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“This is great,” he told Honey. “Do you mind if I keep it?”
“Not at all. I also spoke with Ivy Hawthorne at the library about where Lyssa’s folks are living these days. Seems they moved away shortly after this tragedy, and I don’t blame them.” She pulled out another slip—one on which she’d written a name and address in her spidery script.
“They’re back in Boulder?” he said when he saw the address.
“That’s what Ivy said.”
“Did she think it was odd that you’d inquire about Lyssa all this time later?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” Honey replied. “I told her you’d found a picture in a library book you wanted to return to the family, and she called a mutual friend to get permission to give me Lyssa’s father’s office address. He’s a developer in the area.”
Bo took the paper and folded it inside the article before slipping both in his back pocket.
Ismay sent him another glance. He could feel it, but he didn’t look back at her. He wanted Honey to feel her job was complete, so she’d forget about the picture and leave the rest to him.
“I’ll get it off to them,” he said as if that was that. “Thanks for your help.”
“Of course.” She clapped her hands. “Now, who’s ready for dessert?”
Working. That was the only thing that helped. The sound of the hammer was more comforting than anything else, Jack thought, as he helped Bo tear out the ruined Sheetrock and replace it. The sound of the saw, which blocked out all other noise, was even better as he mitered piece after piece of baseboard so Bo could attach it to the wall.
They’d paint last. Probably tomorrow, since it was getting late. That would be a quieter job, but at least he’d still be busy. It was when he had nothing to do that the reality of his situation hit him. Then he’d ask himself what the hell he was doing clear across the country working with a dude he’d barely met to repair a storm-damaged house he’d never seen before when, just days ago, he’d been married and hoping to start a family with Ashleigh.
At lunch, the neighbor for whom he’d soon be house-sitting had suggested he’d eventually heal. But it was hard to believe that was true.
He was dying to call Ashleigh, to hear her voice. She’d been an integral part of his life for so long. But something about how she’d behaved the day she came to pick up her things stopped him. She’d asked for more of their belongings than what was fair. That showed how little she really cared about what was left of him, because she didn’t care if there was anything leftforhim.
At six o’clock, Bo set aside his hammer. “That’s it for the day. Let’s go to town and grab dinner. I’ll take you to my favorite place. You’ve earned it.”
The only thing Jack wanted to do was lie down and curl into a tight ball. But constantly being with Bo, who expected him to react as though heweren’ta hairsbreadth away from buckling under the pain he felt, kept him going through the motions of working, eating, showering, and attempting to sleep, even though he’d only stared at the ceiling last night. Part of him was tempted to bolt—to fly home right away. But the other part wanted to do anythingexceptface the reality of what he’d left in Tremonton.
So he felt frozen in space and time with something terrible going through his gut. “Should I call Ismay to see if she wants to join us?” he asked.
Bo hesitated for a brief second. His reaction was subtle, but somehow—despite being so caught up in his own misery—Jack noticed. “Maybe the two of you would like to be alone,” he said. “You’ve had hardly any time together since you arrived.”
“I’m sure she’d be happy to come along. She likes you. I can tell.”
“But I just remembered I have to put together some receipts and other stuff for the family who pays me, so... I’ll grab a sandwich here, and you two go out.”
Jack didn’t know how to respond. It seemed as though his suggestion that Ismay join them was what had made Bo decide not to come. But he knew Bo would deny it if he suggested she was the reason he’d changed his mind, so he simply nodded and texted his sister.We ever going to eat?
You’re already done?she wrote back.You sure you don’t want to work around the clock?
She was teasing him, trying hard to do or say anything to lift his spirits.
I’d be fine with that. It’s Bo. He’s the lightweight. ;)He was making an attempt to joke around with her like he normally would, but it was weird that something like that suddenly required effort.
Good. I’m glad one of you finally made the other stop. Let’s go get some dinner.
Where?
Bo’s coming, right? I bet he knows of a good place.
This was proof she didn’t mind if Bo joined them. But Jack had no energy to cajole either one of them. He was barely handling his own problems.
He’s not planning on joining us.
Why not?
