“Spill,” Trixie demanded. “I want all the details.”
Holly leaned back in the booth. The lunch customers at Sweet Caroline’s had left, and the sisters could talk in peace. “It was nice.”
“Nice?” Trixie’s eyebrows rose.
“The Riverfront is spectacular, both the ambience and the food. I ordered the salmon, which was amazing. I’d love to have the recipe.”
“I wasn’t asking about the ambience or the food. What about your date?”
Holly gave her head a slow shake. “Jed’s nice too.”
“Sis, you’re impossible.”
“I know.” She laughed, feeling a lightness in spirit that she hadn’t felt in more than a year. Taking pity, she told her sister what she wanted to know. “We talked a bit about our families and about where we each went to school. We discovered things we have in common and things we don’t. I . . . I told him about Nathan.”
“You’re kidding.” The teasing tone was gone from Trixie’s voice. “Wow. That was a big step.”
“I know. I didn’t say a lot, but enough for him to understand. He’s a good listener.”
“I knew I was right about him.”
“Maybe.”
“He’s nice. He’s a good listener. You had a good time. You like him. He likes you. Sounds perfect.”
“Liking is one thing. Friendship is okay. Nobody says it’ll be anything more than that. I’m not sure I want it to be more than that. I’m not sure he does either.”
“Holly, you may be older than me, but you don’t know much about men. Have you noticed the way he looks at you?”
It frightened her, thinking Trixie might be right. It frightened her even more, thinking she wanted her sister to be right. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t read too much into it. I . . . I’m not ready.”
A frown pinched Trixie’s eyebrows, and her lips thinned as she pressed them together. It was a look Holly had seen before, one that said her younger sister was not going to give up.
“Trix, every girl can’t be as lucky as you. Brett’s a great guy, and the two of you have something special.”
Her sister’s posture relaxed a little. “Yeah, he is great. The thing is he’s great for me. But there’s a guy somewhere who’ll be just as great for you. He wasn’t Nathan. Maybe he’s Jed.”
Holly dreaded the wanting that hummed in her heart. How had she let herself care this much for someone she’d known only a matter of weeks? She’d put a wall of protection around her heart ever since Nathan walked out on her. But somehow Jed had caused her to lower her guard, if only a fraction.
“Oh, Trixie,” she whispered. “I’m scared. He doesn’t even live in Boise. Even if I wanted more, we’re already set up for failure.”
Her sister took hold of her hand. “Caring for someone isn’t a bad thing, even if it doesn’t work out between you two. You need to live again, Holly. Nathan was a Class 1 jerk. So, lesson learned. Move on. You need to let yourself feel things, both good and bad. Bottling it up isn’t healthy.”
Holly swallowed hard, blinking away unexpected tears. She both loved and hated that Trixie understood her so well.
“Did Jed ask you out again?”
“Yes.” She nodded as she drew a deep breath and released it. “We’re going on a hike on Sunday.”
“Well, then. Cheer up. Give the guy a chance. Give yourself a chance.” Trixie squeezed Holly’s hand. “You haven’t given up trying to make this restaurant succeed. You have all kinds of faith in the women you’re teaching how to cook. Now you need to have some faith in yourself and your ability to live life to the fullest.”
Holly smiled through her tears. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
“How could you help it?” Trixie gave her head a saucy toss, eyes twinkling.
The two of them broke into laughter, and Holly would have sworn she felt her faith in the future increase.
* * *
Jed entered the dimly lit bar and grill a little before seven on Thursday evening. Music played from speakers in the ceiling. The air smelled of fried foods. He squinted, waiting for his eyes to adjust, then looked for his brother. Chris wasn’t there.
No surprise. When’s he ever on time?
He shook his head, displeased with the thought. Wouldn’t do him any good to have a negative attitude from the get-go.
He stepped deeper into the room. After another quick look around, he chose an empty booth with a clear view of the entrance. A server came to the table, and he ordered a Diet Coke to sip while he waited.
Jed had prayed about this meeting for the past three days. He’d prayed that he would keep his temper in check. He’d prayed for patience. He’d prayed for wisdom and understanding. Trouble was, he didn’t know what any of that was supposed to look like. He thought of his brother’s name, now written in their great-grandfather’s Bible. Jed had meant it when he wrote it in the margin. He wanted the prodigal to come home. Home to the family, if not home to Laffriot. Their dad had been the catalyst for this hoped-for reconciliation, but Jed wanted a better relationship with Chris. More than he’d known.
The bar’s door opened, and a guy entered, his right arm draped over the shoulders of his girl. Both of them wore leather jackets, white T-shirts, and jeans. In their early twenties, they had eyes only for each other. It was a wonder they made it to a booth without running over someone or something.
Thoughts of Holly resurfaced. Memories of her tentative smile, of her melodic laugh, of the wariness that came and went from her pretty eyes, of her generosity to others, of the way she adored her younger sister. Holly Stanford was special. She was—
The door to the bar opened again. This time it was Chris who stepped into the establishment. Like Jed before him, he squinted, as if unable to see clearly yet. Jed stood, drawing his brother’s gaze. His expression didn’t change as he started to walk in Jed’s direction.
“Thanks for coming, Chris.” He took a step forward, as if he would give his brother a hug.
Chris sidestepped, keeping the embrace from happening.
Jed sat down on his side of the booth, any hope he’d had of an easy reunion evaporating. “Would you like something to drink? Or eat?”
Chris nodded at the Diet Coke. “One of those’d be okay.”
“I’ll get it for you.” As he stood, Jed took a moment to study his brother. He looked tired, dark circles etched beneath his eyes. Was he thinner too? Jed couldn’t be sure. Chris had always favored a loose-fit clothing style.
He went to the bar and ordered the beverage. It gave him time to say another quick prayer. A few minutes later, he returned to the booth, drink in hand. He set the glass in front of his brother before sitting opposite him.
Chris gave him a level gaze. “Your meeting. Your agenda.” His words dripped with animosity.
A quick retort popped into Jed’s head. He managed to quash it before it reached his lips and ruined everything. Instead, he drew a slow, deep breath and released it. “You said on the phone that you’re not going back home. Do you plan to stay in Boise?”
“For now.”
“Boise’s got a lot going for it.”
“Yeah.”
Another breath. “Look. I’m sorry about the things I said the last time we were together. I stepped over the line.”
Chris’s eyes widened for a moment, then darkened with suspicion.
“Laffriot never would’ve got off the ground without you. You’re right about that. I may know business and finances, but without your creativity, we never could’ve launched Caliban.” He shook his head, lowering his gaze to the Diet Coke in his right hand. “The company needs you, but I need my brother more.” The truth of the confession pierced his chest, and he looked up again. “I didn’t realize how far apart we’d grown. I’m not even sure how it happened or why it started. But I know I rode you hard the last couple of years, and I’m sorry for that.”
“You think I can’t take it when you come down on me. You still see me as some dopey kid, don’t you?”
Jed wanted to deny it but couldn’t.
Chris leaned forward. “I was okay with you doing better than me in school. I handled it when the girl I liked so much only had eyes for you.”
“What girl?”
Chris ignored the interruption. “I got used to Dad boasting to everybody about your achievements and nobody thinking I’d amount to anything. Heck. They were right. I’m not wired the way you are. And I’m okay with it now. I don’t want to be you. I want to be me. Took me a while to figure that out, but I’m good with it.”
His brother’s demeanor changed as he talked. His shoulders seemed less tense. His voice wasn’t filled with the same defensiveness. Jed didn’t dare hope that one brief meeting would fix all that was wrong between them, but he could hope this was a start.
Chris pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the screen. “I’ve gotta go.”
You agreed to give me half an hour. Somehow Jed managed not to say those words aloud. Instead, he asked, “Can we meet again? Soon?”
“Depends.” Chris took a few quick swallows of his beverage before standing. “My work schedule’s crazy right now, and I’ve got some other stuff to deal with. I’ll see what I can work out.”
Work schedule? Where was Chris working? What was he doing? Where was he living? What did he have to deal with in Boise?
“I’ll text you,” his brother added, then walked away.
A few weeks ago, Jed would have gone after him. He would have grabbed his brother by the arm and forced him to stay. He would have told him what to do, and he would have demanded answers to all his questions. But this time he sat still, watching the door close behind Chris.
God, bring him home. Bring us both home. Bring us back as brothers, and bring us back to You.