LITMIR.BIZ

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flying out here.”

      After a second, humor warmed her eyes to the color of a flawless summer sky. “I guess I should’ve chosen high-test.”

      They both laughed, and he was relieved that their awkward first meeting had turned into something more positive.

      “Excuse me a minute.” He took his cell phone from the pocket of his jeans. When Marianne started to move away, he waved her back. “No need to leave. Mom was worried about the weather, so I promised to call her when I landed.”

      He punched up her number and waited for the call to connect.

      “Your mother is number one on your speed dial?” Marianne asked.

      He chuckled. “She wouldn’t have it any other way. Hey, there. Yeah, I’m fine.” He paused, then chuckled again. “Yes, I’m telling the truth. Okay, hang on.”

      Holding up the phone, he snapped a picture of himself in front of Betsy and hit Send. While he waited for the picture message to go through, he sighed. He loved his mom to pieces, but she worried about him way too much. For her birthday, he’d gotten her a cute fox terrier to dote on, but it hadn’t changed anything. He still flew, and she still worried. It was kind of comforting, in a way. No matter how old he got, he’d always be her boy.

      “Believe me now? Good. Give your little ankle biter a treat for me.” He grinned. “Love you more. See you in a couple weeks.”

      He hit the off button and noticed Marianne’s expression. Since he’d just met her, he couldn’t be sure about it, but she seemed to like what she’d heard. “Moms. What can you do?”

      “We are what we are.”

      “I’m real sorry I didn’t call to tell you about my change in plans,” Ridge apologized again.

      She waved it away as she took Emily’s hand and turned toward the house. “We’re used to it.”

      As he followed Marianne and the kids inside—carrying his duffel bag and suit carrier—Ridge admired the setting for his best friend’s wedding. The garden out front was magazine-perfect, with a rose-covered trellis and round tables scattered around the expansive side yard. Each one was draped in linen and held a vase overflowing with flowers. There were several racks covered in tarps. He assumed they were for the folding chairs, and he made a mental note to help put them away later.

      With the kind of efficiency that came from lots of practice, Marianne pulled out snacks and juice boxes, then set glasses and a pitcher of sweet tea on the table. Ridge decided it was best to get out what he wanted to say.

      “Matt told me about your father passing last year. I’m so sorry.”

      “Thank you,” she said as she’d probably done a million times since his sudden death. Her eyes went to the empty chair at the head of the table. “We really miss him.”

      Ridge wished he could say the same about his own father. Unfortunately, when the abusive drunk who’d made his childhood a living nightmare died a few years ago, it took every ounce of compassion he had not to celebrate.

      While she sliced up some great-smelling banana bread, he filled glasses with ice and tea for both of them. After a long swallow, he grinned his appreciation. “I’ve been out west the last month. I really missed this stuff.”

      That got him a gracious smile. “There’s always plenty, so help yourself.”

      “Southern hospitality,” he complimented her as he refilled his glass. “Gotta love it.”

      “Don’t get used to it, city boy.”

      Ridge glanced over to find Matt Sawyer filling the doorway. Dressed in a gray suit with a buttoned-up white shirt and burgundy tie, Matt looked a lot different from the last time Ridge had seen him. Of course, that had been a trip to Vegas he suspected Matt’s family knew nothing about.

      Laughing, Ridge shook his old buddy’s hand. “I won’t, believe me. Betsy and I don’t fare well if we’re in one place too long.”

      Matt took the sweet tea Marianne handed him and drained it in three gulps. “Thanks, Mare.”

      “When did you finish up the haying last night?”

      Matt squinted at the schoolhouse clock on the wall. “Two, I think. There’s a lot more to do, but I’ve done all I can.”

      “We need some more help around here,” she commented with a worried frown.

      “Can’t afford it. Speaking of help, that reminds me,” he said to Ridge. “I rustled up some dusting contracts for you. Starting with us Monday morning. Did you talk to John?”

      “Your little brother said I can stay with him while I’m in town. He was really cool about it.”

      “Not much bothers John.” Matt glanced at his sister and apparently read the very obvious disdain on her face. “What?”

      She didn’t respond, just stood there with her arms folded and giving him The Look. After a few seconds, understanding dawned, and he chuckled. Ridge didn’t remember Matt having much of a sense of humor, and he suspected the bride had something to do with his buddy’s new lighthearted view of things.

      “Forgot to tell you Ridge was staying here, didn’t I?” Matt asked his sister.

      “Yes.”

      “Sorry.”

      He leaned in to kiss her cheek, and she swatted him away with a laugh. “Since you’re getting married today, I’ll let it slide.”

      “Come on.” Matt motioned Ridge toward the stairs. “I’ll show you where to get ready.”

      As they went up the creaky wooden steps, Ridge said, “So, should I guess from what you were saying to Marianne that things are still pretty tight around here?”

      “Tight ain’t the word. We’re better off than some, but not as good as I’d like.”

      Ridge knew Matt wouldn’t accept anything more than free labor, but he resolved to find a way to help the Sawyers out a little. He wasn’t exactly swimming in money himself, but maybe he could come up with something.

      In the meantime, he could manufacture a pleasant distraction. “I flew over your new house on my way through town. It looks great.”

      “Yeah?” Matt opened the door at the end of the upstairs hallway. “I’ve been working so much, I haven’t seen it in daylight since last week.”

      “The roof was going on.” Ridge laid his suit carrier across the foot of the bed. “I like the siding. Who decided on light green?”

      “We both did. Caty wanted yellow, I wanted blue, so we settled on green.”

      Just saying her name eased the tension from his voice, and Ridge congratulated himself on breaking Matt out of his funk.

      “You’re really happy, aren’t you?” Ridge asked, even though he knew the answer. It was written all over the guy’s face.

      “Yeah.” He added a wry grin. “Me and a lawyer. Who’d’ve figured on that?”

      Ridge made a show of thinking that one over, and they both burst out laughing. It was a good start to the day.

      * * *

      The morning flew by in a blink and before Marianne knew it, she and Lisa were standing in their places waiting for Caty to come down the aisle. Refusing to choose between them, the bride had cleverly solved the problem by making them her “sisters of honor.” Unconventional, but Marianne appreciated her coming up with a solution that wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

      Angling a glance to her right, Marianne decided her little sister looked like a rosebud. They were wearing the same pink dress, but Lisa’s chandelier earrings sparkled in the sunlight, and the tiny roses and baby’s breath she’d eased into her French braid were the

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