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Across from Grady, Fen checked his phone’s time, then slipped it back into his pocket. “I can drive you home.”
“You don't have to do that. I can call Mel's Taxi.”
“I know. But unlike some people at this table, I know when I’ve had enough excitement for one night.”
Edith’s approving nod made Grady chuckle. Over the past several weeks, the two had become an unlikely pair, and Fen seemed to enjoy indulging the older woman almost as much as she enjoyed letting him.
“I knew I liked you,” Edith said.
Fen slid out of the booth and offered her his hand with an exaggerated flourish. “Your chariot awaits, M’Lady.”
“It better be a smooth ride.”
“Of course. Nothing but first-class transportation for you.”
Grady got to his feet, giving Amanda room to get out. As Edith gathered her purse, Amanda stepped around him and hugged her aunt. “I’ll see you at home.”
“Don’t rush back on my account.” Edith gave Grady a pointed look that left little doubt about what she meant.
“Aunt Edith.”
“What? I’m tired. I’ll probably be asleep before you get there.”
Fen offered her his arm. “Come on, troublemaker. Let’s get you home before you embarrass her any further.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Grady chuckled as Edith slipped her arm through Fen’s. After saying good night to both of them, he watched the pair make their way through the crowded diner, stopping twice before they reached the door when people called out to the older woman.
Amanda remained beside him for a moment, following her aunt with her eyes. Something in her expression had changed now that the joking had ended, and Grady had a pretty good idea what had caused it.
“She’s doing great.”
“Yeah, she is.” Amanda slid into Edith's vacated spot across from him. “She's pretty much back to doing everything she was before the accident. Albeit a little slower.”
“And she got cleared to drive again, didn’t she?”
“Yesterday.”
Another piece falling into place. Another reason Amanda no longer needed to stay in Wyoming.
Grady wrapped his hands around his coffee mug. Edith getting her independence back was good news. Hell, it was what they’d all been hoping for. He just wished he didn’t hate what it meant for him.
“What about filming?”
“We’re going back to Second Chance on Monday to film the finished renovations and get a few final shots. After that, we’re done.”
Which brought them right back to the date he’d been trying not to think about. “And you leave Wednesday.”
“Wednesday.”
Hearing her confirm it made it feel more real than he wanted.
Outside the windows, kids crowded beneath the tent, moving between picnic tables as they ate and celebrated. The diner wasn’t much calmer. Rissa had claimed a table with several friends, and every time Grady looked over, someone different sat with them. The door kept opening as people carried food outside or came in for refills, bringing another blast of voices and laughter with them.
It should have been impossible to feel miserable in the middle of so much celebration, but he was doing a damn good job.
Amanda took a sip of her drink. “I can’t really put it off anymore anyway. I have appearances scheduled on a few shows, and I need to get back for those.”