Olivia’s mind was spinning as they got back into the truck. Her brother had asked her for help, and she wasn’t sure she’d provided any. If anything, she and Sawyer had been a sounding board while Brian and Shari had gotten increasingly overwhelmed. Just once for Brian, after all he’d been through, could love be enough?
Sawyer hopped into the driver’s seat and Olivia put her seat belt on. The day was sunny and bright, and despite her brother’s troubles, something in the air had the feeling of hope. She’d been praying in her heart for God to work through this situation, and she still believed He would. Unfortunately, Brian and Shari would have to rely on God, if they were willing to try, because as much as Olivia wanted to help, she’d done all she could.
Sawyer pulled out his cell phone and typed in a text.
“What are you doing?” Olivia asked.
“Checking up on the girls,” he said. “Seeing if Lloyd’s okay with them.”
Being a dad, in other words. She put on her seat belt and leaned back. This wasn’t the old Sawyer anymore—he was different, deeper, older. Even without his memory, she could see how he’d changed.
“Lloyd says everything’s fine,” Sawyer said, dropping his phone into his lap and reaching for his seat belt. “He says to take our time. You want to go back, or should we just drive for a bit?”
Olivia smiled gratefully. “Let’s just drive.”
Sawyer put the truck into Reverse. “That sounds good to me, too.”
“So, what’s happening with this Evelyn woman?” Olivia asked.
Sawyer backed out of the spot and headed for the road. “I don’t know. He likes her—that’s clear. But...I’m not sure. She’s gorgeous and young, and he’s—” Sawyer winced, not finishing the statement.
“He’s...a more unique guy,” she said.
“Yeah.” He cast her a look. She knew what he meant. Lloyd was awkward, in both appearance and personality, but endearingly so. “I don’t know. I’m kind of afraid that he’s going to get his heart broken here.”
“You can’t exactly stop that from happening,” she replied. “No more than I can fix Brian’s situation.”
“I understand,” he said.
“Do you have any idea what she wants from him?” Olivia asked.
“To see cattle?” Sawyer shook his head. “I don’t know! She could have her pick of guys, but she lands on my bachelor uncle. I actually doubt that she’s out to bleed him dry or anything. I kind of worry she’s just being friendly, and he’s getting his hopes up for something more.”
“He’s a grown man, though,” she said. “He can take care of himself.”
“I know. Not like I can do anything about it, anyway.”
They drove to an intersection, and Sawyer signaled a left-hand turn.
“Do you know where you’re going?” she asked.
“Nope. I figure with you here, I can’t get too lost.”
Olivia laughed at that. He was probably right. She knew this area just as well as anyone else, having grown up here. Sawyer took another left and headed for a straight stretch of road.
“I don’t know if I’ll ruin it by saying it out loud,” Sawyer said quietly. “But this is familiar.”
“You’re remembering more, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Yeah. This and that. It doesn’t always connect, but I’m getting more back.”
He eased onto the gravel road and stepped on the gas. It felt good to be driving with him—not quite like old times, either. They’d both changed over the years, and this new connection they had was different than in the past. Maybe maturity had made whatever kept tugging them back together sweeter.
“Did I know about the hospital debt?” Sawyer asked.
“No,” she said quietly.
“There was a lot I didn’t know about you, wasn’t there?” He cast her a searching look, and she saw sadness in his gaze.
“I wasn’t one to air my problems,” she said, then sighed. “Besides, when my mother died and the hospital sent us the bills, you had Mia. You weren’t mine to lean on at that point.”
Or to confide in. Those were lines she couldn’t cross with a married man, or a nearly married man, no matter how close they used to be.
“Yeah... I get it.” He looked over at her again. “So, are you okay now?”
“Me?” she said, surprised. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because I didn’t know you guys were under that kind of stress.”
“Yes. But it’s sweet of you to ask.”
Sawyer slowed at a side road, then turned once more. “Where does this lead?”
“The lake,” she said.
He nodded. “That sounds good. Did we ever come here together?”
“No,” she said. “But this is where my brother and I scattered my mom’s ashes.”
“Yeah?” he asked. “Should we turn back?”
“No, it’ll be nice to come out here again. It’s cheerier this time of year. Happier.”
Sawyer took the turn, and the narrow road bumped them along, some twigs scraping the passenger side windows. This drive didn’t lead to the main beach where all the amenities were, but it had the kind of beach access that young people discovered and then kept secret. The road erupted into a clearing just before the rocky shore of the lake. There were some tire tracks from other vehicles that had parked out here.
Sawyer stopped the truck, and for a moment, they just sat there in the quiet.
“I used it all up,” Olivia said after a moment. “Brian was right about that. I took all my mother’s savings and everything she could borrow and got my degree. I wasn’t even thinking about Brian. I figured she’d save more, and I’d pitch in, and he’d be fine. But look at him now...”
“That isn’t your fault,” Sawyer said quietly.
“It might not have been intentional, but it’s very much my fault,” she replied. “Shari’s used to better things than our family can offer her. And Brian loves her...but all he can show is a pile of debt he has no hope of crawling out from under. And that isn’t either of our faults, but I know how much he wants to build his own business. I got my dreams—my education, my
