“I thought last week, but I didn’t get a letter or a call.”
“Have you spoken to Mr. Castle? He could probably tell you if there’s been a delay or if you’re being a little too anxious.”
“I don’t want to bug him,” Jimmy said, then hesitated before adding in a voice barely above a whisper, “And maybe I don’t want to know.”
“Ah,” Wade said, seeing the real problem. “You’re scared this means you’re not getting the scholarship.”
Jimmy gave him one of those disbelieving looks that all kids had mastered by their thirteenth birthday, if not before. “Well, duh! It’s a real possibility, you know? But I’ve kinda started counting on it. I know that’s a dumb thing to do, because the odds are against me. There are probably a hundred kids who deserve it way more than me.”
“But we’ve all told you that you have a good chance, so you let yourself believe,” Wade concluded, wondering if they’d done him a grave disservice to get his hopes up.
Jimmy nodded. “Crazy, huh? I mean a little while back I didn’t think I had any chance at all of going to college, so this at least gave me some hope. I should be grateful, not acting like a big baby.”
“You’re not acting like a big baby,” Wade said, fighting to hide a smile. “You’re acting like a young man who wants this really badly.”
“It’s just that it’s my big chance,” Jimmy said earnestly.
“I know,” Wade said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “And whatever happens, I believe with everything in me that things will work out for you.”
“I suppose,” Jimmy said, his tone still dejected.
“It’s entirely possible,” Wade suggested, “that they send out the rejections first. Not hearing could actually be a good thing.”
“You think?” Jimmy asked, seizing at the faint hope Wade had tossed out.
“It’s possible. What I do know is that worrying about it won’t make things happen any faster.” Wade decided a change of topic was in order. “How’s your dad doing with rehab?” he asked, hoping he’d picked the right subject, one that would elicit a positive response.
Jimmy’s eyes immediately brightened. “He’s doing great. The doctor said he can go back to work pretty soon, and Tommy’s talked to him and promised to put him on his crew as soon as he’s ready.”
“That’s fantastic!” Wade said. “Why don’t you focus on that for now? You’ll have these other answers soon enough.”
“I guess,” Jimmy said. He glanced at Wade. “Thanks, man. Not just for the talk, but for all of it.”
“Not a problem. I’ll always have your back, okay?”
Jimmy grinned. “Hey, you need any help with Gabi?”
Wade laughed. “Thanks all the same. I think I have that covered for now.”
“You sure about that?”
Wade wasn’t a hundred percent sure of anything where Gabi was concerned, but he was a lot more optimistic than he’d once been.
“I’m sure,” he said. “You’ll be the first person I call, though, if I do need backup. Like you’ve said before, she’s crazy about you.”
“Awesome,” Jimmy said, giving him a fist bump, his good mood obviously restored.
Wade watched him take off for the house, then smiled. Whatever happened down the road—for him or for Jimmy—they’d handle it. He believed that with everything in him.
* * *
Gabi was startled when Louise called on her cell phone at midmorning and invited her to meet for lunch.
“I can ask Meg and Sally to join us, if the prospect of spending time with me scares you,” Louise said.
“I’d like to think we’re past any problems or misunderstandings,” Gabi told her. “Sure. I’d love to have lunch.”
“Great. I’ll bring along all those lists I told you about on the phone the other night. They’re still up-to-date, thanks to the unexpected arrival of Jason. Mommy’s little surprise, as I like to call him.”
Her flip remark startled Gabi. “Wade had me thinking you’d wanted a big family.”
“There’s big and then there’s five,” Louise said, her tone wry. “I thought four was plenty, but sometimes we just don’t know what life has in store for us.” Then she suggested they meet at noon at the Seaside Café. “Will that work for you? I know you help Sally out most mornings.”
“Actually today’s the perfect day for it,” Gabi responded. “Sally wants me to bring a couple of orders into town, so I’ll just time those deliveries accordingly.” She glanced over at Sally for confirmation. Sally nodded.
As soon as Gabi had disconnected the call, Sally asked, “Another step in the peace process between you and Louise?”
“I think so,” Gabi said.
“You do know it wasn’t really about you, right?” Sally asked. “Since her mom died and her father retired and moved away, Louise is even more protective of Wade. He took it real hard when his wife and the baby died.”
“Of course he did,” Gabi said. “That’s totally understandable. From what I’ve heard, she was his childhood sweetheart.”
Sally frowned at the characterization. “Something like that,” she said, suddenly evasive.
“Hold on a second,” Gabi said. “Are you saying they weren’t a couple from way back?”
Sally regarded her guiltily. “Gabi, I am so sorry I got into this. I try my best not to gossip and it’s not my place to be talking about this. It’s just that I like you and it seems the story might be a bit more complicated than anyone’s told you. I am not the right person to fill in the blanks, though. Ask Louise, if you want, or better yet, talk to Wade. It’s his story to share.”
Judging from Sally’s tone, Gabi had the distinct impression that it was a story she very much needed to hear. Not from Louise, though. That would be too much like sneaking around behind Wade’s back. She needed to hear it from him, because if it in any way affected the bond he seemed
