“How’d you end up back together again?”
“I’m telling you, it was fate. Every time either one of us gave up, fate would throw us back in front of each other. We both decided we might as well start paying attention.”
“You know who Bree is, right? Blythe’s sister.”
“Yeah, I do. Sad that, losing her husband.”
“We spent some time together, but now…”
“Talk about someone who’s still got cookin’ to do.”
“What do you mean?”
Ben continued to rub Micah’s nose. “You should talk to Liv about this. Nobody understands better than she does.”
Jace remembered hearing that Liv lost her husband before Renie was born, also in a war, also in the Air Force. He supposed Ben was right. Liv could shed a light on how Bree felt, unlike anyone else.
“Think she’d mind?”
“You don’t know Liv very well if you have to ask. You said you spent some time together. What does that mean?”
“My mama and Blythe conspired to get the two of us together. Bree was at a dude ranch in Idaho. One that I visited, thinkin’ they had a bull for sale that my daddy wanted me to go and bid on.”
“No bull?”
“No bull.”
“Then what happened?”
“We spent a few days together. Talked about our lives. I credit Bree with helping me realize that I had to do whatever it took to fix things with Tuck.”
“What about her?”
“We both knew she wasn’t ready for another relationship. I mean, we both wanted it, bad. But, we agreed to wait. When I left Idaho, it was with the understanding that we’d go off, work on our shit, and try to find our way back to each other.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad. You’re workin’ things out with your brother. She’s doin’ what she needs to do. What’s the problem?”
“When I talked to her a couple hours ago, I think she was tryin’ to tell me she wasn’t interested any longer.”
“Wait a minute. You think that’s what she was trying to tell you?”
“I didn’t give her much of a chance to talk.”
Ben leaned his head back and laughed. He laughed so hard that Jace couldn’t help but laugh himself.
“What’s so funny?”
Ben leaned over and rubbed Jace’s shoulder. “You’re a Rice, son. Through and through. Liv’s gonna love this.” Ben continued to laugh.
“I’m glad you think my pain is so hysterical.”
“Y
ou know that isn’t why I’m laughing. I’m laughing because you sound so much like me. And I’ll tell you, you’re what? Twenty-nine?”
“That’s right.”
“I was forty-three before I realized I should keep my damn mouth shut once in a while. You’re years ahead of me. Be happy about that.”