Because Noah glanced around from behind him. “Busy. Yep. Sure.”
Sam didn’t scowl so much as cringe. “Don’t want details.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t really have any,” Noah said, pure and vexing nonchalance in his voice. “All I know is—”
“Didn’t I say to can it, Noah? And whatever both of you are thinking, you’re wrong, so just don’t. And what’s more, we’re in church, for heaven’s sake. I think Jen deserves a little more respect—”
“Hey, big brother.”
Saved by his sister. “Kit, awesome. Take me away from this conversation, please.”
She laughed. “Happy to. Want to come to lunch? Beckett’s gonna grill.”
Beckett came up behind her. “I’m grilling every chance I get before winter gets here. Burgers sound good?”
Anything sounded good if it got him away from Sam’s glare and Noah’s sarcasm. Of course, then Kit went and invited both of them, too. But still. It was shaping up to be a good afternoon.
If only Jenessa would check in. Assure him that things had gone okay with Carmen. That she hadn’t received bad news.
But there was still no text as he slid into the truck. He thought about calling, but if Carmen was still there, the last thing he wanted to do was interrupt. But a text wouldn’t interfere too much, would it? Jen could just ignore it if Carmen was around.
Noah jumped in the passenger side.
“Yes, I’m texting Jen. No, I don’t want any of your dumb comments.”
Noah only laughed.
You okay? Any news? I’m really sorry if I messed things up by being there this morning. I’m also sorry if this text isn’t long-winded enough. Check in when you can? Going to Kit’s for lunch.
“You writing her a book or what?”
He tucked his phone in a cup holder and started the truck. “How many times do I have to tell you to can it before you get the hint?”
“I don’t know, but I remember this old Sunday school teacher saying that when something is repeated three times in the Bible, we’re supposed to pay extra attention.”
He pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street behind Beckett’s vehicle. “Gotta say, sometimes you surprise me, Noah. For some reason, I never got the impression church was your thing.”
He shrugged. “Because of the tattoos or the sketchy past?”
“Because . . .” He paused. “Actually, I was about to say because you never mentioned it. But when have I ever mentioned my faith, such as it is, to you?” Or anyone for that matter?
“Used to go with my grandma when I was a kid.” Noah shrugged. “And my parents recently started attending. No clue what that’s about. Call me curious, I guess.”
A comfortable silence accompanied most of the ride through town and out to the gravel lane that led to the orchard. Noah had been to the orchard but not yet inside the house Lucas had spent most of his youth in. Such a strange feeling that old farmhouse gave him—happy memories of his grandparents, the sour impact of his father’s absence.
“By the way, Luke, if I went too far in joking—about Jen, I mean—I’m sorry.”
Was the guy out to repeatedly astonish him today? “I appreciate that.”
“It seems like maybe you have something really good with her.”
“Well, it’s pretty new.” He wasn’t even entirely sure what it was, except that he liked it. He liked it.
“Still, I’ve kind of gotten to know you, and it seems like you’re the kind of dude who treats women with respect. I’d like to think I do the same, but maybe the joking was in bad taste.”
He passed the turnoff that led to the main orchard grounds, followed the curve in the road that led toward the house.
“I’d let you off the hook, but if your conscience is bothering you, it’s probably smart to listen to it. That’ll come in handy if you join up with Bridgewell. So how about, if you feel like razzing me, maybe just pick a different topic next time?”
“We’re good, then?”
Lucas pulled into the circle drive in front of the farmhouse. “We’re good.” Huh, had Kit and Beckett bought a new car? A shiny black sedan sat in front of the house.
He pulled the key from the ignition and hopped to the ground. Why were Beckett and Kit just sitting in their truck, looking straight ahead? Maybe that wasn’t their car. Was someone else here?
Noah rounded the truck to stand beside him and they watched as a form rose from the sedan. Lucas let out a gasp as recognition dawned.
And then, startlingly, nonsensically, he and