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“Oh, right. I do remember her. We met a few times when she came to visit you here.”
“Yes, she was a good friend of mine. She still is. Margary has a major problem and asked me to help. She broke her leg in three places and is in a hip to ankle cast for the next six weeks, at least.”
“That’s rough. What does she need you to do?”
“Finish a job for her. It’s in the last month of construction and if they don’t meet the deadline they’re going to have to pay through the nose because of the contingency clause. She needs someone to take her place on site and finish up the project. Someone who knows what they’re doing and can step in for her.”
“And that someone is you.”
“Yes. I told her I’d see what I could do. I’m supposed to call her back with my answer tonight.”
“Where is the job?”
“Phoenix.”
Phoenix. She’d have to live there until the job was finished. “You’re going, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Unless there’s a reason I shouldn’t.”
What could he say? Any objections he made would just make him sound petty. “When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? “You’ll be there for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes.”
“Will you…will you come back?”
“It’s temporary, Levi. I’m not leaving for good. Unless…” Her voice trailed off.
“Unless what?”
“Do you want me to come back, Levi?”
“Yes.” God, yes.
“Then I will.” They looked at each other for a long, intense moment, then she said, “I’d better go pack.”
Chapter Twenty
Dana knew she would miss Levi while she was gone but she hadn’t realized how much. Thanksgiving fell only a few days after she left Whiskey River. Dana called Levi, just to hear the sound of his voice and tell him happy Thanksgiving. But it was a mistake. They had an awkward, stilted, brief conversation and then hung up. Leaving Dana, at least, thoroughly depressed. She had no idea what Levi was feeling, but he sure didn’t sound like he missed her.
After Levi, she talked to her family. At least they said they missed her, but all the noise and laughter coming from their end of the phone made her even more depressed, if possible.
Once Thanksgiving was over her time in Phoenix settled into a routine. Thank God the job kept her busy during the day and on weekends as well. But the nights were different. She ate alone, since she didn’t know anyone. She watched TV. She read. She worked on new plans for accessible housing, but that of course, reminded her of Levi.
Her friends from Whiskey River called her regularly. Savannah, Laurel, Tobi and Siobhan all made sure to call her often and tell her the news. None of them admitted to seeing Levi, so Dana figured he was either holed up at home or he was out and about, probably flirting with women and doing a good job of forgetting Dana, and no one wanted to tell her.
Dana didn’t regret taking the job. Margary was extremely grateful to her and it made her feel good to know she could help out a friend. But she missed Levi. And the more she missed him the more she wondered if maybe she could live with him not trusting her. Every time she thought that, though, she had to admit it wouldn’t work.
Dana had been in Phoenix for about three weeks when Levi called her one night. The moment she picked up her phone and saw the caller ID her heart sprinted madly.
“Hi, Levi.”
“Hi. How are you?”
“I’m doing all right. What about you?”
