“Did you and Jimmy make amends?”
I smiled. “Yeah. And remember how I told you about the pink hair debacle? Guess who was the alleged poker cheat.”
“Who?”
“Randall.”
He chuckled. “No shit?”
“No shit.” I laughed with him until the house came into sight after a bend in the road and anxiety shriveled my smile away.
“Nice place,” Cole said as he pulled into the gravel area in front of the house.
Kyle and Debbie had built a new house about ten years ago and decked it out with all of the finest. Their old place, also nice, was now where Adam and his girlfriend lived. At least, I assumed that was where they both lived. Since Jamie’s funeral, I’d only seen Adam once, and since Kyle and Debbie didn’t talk to me much anymore, I wasn’t up-to-date on the latest happenings at the ranch.
And probably wouldn’t be in the future. If what Jimmy had told me today was correct, this might be my last trip to the Maysen ranch. To Jamie’s home.
The nervous whirlpool that was my stomach spun faster. Jamie, if you’re listening, help this go okay. Don’t let this be another good-bye.
I pulled in a shaking breath as Cole’s hand came to my shoulder. “We don’t have to stay long. Use me as an excuse if you want to leave. Or if you want to stay for hours, that’s fine too. Do whatever, but I’ll follow your lead.”
His beautiful green eyes were full of concern.
“Thank you. I’m sure this will be okay.”
We both knew that was a lie, but he didn’t call me on it. He just let go of my shoulder and shut off the truck before stepping out.
I took one more breath, then climbed out of the truck just as the front door to Kyle and Debbie’s house swung open.
“Hi!” Debbie came down the steps of the wraparound porch and right into my space for a hug. “It’s so nice to have you here.”
I froze for a second, surprised at her warm welcome—one I hadn’t gotten since before Jamie had died—but the shock wore off fast and I returned her hug. “It’s nice to be here.”
“Hi, Poppy.” I let go of Debbie as Adam walked out of the house.
I smiled to hide the wince at seeing his face. Adam looked more like Jamie than ever with his hair grown out long like his brother had worn it. “Hi, Adam. How are you?”
“Good. Damn busy, but good.”
Behind him, Kyle came out of the house and waved. “Hi there.”
“Hi.” I stepped up for a hug. Kyle’s was less enthusiastic than Debbie’s but it was better than the handshake he’d been giving me lately.
“I see you brought reinforcements?” Kyle nodded to Cole.
“I did.”
Cole stepped up to shake Kyle’s hand. “Cole Goodman, nice to meet you.”
Cole introduced himself to Kyle, then Debbie and Adam. My eyes darted back and forth between them, watching for an odd look or disapproving glance, but Jamie’s family was pleasant and welcoming as they chatted with Cole.
Maybe this would go better than I’d expected. Maybe having Cole and Adam here would be a nice safeguard. Maybe we’d end up visiting for a while and get over the awkwardness from the past five years. Maybe they’d even invite us to stay for dinner.
“All right.” Kyle nodded toward the large shop across the yard from the house. “Let’s get this truck loaded up and then you guys can head back to town.”
Scratch dinner.
“Lead the way.” Cole nodded at Kyle, then placed his fingers on the small of my back.
I knew the second his fingers brushed my shirt that it was a mistake. Not that Cole had done it to cause problems—the gesture was innocent and habitual. But Debbie’s entire body jerked as she gasped, while Kyle’s face turned to stone. The only one who didn’t look like I’d just slapped them across the face was Adam.
“Ready?” I took a huge step away from Cole and kept my focus on Adam as he spun on a boot heel and headed for the shop.
I could feel Cole’s stare on my back as we walked, but I didn’t turn. I just kept my eyes focused on the gravel and the shop, hoping that behind me Debbie wasn’t crying and Kyle wasn’t furious.
When we got to the shed, I took a spot by a row of toolboxes to stay out of the way as Kyle and Adam pulled a dusty tarp off of Jamie’s yellow truck.
The side panels were spotted with rust. The front bumper needed to be reattached because it was hanging loose on one side. And the front windshield was cracked in so many places it looked like a spider’s web.
But it was Jamie’s. Something he’d bought as a teenager and driven until college when he’d bought a nicer car.
“I still can’t believe Jamie didn’t take this to college.” Adam ran his hand along the yellow hood and smiled at me. “Remember how he said he’d never get a date to sit in here?”
I smiled back. “Well, considering the passenger seat is missing most of the cushion, I would have agreed.”
“No way.” Adam laughed. “You would have still dated him if he’d driven this old thing.”
Jamie could have driven me around town on the handlebars of a bicycle for all I would have cared. “You’re probably right.”
“Should we see if it still runs?”
“Oh, it’ll run.” Kyle walked over to the driver’s side of the truck. “I came out here a couple nights ago and made sure.” He ran his hand along the open window, like he was saying good-bye.
At my side, Debbie sniffled. “It will be strange not to come out here and see Jamie’s truck.”
A wave of doubt hit me hard. Maybe I shouldn’t take the truck. Maybe I should say to hell with that one item on Jamie’s list and let it go. Maybe Kyle and Debbie needed this truck
