonderful. It’s a date.”
* * *
Cooper shifted in his desk chair. He was almost finished with his paperwork, hands down the worst part of his job. There’d been a domestic situation on Cherry Street. The woman had a bruised cheek but refused to get checked out. Said she’d hit herself with a cabinet door. That she’d accidentally dialed 911.
Cooper scowled at the memory of her husband’s smirk and condescending tone. The human in Cooper wanted to slug the guy. The professional knew he could only advise the woman of her rights and acquiesce when she insisted it was an accident.
The couple was only visiting the area, staying in a rental. They were from Asheville, and Cooper could see there’d been two other “accidents” in the past. Times like this, his job sucked hard-boiled eggs.
“Getting all trained for your cushy job as sheriff?” Rodriguez strolled into the office, appearing every bit the confident deputy.
“If being a sheriff means more time behind a desk, kill me now.”
“You should be so lucky. Why the sour face? You’re off this weekend, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, just finishing up here.”
“Heading up the mountains on your bike?”
“You know it.”
“When you going to let me borrow that thing?”
“You’ve never even ridden a bike.”
“I could learn.” Rodriguez sank into his chair. “Chicks dig motorcycles.”
With his jet-black hair and ripped muscles, the guy didn’t have any trouble getting “chicks.”
Cooper finished the form and slid back from his desk. Freedom. He’d spent much of last weekend in Mars Hill and White Rock, pressing flesh at various events. He was ready for some downtime. “I’m out of here.”
As he headed down the hall toward the exit, Sean Curtis, the other candidate for sheriff, entered the building. He was in his midthirties, average height, and sported a slim build. With Sean’s perfect teeth and side-parted brown hair, Cooper thought he looked more like a news anchor than a deputy.
The man tossed him an easy smile. “Hey, Cooper. Headed out for the weekend?”
“That’s the hope.”
“These weekends campaigning can be a drain, huh?”
“You said it.”
Sean held the door for Cooper. “Hard to believe we’ve got less than six weeks to go now.”
“Hard to believe. There’s fresh donuts in the break room.”
Sean patted his flat stomach. “Gotta watch the figure. Have a good weekend.”
“You too.” Hot air hit Cooper’s face like a furnace as he exited the building, but the heat was preferable to awkward small talk with his opponent. They’d always kept it cordial, but tension was inevitable in a small office like theirs. And it had only gotten worse a couple months ago when Roy Gilmore, the sitting sheriff, publicly endorsed Cooper.
He shook away thoughts of his campaign. He was headed home where he’d order a pizza and enjoy the game. In the morning he’d sleep in, then head up into the hills for some bike therapy.
His cell rang as he slid into his truck. He started the engine, lowering the windows, then checked the screen. Gavin.
“Hey, Brother, what’s up?”
“Hey, Coop. Have a good week?”
“Not bad. Just got off work.”
There was a beat of silence. “Um, listen, you’re off this weekend, right?”
“Yeah . . .” Cooper sincerely hoped Gavin didn’t need an extra set of hands at the campground. “Please tell me you don’t need me to dig a drainage ditch for free again.”
“Hey, I fed you pizza, didn’t I?”
“My back hurt for a week.”
“Nah, listen, it’s nothing like that. There’s definitely a problem at the campground, but nothing you can help with unless you have a plumber’s license I don’t know about.”
“What’s going on?”
“The biggest cabin has issues. We have a family coming on Monday, and the boss insists we fix it over the weekend. I got Bleeker Plumbing coming to do the work.”
“Okay, so what’s the problem?”
“I have to oversee the project, and I promised Katie I’d do this thing with her. See, her brother passed away in December, and she has plans to scatter his ashes up on the trail. I don’t want her going alone.”
Cooper’s face fell. Oh no. This wasn’t going to happen. Couldn’t happen. “Gavin, come on. That’s a private thing.”
“She’s not a hiker and I don’t feel comfortable sending her out there alone.”
“What about Avery? I’m sure that would be a lot more comfortable for Katie, and Avery’s a capable hiker.”
“She has to work. And with the upcoming bridge closure, she can hardly afford to turn away business now.”
Cooper bit back an expletive. He had to get out of this. He shouldn’t be alone with Kate, not even for the few hours this hike would take. Not with the thoughts and—dare he say it—feelings he’d been having.
Cooper scratched the back of his head. “I don’t know, man. She should probably just put it off a weekend, then you could go with her.”
“Sunday’s her brother’s birthday—or would’ve been. She’s been waiting months to do this.”
Cooper dropped his head into his hand. Come on, God. Throw me a bone here. I’m trying to do the right thing.
“I’m sure she’d be fine,” Cooper said. “She’d probably rather go it alone than have a virtual stranger along.” He balked at those words. Kate hardly felt like a stranger to him, and he’d be willing to bet she felt the same way. Even more reason to get out of this. “Can’t Avery take off work this one time?”
“Come on, Coop. I’d feel a lot better knowing she had a man along.”
The trail was generally safe, the hikers friendly and supportive. But a while back there’d been a stabbing. A man died and a woman was gravely injured. Then there were the bears. And the chance of injury. Gavin’s fears weren’t completely unfounded.
Truth was, Cooper wanted to be with her—and that only proved what a bad idea this was. He’d be better off digging a drainage ditch. Ten drainage ditches. Gavin had no idea what he was asking, but there was nothing Cooper wouldn’t do for his brother.
He let out a long, deep sigh. “All right. If she’s okay with it, I guess I’ll tag along.”
“Hey, that’s great. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver. I’ve already loaned her my overnight gear so she’s all set. You’ll just have to pack a—”
“Wait . . . Overnight gear? This is an overnight hike?”
“All the way up to Max Patch.”
Max Patch. A wave of relief came over him. They could just drive to the mountain, take the short loop trail, scatter the ashes, and be done—few hours, tops. “Oh, that’s great. We could just drive there then and walk up.”
“Coop, it’s part of the journey. Her brother wanted to do that hike—Riverbend to Max Patch—and now he can’t.”
“Right. The journey.”
“She’s had this planned a long time. We already dropped her car up at Max Patch, so you’ll be all set for the return home after . . . you know, she scatters his ashes.”
Dread swamped him even as guilt pierced his heart. Poor Kate. This had to be awful for her. He’d just have to gut his way through it. He could do that for her, for his brother. Couldn’t he?
“All right. I guess I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, man. You’re a good brother.”
Cooper hoped and prayed he was good enough.
14
Katie handed the server her menu and settled back in the wooden chair, her mind on that nerve-wracking meeting with her mother. The coffee date was one week away, and Katie was both eager and dreading it. What if that path only led to more disappointment and heartache? What if she discovered her mother was happy to leave her children in the past? Katie didn’t think she could handle another rejection.
Across from her Gavin surveyed the specials menu. His dark hair had grown out and flopped over his forehead, giving him a boyish look that tweaked at her heart.
Being a Friday night at suppertime, the Trailhead Bar and Grill was packed. A band was setting up to play in the far corner, and the smell of grilled steak and Parmesan fries hung temptingly in the air.
Gavin leaned forward, elbows on the table. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just . . . Long day, I guess.”
“And a long weekend ahead.”
“Yeah.”
The scattering of Spencer’s ashes had been heavy on her heart since she’d collected them from the funeral home. She was actually anticipating it. Spencer’s remains didn’t belong in a glossy oak urn, no matter how lovely it was. She was eager to finally lay him to rest at a place he loved, following a hike he’d always wanted but been too sick to do.
Oh, she knew his ashes weren’t his essence. His soul was in heaven. But she longed for the peace of having this last sacred rite done.
“So, hey, about this weekend . . . I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
She noted the flicker of regret on his face. “What’s up?”
“There’s been some major trouble with one of the cabins—plumbing issues. I have a large group coming on Monday, a family reunion, and my boss doesn’t want to cancel the booking. He’s out of town and insisting I stay and oversee the repairs.”
“Oh. I see.”
“I’m not leaving you hung out to dry though. I don’t want you doing this hike alone.” He gave her a wary look. “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Coop if he’d accompany you, and he’d be happy to go along.”
“Coop?” Katie’s mind spun at the sudden shift of events.
“I know you don’t know him very well, and maybe you wouldn’t be comfortable with this, but I’m hoping you’ll consider it.” Gavin winced. “I hope I haven’t overstepped, but I was worried about you being out there alone. I know you can take care of yourself, but there’s no cell coverage for much of the hike, and if you have an accident . . . I’d trust Coop to watch out for you, that’s all.”
“I’ll just ask Avery. I’m sure she’d take the day off if I asked her to.”
“It’s your decision, of course. But I’d feel a lot better if you had the security of a man since you’ll be gone overnight.”
“Right.” She envisioned two solid days with Cooper. Overnight in the shelter. Scattering her brother’s ashes. Katie’s heart fluttered and she shifted her gaze away. She didn’t hate the idea.
“He’s also done this hike before, so he’ll know what to do if you run into wildlife.”
She imagined how the two days would unfold. Imagined having Cooper’s company on what was, admittedly, a very private affair. And she felt . . . okay with it. He had a calm, soothing presence, wasn’t one to intrude where he wasn’t welcome. He was intuitive. He’d give her space if she needed it. And she couldn’t imagine anyone she’d feel safer with.
