The Stars at Night

by Gerri Hill

  But Lexie didn’t say anything. She smiled. A smile that—at least in Kyler’s imagination—said that she guessed exactly what it was Kyler did each morning and she didn’t think it was nerdy in the least. Or that’s what she hoped she thought.

  “Speaking of coffee, I could use a cup right about now.”

  “Yeah. Come on. Let’s go see your brother.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “What time does he open?”

  “Daybreak. Which is earlier in the summer than winter, obviously.”

  “Why on earth so early?”

  “Guests from the lodge go over early. Especially those who take daytrips. Like to Big Bend. Some of the locals come by for breakfast and just to sit around and drink coffee and shoot the shit.”

  Lexie shook her head, trying to picture her brother in that atmosphere. She turned to Kyler. “Do you know what Mark did before he moved out here?”

  “Did? Like work? Yeah, he said he worked for an investment firm. Suit and tie.”

  “Yes. So I’m having a hard time seeing him sitting around drinking coffee with old-timers, gossiping about their neighbors.”

  “I’ve only known him like this, so he seems to fit right in. I am curious about his time in Austin, though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mark and I are friends. We talk about everything. Except that. He’s always evasive, doesn’t elaborate.” Kyler shrugged. “I haven’t pushed. I mean, he obviously doesn’t want to talk about it. He told me about his wife, briefly, so I assume that’s it.”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “It’s none of my business, I guess. Our friendship is new.”

  Though she was sure Kyler tried to hide it, Lexie thought her words sounded a bit wounded. And why not? Kyler had been here going on five years. Is that still considered new?

  “He told me he doesn’t talk about it because he doesn’t want to relive it. I told him maybe it would do him good to talk about it.”

  Kyler turned, eyebrows raised.

  “She was six months pregnant when she was killed. They were cycling, like they did a lot. A woman failed to stop at an intersection.”

  “Oh my god.”

  “It hit us all hard. Mia was…well, the sister I never had. She was a second daughter to my parents. It hit us all very hard. Mark—I wasn’t certain he was going to recover from it. My parents were already in negotiations to buy this place when it happened. Mark jumped at the chance to come up here with them.”

  “I knew he was still heartbroken over his wife. I had no idea she was pregnant.” Kyler pounded the steering wheel. “Damn. I hate that I push him sometimes to date.”

  “Like with the twins?”

  Kyler whipped her head around. “He told you?”

  “He told me you were the one who backed out.”

  Kyler laughed. “Yeah. I’m not quite that adventurous. Maybe ten years ago I would have done it. But no, he ran as fast as I did!”

  Kyler’s smile remained when she turned into the parking lot at the restaurant. There were three other cars there. Lexie could see her brother moving about inside, delivering plates of food to a table.

  “He’s got his Christmas tree up. Yesterday?”

  “Yes. I helped decorate.” She stared at the twinkling lights that she’d framed the inside windows with. It looked pretty and festive. “What do you call this place?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My mother calls it the restaurant. Mark calls it the bar. What do the locals call it?”

  “Oh. Most call it Cottonwood. Like, going over to Cottonwood for a beer. Or, heading to Cottonwood for dinner. Like that.”

  “And you?”

  “It depends, I guess. If I say it out loud, like to Tammy or somebody, I’ll say Cottonwood. If I’m thinking it, it’s usually the bar. Because that’s where I always sit and have dinner. Up at the bar.” She turned to her when she cut the engine. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Restaurant seemed too formal. When Mark talks about it to me, he usually says the bar or the grill. I don’t think he’s ever referred to it as the restaurant.”

  Kyler opened her door and Lexie did the same. “More of a local diner than a restaurant anyway. Mark calls it a greasy spoon.”

  “And that it is. Mark’s old apartment doesn’t have a kitchen, as I’m sure you know. My eating options appear to be here or with my parents.”

  “So add some healthy stuff to the menu. Fair warning, though. I doubt anyone will order tofu.”

  She laughed. “So he told you I have a fondness for tofu, huh?”

  “He did. And fish. And he said you’d push the food around on your plate if you didn’t like it. Which is what you did the other night.”

  She paused at the door. “I’m not a big meat eater. I don’t eat beef at all, so it was kinda hard to pick it out of that casserole. I have chicken occasionally. I suppose that will change.”

  “Fish and tofu are hard to come by up here.” Kyler pushed the door open. “Down at the coast I had fish nearly every day. That was one of the biggest changes when I moved up here.”

  Mark was at the bar, already pouring two cups of coffee for them. She followed Kyler over and sat down beside her.

  “What did you think, sis?”

  “It was beautiful and well worth going to bed by ten,” she conceded. “How often do you do it?”

  “Only when Kyler drags my ass up there.”

  “Which she’s going to do here in a couple of weeks.” Kyler took a cup and stirred sugar into it. “Meteor shower.”

  “You’re going to make me get up in the middle of the night again, aren’t you?”

  “Two in the morning is peak viewing.”

  “I’ll probably skip it this year. But Lexie…”

  When Kyler looked at her, she held up her hand. “Oh, no. Don’t even think about it. No.”

  “It is pretty cool,” Mark said. “Shooting stars all over the place.”

  “At two in the morning? I don’t think so.”

  “Sit out for an hour or so, watch the stars, go back to bed.” Kyler smiled at her. “You’ll be glad you did.”

  Lexie looked at her skeptically. “We’ll see.”

  “So where are you taking her today?”

  “Thought I’d do the loop. Swing by the observatory. Go to the overlook.”

  “Don’t do the whole loop. She’ll be bored on the part in the desert. Stay up here in the mountains.”

  Lexie sipped her coffee, thinking she’d be bored silly regardless of what route Kyler took.

  “The place looks nice, by the way. Very Christmasy.”

  “Lexie did most of it. Got more lights up than I did last year.”

  “You do your house yet?”

  “No. Gonna make you two help me today.”

  “Not a chore. I love it.”

  Lexie nodded. “Me too. Now, when it comes time to take everything down, you’re on your own.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course. You go and enjoy yourself. Irene works the office for us on Sundays.”

  “She’s the one who helps Mark too?”

  “Yes. We’d be lost without her. She sort of came with the place when we bought it,” her mother said with a laugh. “She lives alone in an old ranch house about six miles up the road. Her husband died years ago, and she only has one daughter, who lives in the Dallas area. Poor thing hardly ever gets to see her grandkids. Well, great-grandkids now too.”

  “Did you have her over for Thanksgiving dinner?”

  “No, she usually has Thanksgiving with the Stensons. That’s Tammy and Phil. They’re neighbors.”

  She nodded. “Tammy works at the park and Phil is the woodcarver.”

  Her mother smiled. “See? You’re learning people already.” Her mother opened the fridge and took out a jar of pickles. “Now, how was your tour? You weren’t gone as long as I expected.”

  “It was fun, actual
ly. Very scenic. Kyler makes a good tour guide. We didn’t do the whole loop, though. Something about the desert. She turned around at some picnic area.”

  Her mother nodded. “Once you get on the south side of the loop, it’s pretty barren. About the only thing exciting to see is if a herd of pronghorns come close.”

  She smiled. “That’s exactly what Kyler said.”

  Her mother sliced the pickle lengthwise. “You like her?”

  “Yes. She’s very nice.” Then she held her hand up. “No, Mom. Don’t get any ideas. That will never happen.”

  “I told you, you and Kyler are too opposite. I don’t see it.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yes. Kyler is a tree hugger. You’re a city girl.”

  “Well, this city girl actually hugged a tree today.” She stole one of the pickle strips and popped it into her mouth.

  Her mother held the knife suspended, her eyes wide. “You? You hugged a tree?” Then she smiled. “Let me guess. One of those big ponderosa pines up by the observatory?”

  “That would be the ones.” Then she smiled too. “I refused, of course. But she was hugging it and saying how it smelled like vanilla so…”

  “And what did you think?”

  “I thought it was more butterscotch than vanilla.”

  Her mother laughed. “I’m trying to picture you with your nose stuck into the bark of a tree.”

  “I know.” She shrugged. “I had a good time. It was relaxing.”

  “Different?”

  “Yes. Quiet.” She pointed to the pickle that she was now mincing. “What’s up with that?”

  “Oh, I’m making my homemade relish to put in my potato salad later. Your father is going to grill burgers this afternoon.”

  “Sounds like fun.” If they were veggie burgers, she added silently, wondering if she would ever get one of those again.

  “Mark will have a spread. They always do. What did he say this time? Nachos and wings?”

  “Yes, I think so. I feel like I should bring something.”

  “Well, maybe during the week, I’ll take you to Potters and you can shop. Make something you’d like and take it next Sunday.”

  “So this is an every Sunday thing?”

  “During football season, yes. And whenever Kyler drags him away from the restaurant.”

  “What will you do today?”

  “Oh, I’ve got a few more Christmas decorations to put out. Your father will be in his recliner watching games all day. That is, unless something comes up.”

  “So tomorrow you’ll start my training?”

  “Yes. And within a week, you will be an expert. There’s nothing to it.” She waved the knife in the air. “Now, you should get going. I’m sure Kyler is already there.”

  “Actually, Mark never gave me directions. Which road do I take?”

  “Road? Oh, we always walk there.”

  “Walk? How close is he?”

  “Oh, up the hill. Not far. There’s a path through the woods. He and Kyler made it. It’s past the bird garden. You can’t miss it.”

  “Okay. I guess I’ll find it.” She stole another pickle. “See you later, Mom.”

  “Have fun,” her mother called after her.

  She went into her little apartment for a jacket, thinking it would be late—and cooler—when she made the trip back home. Now, though, it was a beautiful, sunny day and the temperature was quite pleasant. She draped the jacket across her arm and headed to the bird garden.

  She paused there, spying the bird feeders hanging from limbs. There was a wooden wall on one side with cutouts for viewing. What people called a blind, she assumed. She walked slowly and quietly, easing behind the wall. The birds that were there didn’t pay her any mind and she wondered if perhaps they were used to people by now.

  She, of course, had no idea what the birds were. There were some cute little brown and red ones. And there was a black and white bird that she guessed was a woodpecker of some sort. It had a red spot on its head. Doves. She knew that, but she didn’t know the species. A small gray bird with a dark crest landed on the feeder, stole a sunflower seed, and flew off.

  Kyler would know the names, no doubt. She smiled, remembering the binoculars that had been pressed into her hands, Kyler urging her to look at a hawk. A red-tailed hawk, Kyler had said. It was quite majestic as it soared, and she found she loved watching it.

  As she’d told her mother, she had enjoyed the whole trip. Besides coffee, Mark had given them tacos to take along for breakfast. Eggs and potatoes—he’d left the bacon off hers—in a flour tortilla that one of the cooks makes from scratch each morning. It was smothered in a spicy green sauce and was so good, she wished she’d had two. In fact, it was so good, she could envision going there for breakfast every morning. She could also envision herself gaining ten pounds in the blink of an eye!

  She realized she was still standing there, watching the birds. Not really watching them, no. She didn’t watch birds. With a shake of her head, she moved on around the blind, looking for the trail that would take her to Mark’s cabin. She saw the sign before she found the trail.

  “Private Residence. No Entry.”

  Yes, it did look like a hiking trail, thus the need for a sign. The path appeared well-used and she assumed that Mark walked this way each day to the restaurant. How wonderful that must be. She paused, wondering where that thought came from. It was most likely dark and cold when he made the trip down each morning.

  But it wasn’t far. Uphill, yes, but not far. She spotted the cabin through the trees. It felt good to do some exercise. She would miss her gym access, that’s for sure. It had become a daily ritual to head over there right after work. She’d made lots of friends there. After a good workout, there was always someone willing to grab a smoothie with her and sometimes even dinner.

  Well, before Cathy, that is. Once Cathy came into her life, she was expected home. They’d then usually go out together for a meal or on the rare occasion, stay in and cook something. She enjoyed cooking. Cathy, on the other hand, would rather eat out. She shook that thought away. She certainly didn’t want to think about Crazy Cathy.

  No, she didn’t. She did wonder, though, how things were going with her friends. Trish had texted her pictures from their night out on Sixth Street. It had looked like the usual fun—crowds of people walking the sidewalks under flashing neon signs, going from bar to bar, only stopping when the music inside met everyone’s approval. There was no regret on her part for missing out, though. She hadn’t seen the text until morning. She’d been sound asleep when Trish had sent them. Sound asleep by ten and up at five thirty. Would any of her friends have believed that?

  She paused at the edge of the clearing, wondering why she was so out of breath. It hadn’t even been a week since her last—and final—trip to the gym. Surely she wasn’t getting out of shape that quickly. Probably the altitude. Maybe she should take up jogging. It would be vastly different to run outside compared to her treadmill sessions. And in lieu of her spin class, she could take up cycling. She remembered Mark saying that Kyler biked. And while he didn’t want to join her, perhaps Kyler would extend the invitation to her.

  “Hey. You’re about to miss kickoff.”

  She looked up, finding Kyler leaning against the deck railing. She appeared to be holding a beer.

  “Catching my breath.”

  Kyler nodded. “Altitude.”

  She headed up the steps. “Good. I was afraid I was getting out of shape already.” She smiled at her, then looked around. Yes, Mark had indeed brought a TV outside. It was against the wall of the cabin and three chairs were arranged around it.

  “He’s getting the wings marinated. You want a beer?”

  “Is it even noon?”

  Kyler grinned. “Somewhere.” She looked at the black sports watch on her wrist. “Eleven fifty. Is that close enough?”

  Kyler had already opened a cooler and pulled out a beer bottle from beneath the ice. She recognized the
dark bottle with the gold label. The Shiner Bock was shoved into a koozie with a zipper. A Dallas Cowboys koozie.

  “Is that who we’re watching?”

  “The Cowboys? They don’t play until three.”

  “Then why the urgency for a noon kickoff?”

  “Because Mark has satellite TV and he gets every game. So we pick one we want to watch or flip around between them.”

  “I didn’t realize Mark enjoyed football that much. He usually bailed on me and Dad when the games were on.”

  Kyler shrugged and gave an almost apologetic smile. “Excuse to drink beer at noon.”

  The beer was cold and smooth and she nodded. “Good. Thank you. I’ll be better prepared next time and bring my own.”

  “No problem.”

  She sat down beside Kyler. The sound was muted on the TV and it looked like the game hadn’t yet started. She nudged Kyler’s arm with her elbow.

  “I had a really good time today. I never in a million years would have thought that it would be fun. But it was and I enjoyed it.”

  “Did you? Good. Like I said, we’ll need to make a trip to the observatory one night. In January when there are no crowds is the best time to go. It’s totally awesome seeing the planets through those telescopes. It’s what got me hooked on it.”

  “Do you have your own telescope?”

  “I do. Nothing too fancy but it’s enough for me.” The smile Kyler gave again had a bit of embarrassment in it, she thought. “It was all I could afford. Maybe someday I’ll get a bigger one.”

  Mark came out then, carrying a tray with chips and some sort of sour cream dip. “Spinach?” she guessed, remembering the dip Mia used to make.

  “It is.” He met her gaze and nodded. “And yes, I made it myself.” He looked at the TV. “Which game are we watching?”

  “I don’t know, but I want a tour of your house first.”

  “Sure. Come on in.” He pointed at Kyler. “Pick a game. And not the Patriots.”

  * * *

  Kyler was both surprised and pleased that not only did Lexie like football, she was also well versed in it. She had screamed out “That was holding!” even before the referee tossed his yellow flag. She also learned that Lexie liked beer and it made her giggly. And in turn, Kyler found herself getting giggly as well. Which was so not her.