Her mother was convinced Odella would never sell and Avery was inclined to agree. The café owner was as much a fixture of the town square as her dusty cookie jars. The two-piece and fruity beach drinks were on hold for now.
But the work on the old hardware store was going well, according to her mother. It had taken two days to demo it to bare walls and floors. Now it was time for the fun part.
Avery stopped to peek in the window. Regina was coming home from Colorado, but not until the last flight in to Knoxville. Her mother was driving Regina’s Cadillac while dropping very clear hints it was time Avery bought her own car.
She’d have to give her mother her keys back when they rendezvoused for dinner.
Everything Regina and Janet did was planned around the right restaurant and meal.
Regina’s absence left Janet in charge, not that Ethan would know, because Janet and the man who had to be Ethan’s father were giggling over the building plans in one corner. Ethan was laying new wood flooring down. All by himself.
“I understand why you need to hire some help,” Avery said as she stepped up behind Ethan.
He grunted and then stood slowly. “Yeah, my current guy is caught in the throes of puppy love. It’s really gross around here. When is Regina back?” He yanked off the knee pads he’d strapped on and tossed them his father’s direction. “Dad, can I introduce you before you propose to my new stepsister’s mother?”
The older version of Ethan caught the flying pads and stacked them on the table. “You ought to be taking notes, son. Don’t hate the player.”
Avery raised an eyebrow. “Does he usually add ‘hate the game’ after that?”
Ethan’s face was screwed up with disgust. “Sometimes. Please tell me holiday dinners at your house are good, sis.”
Avery hissed out a breath. “Oh, do I have bad news for you, bro. Unless you’re cooking it, things are going to be a real disappointment.”
Ethan nodded. “Sure, I’ve been telling him for years to find a pretty lady, one who can cook a nice pecan pie. Instead, he goes for one who will put down new wood floor in every building she steps inside until the end of time.”
Avery evaluated that critique and decided it was fair as Ethan’s father marched over, his hand extended. As they shook, Avery could certainly see the appeal. If Ethan was all burning hotness, his father was rugged endurance...and some hotness. Good genes in this family.
“Nice to meet you, Avery,” Michael Pace said. “I hope you won’t hold my son’s bad manners against me.”
“Nope, but don’t believe a word my mother says about me, either.” His grin was contagious and there was something in his happy expression that convinced Avery that they weren’t talking about puppy love, not anymore.
She glanced at Ethan as his dad headed back to join Janet. “Want to talk independent contractors? Or should we wait for the wedding?”
His grunt could have been a laugh, but Ethan pointed at a card table with two folding chairs. “Let’s talk at my desk.”
Avery slipped the folder on top of the piles of paper that might be bills or invoices or who knew what. “They’re pretty cute together.”
“They really are,” Ethan said as he flipped the folder open, “but they could be cute on their own time, you know?” He put on a pair of glasses, which only made him more handsome. Why didn’t the women of Sweetwater form a conga line behind him wherever he went?
“Independent contractor, huh?” Ethan scanned the paper. “I guess it makes sense in this case but...” He shut the folder. “I always make the decisions.”
Avery blinked. This might be part of the reason the conga line had never formed.
“Right. Well, Richie, the guy you’d like to add on, wants to be able to work other jobs under his own company name. Because of that, he has his own insurance, tools, even a website. There’s not much advantage to either of you to change that, so as an independent contractor, he only needs jobs and checks.”
Ethan studied the mess on the card table as he considered that. “I can’t count on his availability, though. The downside.”
Avery had already anticipated that. “So, you could add other contractors, guys with smaller concerns who might have some flexibility. Then if Richie’s booked, you can line up someone else, no harm done to either you or Richie.” She fiddled with her pen. “That assumes there are more guys around who’d like to add jobs.”
“I’m not sure how many I could keep busy, but...” Ethan smiled. “I’d sure like to have enough projects to make it a problem worth working on.” He picked up his phone and punched a button. “Richie? Yeah, I’ve got the contract. We’ll discuss your fee, by hour, and write that part in.” He waited for Avery to nod. “And then we’re good to go.”
Whatever Richie said, it pleased Ethan. “Looking forward to it.” He ended the call and frowned over at his father. “This was supposed to be Pace and Son, not Pace and the guy who flirts with pretty women while his son does all the work.”
Avery grinned at the dry tone. “That’s too long to fit on the side of your work truck, anyway.”
“Yeah,” Ethan said. “I don’t know if you have time for lunch, but if you promise to eat and talk without a single giggle, I’ll add that to the fee you and I never agreed on.”
The day was so far off course already, Avery thought she should go for it. How often did she get such a handsome invitation? Then she remembered her last text from Sam. No words. Four numbers: 23.16. Avery frowned at her phone, then realized he was texting her his best time up Yanu. She hadn’t timed herself, but on a day like today, when it seemed the universe was sending her messages, Avery was up to the test.
“Sorry, I’ve got plans.” Avery considered passing the lovebirds completely by, but she was about to take her mother’s car, so... “Hey, Mom, I’ve got an errand. I’m taking your car, but I’ll be back in time to pick up Regina.”
Her mother dragged her attention away from Michael long enough to study Avery’s face. “Okay, baby, I’ll be fine here.”
Sure you will. But since her mom wasn’t complaining about losing her wheels, Avery would take it.
At some point, a new car was in her future. She loved driving. If she was planning to stay in Sweetwater, she’d already have moved on that.
Wouldn’t she?
Avery wasn’t sure, but the drive up to the Yanu trailhead was nice. The temperature was cold, but she was prepared with layers and her old boots. As she pulled her phone out, she knew this was going to be the day. She was going to beat Sam’s time. She might be the only girl to beat his time to the falls, but she would do it.
She tightened her shoelaces and then started off at a dead run, her lungs pushing hard until she settled into the rhythm of the trail. She’d done this so many times as a girl that her muscles remembered. On the steepest climbs, Avery slowed and caught her breath. On the long flats, she poured on the speed.
As she reached the rock where she’d nearly frozen in place, Avery yanked her phone out. “Yes! Under twenty-three minutes! I did it!” She ran in a small circle, arms waving in the air. If there were any bears in the area, they were backing away slowly from the crazy lady.
When she could breathe again, she texted Sam. 22.59.
Maybe he was busy. Maybe he didn’t have to have an answer. Or he was taunting her from long distance to keep his promise.
Then he replied. Selfie or it didn’t happen.
Avery stuck her tongue out at her phone and turned so that the falls were directly behind her, the long drop down to Otter Lake impressive at this angle. She was afraid her smile was too broad to fit, but she was pleased with the shot. She had on her dad’s sunglasses. Her hair was a wreck. And there was so little of the first Avery Sam had encountered on this trail that it might have been a different lifetime.
She hit Send a
nd sat down on the rock.
“Now then, what to do with the rest of my life.” Surely the epiphany wouldn’t let her down again.
She stared out over the water down in the valley and considered all the time she’d spent running these trails with Sam. Whatever happened next, he had to be a part of it.
Didn’t he? There was nothing keeping her here. Nothing. Her mother loved her and Avery would never let the distance come between them like she had before.
That could be epiphany number one. She was smarter. She wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.
Her phone vibrated and Avery realized that it shouldn’t be working. Why was it working? Worst cell reception in the park. That was what Sam had said.
Another part of the day that felt like it was pointing her one way. Back to Sam.
She pulled her cell out. You wouldn’t be shaving your time, would you? You’ve been known to cheat.
Avery wrinkled her nose. Then she typed. At some point, we’re going to have to lay out the rules before you send me running up a mountain. Not that she could regret it.
Draw me up a contract. I’ll sign it. The next text that came from Sam showed snow on the ground. Nowhere near my best time, but my highest climb yet. 8,000 feet. In the picture, he was covered head to toe, one hand raised to give her a thumbs-up, his dark hazel eyes filled with pleasure.
He’d found his spot.
She checked the time and realized she was running out of minutes for the epiphany to appear. She had to get back to Sweetwater.
So...
Avery paced back and forth as she studied the falls and the lake and the bright blue sky.
If this wasn’t the place, she could rule out others, step by step by step. She scrolled through the contacts in her phone. She counted four voice mails and at least that many messages from Maria.
The question was whether her friend would still answer after Avery had shut her out.
And if the call went through, what would it prove?
Maria answered on the first ring. “It says Avery Montague, but she fell off the edge of the earth, so who is this?”
Avery froze in her spot, afraid she’d lose the call.
“It’s me, Maria.” When she’d left the law program and started spending her days at Legal Aid, she and Maria had moved from supervising attorney and know-nothing kid to friends. “I’ve become that friend, the one who only calls when she needs something.”
Maria’s quiet chuckle was sweetly familiar. “So, like the rest of us, then?”
Avery waited for her to say anything else.
“I told you after Robert’s diagnosis that I would do whatever I could to help. That offer hasn’t changed.” Maria cleared her throat. “Do you need a criminal lawyer or a civil one? I can make recommendations either way.”
Avery couldn’t contain the laughter. It reminded her of good times when Maria and her team of lawyers and volunteers had worked hard to win what seemed like small battles in the big picture, but, in fact, changed the world for the families they’d helped. It had been easy to celebrate each success. They’d mourned failures, too, and when Avery had needed support, Maria had been there.
Until Avery turned away. The fact that she’d answered the phone said so much about who Maria was. Avery wanted her opinion.
“Actually, I need a job. When you think of me, what do you see?” Avery asked.
“You, killing it in the first trial we had, the one about the dirty landlord who’d used one late payment as an argument to raise rent more than thirty percent. And he could do it, too. It was all in the contract.” Maria added, “Not that you ever let a thing like a badly prepared contract stop you.”
Avery nodded. “Okay. I’m going to text you a picture. This is the me now.” Avery sent the selfie she’d taken and then put the phone back up to her ear. “Let me know when you get it.”
The silence on the line convinced Avery that she’d lost the call until Maria said, “Got it. You look like a lumberjack now. Is that a plaid shirt you’re wearing?”
Avery glanced down at the shirt she’d pulled out of the closet that morning. It had belonged to her father and it felt right that she was wearing it. “It is. Is that still a lawyer you see?”
“Girl, it’s like you’ve bought into the television story. We should all be wearing skirts short enough to flash all the business, four-inch heels, and have every case ever memorized.” Maria muttered something under her breath. “There are as many different kinds of lawyers as there are people. What makes you happy? If it’s those trees and that climb, you should have been focused on environmental law all along.”
It seemed so obvious. Like the lightning bolt, everything had aligned.
Losing her job.
Delivering the world’s most boring contract in the middle of a lovefest.
Her father’s shirt, a reminder of life and family, old and new.
The race up Yanu with Sam’s joke on her mind: any girl who’d win him would beat his time.
Her cell phone working when she absolutely needed it to.
And in the spot Gee had brought her and Sam to show them not to be afraid of darkness.
“Where’s the best environmental law program in the country?” Avery asked, even though she had no doubt she already knew the answer.
“Well, we’ve got a solid program here in Chicago,” Maria said slowly, “but all the exciting journal articles I’ve seen recently have come from Boulder. The university there has a leading environmental program and access to so many parks, reservations and the natural resources that the program studies.”
Colorado. Of course it was.
“Thanks. You’ve been a lifesaver.” Avery closed her eyes, the relief that settled over her impossible to ignore. She wasn’t quite ready for Sam, but there was no doubt she was getting closer.
“All I want is to be your friend, Avery. Answer your phone the next time I call,” Maria snapped.
Avery agreed and promised twice to let her know if she decided to visit the campus. There was still so much to figure out, like tuition, whether any of her credits might transfer, how long she’d be studying.
But this time, she was ready.
Then she saw the time on her phone. “Oh, man, I’m going to be late.” She hit her mother’s number and listened to the beeps indicating she had no cell service. Since she hadn’t moved a centimeter, it should be surprising but it wasn’t. “That’s okay, universe. You want me to hurry and get this started. I can do that.”
This time as she trotted back down the path that could have been her final resting place, Avery could smile at all the memories of her and Sam. This was always going to be home. By the time she made it back to the car, Avery had calculated that she and her mother would be fifteen minutes late to pick up Regina.
Her mother was tapping her foot, arms clamped hard across her chest, as Avery screeched around the corner to slam to a stop. To stave off the lecture, Avery said, “Yes, ma’am, I’m late. I’ll slow down. We’ll go right now. You call Regina to let her know we are coming.”
And then she listened to her mother complain bitterly into Regina’s voice mail, all the while plotting her revelation. This was going to be so good.
When Avery lurched over near the curb at the airport, Regina was sniffing into a tissue and Avery felt lower than an ant. Was she upset because they were late? Janet hopped out and wrapped her arms around Regina while Avery loaded her bags. When they were all settled back in the car, Regina said, “He’s having a hard time with this move. I don’t know if he’s going to make it.”
Avery stared in the rearview as she tried to decide if this was Regina’s latest attempt at matchmaking. The running mascara was convincing enough that Avery blurted, “I’ll be happy to check on him when I go for my campus visit.”
; The silence in the car was broken only by the thump of the tires on the highway.
“That’s why I’m late.” Avery tightened her hands on the steering wheel. It wasn’t the only reason she was late, but everything rolled together had led to this decision, so it counted. “I lost my job today. I talked to Ethan. I climbed Yanu. My cell phone worked when it shouldn’t.” She could tell by the confused frowns that she was losing them. “But what happened is I know what I should be doing. Environmental law. If there’s one thing my whole life has been leading to, this is it. One of the best programs in the country is in...” She trailed off and let the suspense build until her mother slapped her seat. “...Boulder. It’s in Boulder. I can be a lawyer. I can argue passionately for things that matter to me. And I learn how to do it in Boulder, Colorado.”
This time the silence was worrying. She’d expected happy shouts, something to indicate that everyone in the car agreed with her findings.
Finally, her mother spit, “Well, at last. You have been on my last nerve lately, Avery. It was clear to everyone who knows you that you should be a lawyer. Why in the world it took this long...” She took a deep breath. “Okay, I understand. We had to find the right place. That makes all the difference in real estate. Of course it matters in this, too.”
Then she patted Avery’s shoulder. “I am proud of you, even if I was considering changing the locks on you next month.”
Avery rolled her eyes and then waited for whatever Regina had to add.
Sam’s mother’s voice was quiet when she said, “We ate dinner in Boulder every night, Avery. Please tell me this has something to do with coming to your senses about Sam, too. He’s close enough for you to work things out...if you’ve decided you’re ready.”
Something about her words was a faint echo of what she’d said to Sam, convincing Avery that she’d been the topic of conversation. “Yes, ma’am. I’m ready.”
Smoky Mountain Sweethearts Page 21