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been singing harmony their whole lives.
She wasn’t so much conscious of the words as she was the beautiful melody. Life was certainly strange. When Betsy had tumbled into bed last night, she’d never thought she’d be sitting in a church this morning.
As they sat down, Ryan took the book from her hand, his fingers brushing against hers, lingering for an extra beat. Electricity traveled up her arm. He must have felt it, too, because his eyes met hers. For a second she thought he might kiss her right then and there. If that wasn’t shocking enough, she had a feeling she’d have let him.
Someone read some scripture, but Betsy scarcely noticed. It was as if there was a bubble around her and Ryan and they were the only two in the room. When he reached over and took her hand, she curled her fingers through his and expelled a happy sigh.
Betsy knew she should ask why he hadn’t mentioned inviting Adrianna, but she didn’t want to spoil her fantasy. For just this morning she wanted to pretend that Ryan wanted her and no one else.
“Grace is something needed but not deserved,” the minister intoned.
The sermon this morning appeared to be centered around forgiveness. It was a topic Betsy preferred not to think about. Those who didn’t know her relationship with her mother, who didn’t know all she’d endured growing up, often spouted the forgiveness talk. But Betsy was having none of it today.
She’d heard all about forgiveness setting you free, but she already felt free. And how could she forgive a woman who’d never asked for her forgiveness? Who’d gone her merry way through life, hurting all those around her? Who’d even at the time of her death been in a destructive mode?
Betsy hated that the preacher had a voice that was hard to ignore. But she did her best, concentrating on the feel of her hand in Ryan’s, on his muscular thigh pressed up against her in the packed pew.
Dress casually, Ryan had said. Thankfully she hadn’t tossed on a pair of jeans like she’d considered when she’d hopped out of her superquick shower. Instead she’d chosen a wraparound tweed dress with brown boots and tights. Ryan had whistled when he’d seen her. For a second she’d felt beautiful.
Actually he was the one who was beautiful in his dark pants and gray sweater. And the way he smelled...so good she couldn’t stop thinking of that time he’d crawled under her covers. If she had him there now, she’d make sure they did a whole lot more than just talk.
“Time to stand.” Ryan tugged her to her feet.
She rose, her heart pumping hard and fast, unable to let go of the image of him in her bed, a visual that seemed stuck in her consciousness.
The minister offered a benediction. When he quit speaking Betsy realized she’d sat through her first church service in over five years. Other than the forgiveness part, it had been bearable. Ryan kept hold of her hand as they exited the pew. It was then that the horde descended.
Okay, so maybe it wasn’t a horde. But close. Ryan’s friends seemed to come out from the woodwork.
“When did you and Ryan start dating?” Mary Karen Fisher had pulled her blond hair back in a bouncy ponytail, making her look more like a college student than a mother.
Betsy had always liked Mary Karen. She was as upbeat and friendly now as she’d been back in high school. Which was amazing considering she had five small children at home, four of them boys.
“We’re not actually—” Betsy began.
“Just started,” Ryan said before she could finish.
Betsy inhaled sharply.
“You’re a good match for him.” Lexi Delacourt, a prominent social worker in Jackson Hole, nodded her approval.
“What makes you think that?” Betsy asked.
“Call me for drinks sometime—” Lexi winked “—and I’ll tell you why.”
“Lexi,” Meg Lassister called out, “we’re heading over to The Coffeepot to get a table.”
“You guys are coming, aren’t you?” Mary Karen asked.
Ryan placed a hand on Betsy’s shoulder. “We’ll be there.”
The two of them slowly strolled out of church. The sky was a bright blue and the sun shone warm against her face. Ryan was telling her a story about when Lexi’s husband came to Jackson Hole, got caught in an avalanche while skiing the backcountry and lost his memory.
The tale was so unbelievable that she wondered if Ryan made it up. Or maybe this was all a dream. It felt like one. Ryan calling her for a date. Being so attentive.
She looped her arm through his. If this was a dream, she was going to enjoy every minute of it.
* * *
“Oh, no,” Betsy said when they drew close to The Coffeepot. “There’s a line.”
“No worries.” Ryan smiled and edged his way through the crowd, then led her through the maze of tables to a large one in the back. “See? Cole and Meg got the table.”
Betsy recognized another one of the couples already seated. Joel Dennes was a prominent contractor in town. His wife, Kate, was a pediatrician. She was also one of Ryan’s former girlfriends.
Awkward, Betsy thought to herself as Ryan held out her chair, seating her next to the couple. After introducing her to Joel and Kate, he smiled. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Betsy tilted her head.
“We’re having a baby.” Kate slipped her hand through her husband’s arm.
“Congrats from me, too,” Betsy said. “When are you due?”
“The middle of June.” Kate’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Our daughter, Chloe, is thrilled. She said she doesn’t need any other presents. Knowing she’ll soon have a brother or sister is present enough.”
“But we know when it comes time to unwrap gifts, she’ll want something more under the tree,” Joel said with an indulgent smile.
Once it got going, the conversation flowed easily. Betsy had seen Kate around, but she’d always seemed a bit standoffish. Today she discovered that Kate was as nice as she was pretty with her dark brown hair, big hazel eyes and a curvy yet lithe figure. Betsy felt like an ugly country mouse sitting next to a pretty city one.
Ryan was in his element, laughing and joking with his friends. Although everyone was friendly, Betsy held back, not sure of her place in this group, not wanting to be too bold.
But the man at her side would have none of it. Ryan skillfully drew her into the conversation, first by making them aware that she was Keenan’s sister, then telling all her secrets. From her bull-riding talent to her skill with snowballs.
“You should come out to our house sometime.” Kate paused for a moment as the waitress placed plates of food—and her bowl of oatmeal—on the table. “We could build a fort or have a snowball fight. Chloe would love it.”
“Count us in.” Mary Karen leaned across the table. “As long as we can bring the boys.”
Mary Karen’s oldest set of twins made Dennis the Menace look like a choirboy.
“If we play, we get Betsy on our team,” her husband, Travis, announced.
“What about me?” Ryan pretended to be outraged.
“You already said how good she was,” Mary Karen said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Naturally we took that to mean she can take you out.”
“Yep,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it. “She can take me out anywhere, anytime.”
Betsy looked him in the eyes and wondered if he’d say the same thing if Adrianna was sitting beside him. She prayed he was sincere. If he wasn’t, she was in trouble. Because