Ava looked at Hunt. “You didn’t mention that when you told me Birdie was okay.”
He shrugged. “Because I didn’t do anything but show up and take her to the ambulance. They lined her up with the others they’d put on oxygen and kept her there until they were sure she was okay. Emma took her home.”
“Because you called Emma, and then followed us and helped get me inside,” Birdie said. “Stop playing down the fact that you were there when I needed you.”
Hunt grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
Birdie sniffed. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Hunt said. “So what’s the special tonight?”
“Meatloaf,” Birdie said. “I love it, but never make it just for myself.”
“Sounds good. That’s what I’m having,” Ava said.
They ordered without looking at a menu, and while they were waiting, more than one diner came up to grill Birdie about the fire. She was too rattled to answer, so Hunt fielded their curiosity. And then their food arrived and that ended the visits.
Two young men stopped by their table while they were eating to say hello, but their attention was on Birdie. After they left, Hunt teased her.
“Which one do you like best?” he asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Come on, little sister. Yes, you do. You’re pretty, young, and single, and they were slobbering a little around the mouth. That’s always a dead giveaway,” Hunt said.
Birdie frowned. “You’re lying.”
Ava laughed out loud. “Yes, he’s full of it.”
Hunt grinned. “Okay, so they weren’t slobbering. But one was sweating a little, and the other one kept stuttering. Have you ever gone out with either of them?”
Birdie sighed. “No.”
“Why not?” Ava asked.
Birdie shrugged. “The spark’s not there, and I’m not the kind of person to lead someone on just for fun.”
“Good for you, kid,” Hunt said.
Ava nodded. “I understand about that spark. If it’s missing, then it’s all a waste of time.”
Hunt glanced at her, and then reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
“Your hesitation was my blessing,” he said.
Birdie grinned. “What don’t I know?”
Ava glanced at Hunt and nodded.
“That Ava is going with me when I go back to Houston,” Hunt said.
Birdie gasped. “As in…forever?”
“As in forever,” Ava said.
Birdie’s eyes welled. “This is awesome, and Mama would be so happy. I told Emma I thought you two were hitting it off, but I didn’t know this was happening.”
“Thanks,” Hunt said. “I think it’s pretty awesome, too.”
“This makes me even more determined to wait for my Prince Charming to come find me…whoever he may be,” Birdie said, then her cell phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, then looked up. “It’s Ray. He never calls.”
“Then answer it,” Hunt said. “If it’s not important, just tell him you’ll call him back in a few.”
She nodded and picked up the call, speaking in an undertone so as not to disturb other diners.
“Hello.”
“Birdie! It’s me. I already talked to Emma but she acts like it doesn’t matter, and I’m worried. I don’t know what to do but I can’t just leave him out there in that shape.”
Birdie was frowning and starting to panic.
“Wait! Ray! You’re not making sense. What’s wrong, and leave who where?”
“Oh. Right! Junior disappeared. I couldn’t find him. I called and he finally answered. He’s out at Grey Goose Lake. He won’t come back to town. He kept talking about what a good brother Hunt was to us when we were little…how he took us fishing out there and all. He sounded all sad and said he was a loser. I got scared. He told me he wasn’t going to hurt himself—because he was too big of a coward to kill himself—but I don’t know if… He sounded lost. Emma acted like she didn’t care. But I care. What do you think I should do?”
Hunt could tell by the changing expressions on Birdie’s face that something was wrong.
“Oh my God, Ray. I don’t know. Do you think he’s suicidal?”
Hunt’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”
Birdie covered the phone. “It’s Ray. He’s in a panic. Junior went out to Grey Goose Lake because it’s where you used to take him and Ray fishing. Junior was talking about what a good big brother you were. He’s depressed and maybe suicidal, and Ray doesn’t know what—”
“Give me the phone,” Hunt said.
She handed it over.
“Ray, it’s me. Do you really think Junior is capable of that?”
Ray was startled that Birdie and Hunt were together. “Uh…I don’t know. But I’d never be able to live with myself if I ignored what feels like a cry for help.”
“I’ll take her out there. We’ll go talk to him,” Hunt said. “Here’s Birdie.”
Birdie took the phone. “We are all at Granny’s having supper. We’re leaving here as soon as we can pay.”
“Then I’m coming, too,” Ray said.
Birdie’s thoughts were spinning. This was the opportunity she’d been waiting for, to get everyone together to deliver her mama’s message, and a crisis situation might be the perfect time.
“Leave Susie at home, but get Emma and bring her with you.”
“She won’t come,” Ray said.
“You tell her I said she has to, that I have an important message for all of you,” Birdie said, and then disconnected. “Thank you, Hunt. The trip out there is going to mean more to you than you can imagine.”
“If this is a family meeting, then I think you need to drop me off at the house,” Ava said.
“Uh…no,” Hunt said. “If we’re going to be partners in life, there aren’t going to be secrets between us, remember?”
Hunt waved their waitress down, got their ticket, and left in haste. Sundown wasn’t far away, and he was worried about finding Junior before it got dark.
“Get in with us, Birdie. I don’t want you driving around out at the lake by yourself. I’ll bring you back to your car later.”