Page 25 of Found in Wild Sage

“Oh, honey.” She closes the distance between us right as my eyes fill with tears.

I cling to her, realizing how much I needed this hug.

“He’s just...” I sniffle and shake my head, dabbing at my eyes when we pull back. “He’s infuriatingly wonderful.”

She grins sympathetically. “I’m engaged to his brother, so trust me. I fully get that. I think that’s another Ryan family motto.”

We share a laugh, then turn to give Charlie our attention as he signs for more fruit. He’s so precious. Even with the angst I feel about Declan, my heart bursts for my baby.

“What can I do?”

I sigh. “I don’t even know. Probably nothing.” But then it occurs to me to ask, “Wait, are you working Monday?”

“Yes. I’m doing full days Monday and Tuesday this week, then shorter shifts because I have classes the rest of the week.” Her grin spreads wide across her face.

“The new semester started already? That’s awesome! I’m so glad Jerry’s working with your schedule. Though I’m honestly surprised Grant hasn’t told you to quit and just focus on school.”

Her bossy fiancé is just like the rest of his family—well off. I don’t know everything about the Ryan family finances, but seeing the homestead last night and with the Ryan name plastered on all kinds of buildings and placards in town, I have to guess Grant’s salary isn’t the only source of income.

The same could probably be said for Declan, which makes my stomach twist. Did it look like I was gold digging, being with him? Is that why his family was upset? Obviously, the timeline was jarring, but maybe they’re worried I’m only with him for his money?

I don’t even know what his money is, though, and I’d like to believe they wouldn’t think so low of me.

“Grant has made it clear that if I want to stop working, he’ll support me in any way I want, up to and including paying my tuition and everything. But he also knows what I’ve been through, so having a man tell me I can’t work wasn’t going to fly.”

I clap my hands together, which Charlie mimics. “Wise woman. And good man. I just hope you won’t work yourself too hard trying to stay at the diner and do library stuff and school.”

She chuckles. “Says the single mom who works a full-time job.”

I wave that away.

“So wait, what’s Monday?”

The nerves crash back down when I remember. “Oh. Well. Mary Ryan asked me to meet her for lunch at Jerry’s.”

I thought I was nervous walking into the Ryan household on Friday night, but it’s nothing like approaching Jerry’s Diner knowing Mary Ryan is waiting to have lunch with me one-on-one.

The same Mary Ryan who loves her children deeply and was less than impressed when she found out we planned to have a courthouse wedding this week.

I have talked through everything I can think of in terms of questions she’ll have and responses I can say. What I cannot say is, “Your son is marrying me so I can keep my son from his awful, abusive father.”

There’s a very real possibility she’s going to tell me to leave her son alone. She’ll see right through our sham engagement, right through to the heart of me and know I’m not good enough for her doctor son. She’s never given me any reason to suspect this, but I shuffle into the bright pink, bustling diner prepared to be absolutely skewered.

Which is why I’m caught completely off guard when Jerry nods to where Mary stands from a rose pink two-person booth and beams at me.

She’s in her sixties and lovely. Warm. Crow’s feet from smiling and red-gray hair I suspect was the same vibrant color as May’s at some point. She’s dressed stylishly in nicer jeans than I’ve ever owned and a casual white top with a marigold yellow cardigan hanging open.

She’s just so effortlessly polished.

And she’s opening her arms like she wants to greet me with a hug.

I’m on autopilot now, returning her embrace and internally frozen to any impression except a resounding “what is happening?” rushing through my brain like a reservoir bursting an old dam.

“Thank you so much for meeting me, Evie. I’m sure your lunch hour is a respite from the madness of the clinic.” She tucks her paper napkin in her lap.

“It’s not so bad. The clinic, I mean. I do like my lunch break, though.” My smile is forced. Hers seems natural and curious, and then I remember I need to sell this with everything I’ve got, so I rush to add, “Declan and I eat together sometimes.”

“I’m glad. And that’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about, if you don’t mind getting right to it.”