Joey went as far as the departure gate and waved as Roni boarded the plane. Her first flight, and Joey wouldn’t even be with her. At least Roni would have Alma and Henry. Still, Joey yearned to see the wonder on Roni’s face as the plane took off into the sky and pushed through the clouds as Reno grew smaller and smaller.
At least when they landed in Hawaii, Alma had promised to call. And Joey was sure that Ethan would take lots of pictures of their baby playing in the surf and sand. Still, she had the jitters. It was Roni’s first big trip, and Joey wouldn’t be there.
It will be fine, she told herself. Roni had three adults who would watch her like a hawk.
She left the airport, zigzagging through the crowds, feeling lonely in a sea of people. A whole weekend stretched before her with nothing to do. Peter was with Shiv. And Ryder was soon going out on the road. Not that it would’ve mattered. She was doing her best to cut all ties with him. As much as she would’ve liked to have stayed friends, it hurt too much. He was everything she wanted and couldn’t have.
She found her SUV in the parking lot and drove aimlessly around Reno. The pool was open at her parents’ house. She could always go over there and jump in the water. It was hot as hell. But it would take her mother all of fifteen seconds to surmise Joey’s mood and then try to pin her down on the reason for it. If Joey refused to tell, her mother would simply assume it was Ethan’s honeymoon. That his newfound happiness had brought Joey pain.
She hated to admit it, but once upon a time, it would’ve been true. And she would’ve wallowed in self-pity. But now, she fervently hoped that Ethan had truly found his soul mate and that they lived together forever in wedded bliss. Most of all, she wanted her daughter to see what a good marriage looked like. Because at this rate, Joey wasn’t much of a model.
She’d let herself fall for the unattainable. And instead of celebrating that she’d won her nursing license back, she was suffering over a man who was too damaged to let himself reach for happiness with both hands.
Quickly nixing the idea of going to her parents’, Joey took the road back to Nugget. She could spend the rest of the day charting out hospitals where she could send her résumé. She’d already dropped off one at Plumas General, and she was scheduled to have a telephone interview with a person from HR next week. Because of its proximity to Nugget, it was her first choice. But even if she had to commute to Reno or Glory Junction, she would because the salary would allow her to rent a place large enough for her and Roni.
She swung into the Bun Boy on her way home. There was a long line of cars at the drive-through, and she considered giving up. But she hadn’t been eating too well these past few days, and she craved something salty, like French fries. She parked and walked to the window. But the line was equally as long there. The tourists were out in droves. Summer in the Sierra.
“Hey, Joey,” someone called.
She turned to find Darla, sitting at one of the picnic tables in the shade, and waved.
“I’ll save you a spot,” Darla said.
The line moved quickly. Joey put in her order and wandered over to Darla, who’d commandeered extra bench space.
“Sit here,” she said.
“Where’s Harlee?” Joey had never seen Darla without her sidekick.
“She had her baby! A boy. Eight pounds, six ounces. His name is Charlie.” Darla beamed.
“That’s fantastic. Are they home?” At some point, Joey wanted to swing by their house and drop off a gift for the baby. Joey didn’t know Harlee well, but both she and Darla had made her feel welcome here.
“They just got home from the hospital a few hours ago. Connie and I went over and decorated the house with a big ‘Welcome Home, Charlie’ sign. Connie had to put in a few hours at work. She’s the nine-one-one dispatcher at the police department. And I didn’t want to crowd Harlee and Colin on their first day with the baby, so we both left about twenty minutes ago. He is so cute.”
“How are you?” Joey asked, covertly sliding a glance at Darla’s belly.
“So far, so good,” Darla whispered. “We’re still keeping it on the down-low, though.”
“Gotcha.” Joey could keep a secret. Well, at least sometimes. “Did Harlee get her scoop before she had Charlie?” Joey hadn’t had a chance to check the Nugget Tribune.
“About the Addisons selling the Beary Quaint? Yep. Can you believe it? I mean, I thought they’d die in that place, wearing their little bear suits.”
Joey had to stifle a laugh. Darla certainly had her own weird style, but unlike the Addisons’ creepy bear infatuation, her penchant for loud colors and big, plastic earrings had flair.
“Boy, did they bite Harlee’s head off for printing the story. You’d think they’d want the publicity, right? The story was like a freaking free real estate ad. But noooo. First thing they did was threaten to sue.”
“Oh no. She’s not worried, is she?” Joey had seen how strong the couple had come on with Ryder, who wasn’t easy to intimidate. Yet, the Addisons, not exactly what you would call imposing figures, had gone toe-to-toe with him. “It’s true. They are selling. So, what could they possibly have to sue her over?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” Darla waved her hand in the air. “They’re submental. Anyway, did you hear the news that there may be a buyer? Word is that someone’s made an offer. Without Harlee, we’ll have to wait until escrow closes to know who the new owners are. So frustrating, right?”
Joey hoped for Ryder’s sake that whoever it was left him alone. Her name was called over the loudspeaker, and she dashed over to the counter to retrieve her fries and shake. Not the most nutritious meal, but today, Joey was allowing herself to eat her feelings.
“I got to get going,” Darla said and gathered up her wrappers. “Date night with Wyatt.”
“Have a good time, and if you see Harlee, tell her I’ll be dropping something by for the baby next week.”
“Will do.”
Joey watched Darla disappear inside the barbershop and went back to her fries.
When she was finished, she started for home. Home. She supposed in the last two months that’s what the little 1920s Craftsman had come to mean to her. Each lovingly stripped wall, each paint choice.
After she and Siobhan had peeled off the wallpaper in the master bedroom and painted the walls in Palladian Blue—Shiv liked the way the color matched her eyes—they’d made big plans to start on the kitchen. Perhaps Shiv could now do it with Peter.
Joey had already begun searching for a place in the area. The houses for rent tended to be on the dumpy side, with some that didn’t even have central heat. Just a wood-burning fireplace. Roughing it wasn’t exactly her style. She’d considered calling Ryder’s real estate agent, but she wanted to wait until she got a job first.
They were waiting to talk to Janine about finding Joey’s replacement until Ryder and his mom met with Shiv’s physician to see if a twenty-four-hour caregiver was even necessary any longer. Whatever they decided, Joey had offered to train the new person.
The always-intuitive Shiv had taken Joey’s resignation with somber understanding. No words had passed between the two women about Joey’s real reasons for leaving. But if anyone understood the pain of that decision, it was Shiv.
“I will be right here in town, and we will remain friends,” Joey had promised her.
Shiv had replied, “I will hold you to it.” She had taken Joey’s hand and with tears in her eyes had said, “I’m sorry.”
And that’s where they’d left it.
Peter was in the living room working on a scrapbook he’d been putting together for weeks. “Hello, sunshine. Did little Roni make it off okay?”
“I’ve never seen her more excited.”
“Then what’s with the resting bitch face?”
Joey laughed and sprawled out on the sofa next to Peter. “I guess I’ve got a lot on my mind. Shiv napping?”
“No,” Peter said brightly. “She and Ryder went over to that lawyer guy’s place to check out his digs. I was dying to see it myself.”
“And?”
“I thought mom and son could use a little alone time.”
“Then why don’t you take off for the rest of the day? I’m here, and I suspect Shiv will be over there for a while. I hear the guy’s married to some famous self-help guru and his home is on steroids. The whole place. I’m sure you could salvage the rest of the day.”
“That’s the thing. I don’t really have anything else to do.” Peter’s voice cracked. “Fred, my last client, had sort of become my whole world.”
“Ah, Peter. I’m so sorry.” She’d always avoided any conversation about Fred’s passing as she knew Peter was still grieving.
He swiped at his eyes. “Occupational hazard. Don’t ever become too attached.”
“I know what you mean. I’m going to miss Shiv like crazy.”
He shot her a look. “And the son? Will you miss him like crazy, too?”
Joey closed her eyes and nodded. No sense in playing coy. Peter was a smart man with eyes. He knew what was going on.
“Shiv still thinks he’ll come around,” Peter said.
“You two have talked about it?” Joey was surprised.
“A little. Nothing that amounted to us gossiping behind your back. Okay, we gossiped. Shiv thinks he’s in love with you.”
“He’s not.” He was in love with a ghost, a ghost Joey could never compete with. Nor did she want to. “Take my word for it.”
Peter let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry, Joey. You probably don’t want to hear this right now, but there will be someone else. You’re a catch, sunshine.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.” It took all her willpower not to cry. “What is this scrapbook you’ve been working on?”
“It’s for Fred’s daughters. Pictures of his last years. Holidays, family gatherings, that sort of thing.”
“That’s really sweet of you, Peter. Have you given much thought to doing another live-in situation? It might be time.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Actually, I was thinking that I might apply for your job.”
Joey looked at him to see if he was kidding. It would be the perfect solution. Shiv adored him, and Ryder seemed to mesh with Peter fine. The question was whether she needed someone anymore.
“I love it,” Joey said. “I’d feel so good knowing she was in your hands. But, Peter, what if her doctor says she’s past the need for full-time care?”
“Your words to God’s ears. If that’s the case, I could go part-time. Maybe have Janine hook me up with a few clients in the area. There’s got to be a need around here. If there is, I’d find a place in Nugget. You need a roommate?” His lips slid up to show he was joking. “But seriously, I’m thinking of relocating, finding a slower pace. A place that’s cheaper.”
“I know that Shiv, Roni, and I would be thrilled to have you here. But I’d worry you would get lonely. I don’t think there’s much of a dating scene in Nugget.”
“Well, honey, you and I will have to go to Reno for that. The good news is, it’s only fifty minutes away.”
She reached over and hugged him. “I’m so glad I have you in my life, Peter.”
“Right back at you, sunshine.”
* * * *
Across town, on a ranch that reminded Shiv of a TV set, she sipped iced tea poolside while Flynn, Ryder, and a few other ranchers talked cattle. She hadn’t been aware that her son knew so much about the beef industry. Then again, he hauled livestock for a living.
It was a lovely party. When Ryder said they’d been invited over to Flynn’s home, she’d assumed it would be just them. But they arrived to find a gathering of more than a dozen people, including Ryder’s friend, Lucky, and his lovely wife.
Owen, the barber from town, had planted himself next to Shiv. He was a nice-looking man, but he talked too much. She could barely get a word in edgewise.
Flynn’s wife, Gia, wasn’t anything like Shiv expected. Years ago, Shiv had caught Gia’s financial advice show a few times and had found it helpful. In fact, one of the programs had spurred Shiv to begin socking away a small fraction of her weekly paycheck for Ryder’s college fund. It turned out he got a scholarship to Cal Poly, but the money Shiv had saved helped him kick off his rodeo career.
On screen, Gia had seemed so glamorous and intellectual. But here, she was as down-to-earth as a ranch hand, serving drinks to her guests in a simple sundress and a straw cowboy hat that had seen better days.
The conversation turned to the Beary Quaint. There’d been an article on the local news site about it being up for sale, and there was a lot of speculation on potential buyers.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Tom Bodett took it over,” Owen said. “He’ll leave the light on for ya.”
Flynn chuckled and shook his head. “My money is on Nate and Maddy.”
“They wouldn’t want that ridiculous place,” Gia said, dismissing him with a wave of her hand. “I’d say that place needs a cool million just to give it a face-lift and clear away all those freaky chainsaw bears. Otherwise, I would’ve considered buying it for my program.” She explained to Shiv that she had founded a residential job-training program for women down on their luck. “It would’ve been a great opportunity to teach my students the ups and downs of the hospitality industry.”
“Just as long as it ain’t none of those Hiltons,” Owen said. “They’re trouble. Them and those Kardashians.”
Clay McCreedy, Flynn’s neighbor, choked on his beer. “I don’t think the Kardashians are in the hotel business, Owen.”
“They’ve got their hands in everything, those women do, including the NBA.”
“I hope whoever buys it is willing to do some cross-promotion with my cowboy camp,” Lucky added. “When I approached the Addisons about the idea of creating some package deals together, they practically spat in my face. Adios, mofos, don’t let the door hit ya on the way out.”
“Don’t dismiss Griffin,” said Annie, the lovely girl who owned the farm stand with the cherry orchard. “He can afford to buy it and do all the renovations without making a dent in his bank account.”
“Who’s Griffin?” Shiv asked.
“He owns the Gas and Go and Sierra Heights, that white elephant planned community off the side of the road,” Owen said. “It used to be a hotbed for meth cookers.”
Clay rolled his eyes.
“It’s not a white elephant anymore.” Gia refilled Shiv’s glass. “Ever since Brynn took over the advertising, Griff has been selling homes left and right. The place is gorgeous.”
Shiv noted that Dana, Ryder’s real estate agent, sat off in the corner, saying nothing. Shiv would bet money she knew exactly who the buyer was.
Flynn got to his feet. “You ready to check out my office?” He offered Shiv a hand. “Ms. Knight and I have business to discuss while the rest of you continue to get drunk on my booze.”
He led her down an impressive flagstone path, past the outdoor kitchen and gazebo, around Flynn and Gia’s huge log home, which took Shiv’s breath away, to a matching side building that was larger than Ryder’s Craftsman. They stepped into the front room, which was decorated in leather sofas, kilim rugs, and bookcases sagging with law books. Off the parlor was a small kitchen and two offices. The first one was Flynn’s, judging by the pictures of him and Gia scattered across the desk and the photographs of cattle on the wall. The second was bare except for a desk and loveseat.
“This would be yours. Sometimes my investigator, whom we call Toad, comes in and uses the computer.” He jutted his chin at a Mac on the desk. “But for the most part, he works out of my Sacramento office.”
The room was large with picture windows that looked out over a pond and the Sierra Mountains in the foreground. It was a far cry fancier than the corner of the courtroom where she’d worked before.
“You can do anything you like with it,” Flynn said.
He took her to the back of the building, where there was a small conference room. “I use it for depositions and meetings with clients.”
“It’s beautiful.” The room was painted in a soft taupe, and there were portraits of Western landscapes with picture lights hung on the wall. The conference table was a gorgeous slab of wood with a live edge. The chairs were done in soft brown leather. The whole suite of rooms, even the empty office, was elegant. They made Shiv think Flynn was very successful.
“Just say the word and I’ll give you the code to the gate and a key to the door. You can pick your days and hours.”
A smile blossomed in her chest. She hadn’t realized just how much she missed working until she’d smelled the leather bindings of the law books. It reminded her of Morgan’s chamber. Only this time, the memory of him didn’t make her sad.
“I still have to check with my doctor,” she said. “There are times when my balance isn’t good, and I’m going to guess that driving won’t be an option for a while, so I’ll have to figure out the transportation situation. But if I can start with only two short days a week, I think I could build up.”
“That works for me. When do you want your start date to be?”
She and Flynn worked out a tentative schedule, and Shiv couldn’t wait to get home to tell Joey and Peter that she was taking the plunge.
She thought about Morgan, about all the years she’d worked in his courtroom and all the years she’d loved him.
He’d been a driving force in her life and had taught her that good men still existed. He’d given her an important job when all she’d had was a high school diploma. It was a job where she could grow, and more importantly, support herself and her son. He’d believed in her.
There were husbands who weren’t as supportive of their wives as Morgan Lester had been of her. Lord knew, Tanner had never been, leaving her to fend for herself with a young child, while he cheated and lied.
Though Morgan couldn’t make a life with her, he’d been her guardian angel. The best friend she’d ever had. And for that, she considered herself lucky to have known him. But it was time to let go. Time to forge ahead without him.
Maybe if Shiv had been more like Joey, able to move on after unrequited love, she would’ve met someone else. Would’ve had someone with whom to spend her twilight years. Now she was just old and alone.
But the job Flynn offered, this town with its quirky characters, and living so close to her son, who in his own way needed her as much as she needed him, could be a new beginning for both of them.
The possibilities made her feel lighter and free of the melancholy that had wrapped around her like a boa constrictor.
She walked with Flynn back to the party, planning to sit next to the barber again. And perhaps this time she’d make a real effort to talk to him.