“Katie?” Gavin’s hand covered hers. “Are you mad at me?”

  “Not at all. It’s sweet that you’re concerned. And I really didn’t want to do this alone.”

  A smile pulled the corners of his lips even as his shoulders measurably sank. His blue eyes sharpened on hers. “You’re so great, Katie. I’ve never met a woman like you.”

  “Thanks. You’re pretty great yourself.”

  It was true. Gavin was handsome and attentive. He didn’t have annoying habits she couldn’t live with. He was close to his family, but he was also his own man. In short, he was husband material.

  His gaze grew intense. “I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a long time.”

  Her heart constricted at his words, and her eyes stung because she knew what he’d suffered, even if he hadn’t told her himself. “I’m really glad. You deserve good things, Gavin.”

  He squeezed her hand and cleared his throat. The moment passed.

  “Are you sure Cooper doesn’t mind? It’s an awful lot to ask.”

  “Cooper loves to hike.”

  “I know but he’s giving up his whole weekend. Doesn’t he have campaign obligations?”

  “Nope. Like I said, this is right up his alley—and there’s no one I trust more. I’ll let him know to be at your house at seven if that’s all right. He has all the gear he’ll need. You found the sleeping bag I left on your porch?”

  “Yeah, everything’s packed and ready to go.”

  He gave her a fond smile. “Little Miss Organized. I hadn’t packed a thing yet.”

  “I guess sometimes it pays to procrastinate.”

  “Usually it just stresses me out.” He turned his attention to the stage, where Lonnie Purdy, the Trailhead’s owner, introduced the band.

  Was it strange that she was a little glad Cooper was coming instead of Gavin? Guilt stung at the thought. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why she liked the idea. Perhaps it was only because he was a known entity. While she might know Gavin better in the day-to-day world, she’d already gone through a crisis with Cooper. She trusted him to handle a difficult situation.

  She wasn’t sure how scattering Spencer’s ashes might affect her. She’d lost a lot in her life, but nothing had been harder than losing her brother. She’d already done her share of grieving, of course, but one didn’t get over such a loss quickly or easily. She still missed him every day. Still had moments where she started to call him before she remembered she couldn’t.

  She was relieved when the band struck up their first song, making conversation all but impossible. She had a lot to sort out and didn’t want to do it under Gavin’s watchful eyes.

  She was surprised he hadn’t yet told her about his son. After all, they’d both lost someone they loved. Wasn’t this a commonality that could draw them closer? Didn’t he want that? Maybe he wasn’t ready for that kind of intimacy. Was that a red flag?

  Well, she had to respect his need for privacy. Obviously the loss had cut deeply. She’d never had a child, much less lost one. She should be patient with him. Her gaze drifted covertly over his features as he watched the band perform. There was a sadness in his eyes that never went away.

  Lisa had told her that Katie had brought happiness back into his life, and Gavin’s own words seemed to corroborate that. She was glad for it. He deserved to be happy. She hated what he’d been through; she just wished he trusted her enough to open up about it.

  15

  The next morning Katie put her hair in a ponytail and strung it through her Yankees cap. She wore lightweight hiking shorts and a white tank top. The first weekend of September would be a hot one. She’d filled her backpack with water bottles, snacks, a change of clothing, and of course, the urn with Spencer’s ashes.

  As she put on her favorite running shoes, the sound of popping gravel filtered through the walls of her house. Cooper was here.

  Her heart thudded in anticipation as she finished tying her shoes and gathered her belongings. She was eager to have this thing done, that was all. At least that was what she told herself as she exited the house and locked the door behind her.

  Cooper, similarly attired in a gray ball cap, athletic shirt, shorts, and hiking boots, shouldered his backpack. His biceps strained the sleeves of his shirt as he adjusted his pack. Upon sight of her he stopped abruptly, his face falling. “Oh boy. I guess I can’t do this after all.”

  Katie blinked. “What? Why not?”

  He threw a hand up. “A Yankees fan. I don’t think we can be friends.”

  Relief surged through her, coming out as a laugh. “You dog. I thought you were serious.”

  “Oh, I’m very serious about baseball.” He belied the statement with a smile. “People cheer for the Braves around here, you know. But maybe I can overlook your confusion this one time.”

  “My confusion, huh?” She couldn’t help returning his bright smile, excitement for the coming day winning out.

  “What else can I blame it on? Maybe I can help you see the errors of your ways.” He locked up his car. “You had a good breakfast, right?”

  “Lots of protein, as instructed.”

  “Good girl. It’s about thirteen miles to the shelter. Then another six miles or so to Max Patch.”

  “Today’s the challenging day.” Physically. But tomorrow might prove to be the more difficult one.

  As they walked down the drive, he went through a list of items she should have in her bag. Gavin had already advised her on this, so she was well prepared. Cooper carried a first-aid kit and a few other extras like a knife and sleeping pads.

  At the street they turned right, walking toward the trailhead on the south side of town.

  “You have a water filter?” he asked.

  “Iodine tablets—borrowed from Gavin. That and the sleeping bag.”

  “You don’t own one?”

  “What would I need with a sleeping bag?”

  His eyes twinkled. “You might want to keep that to yourself. Around here that’s considered the eighth deadly sin.”

  “Oh boy. I have enough trouble with the first seven.”

  He laughed. “Which one gives you the most grief?”

  “I don’t even know if I can name them all. Gluttony . . . greed . . . pride?”

  “I think envy and lust are in there somewhere.”

  Heat worked up Katie’s neck despite the cool of the morning. “That’s only five.”

  He took off up a steep, grassy slope, leading toward the trailhead. “Plenty enough right there to trip a guy up though.”

  “Or a girl.” She wasn’t about to share her Achilles’ heel, though in truth it depended on the situation. Currently, his calf muscles bulging as he climbed, that last sin was at the forefront of her mind.

  She tore her gaze away and forced her thoughts elsewhere. She was grateful for the cool breeze. Soon enough the sun would beat high overhead, and the humidity alone would make sweat bead on her skin.

  Before long they approached the trailhead, passing the bulletin board that displayed a map and town information for northbound hikers coming off the trail.

  “This first part is all switchbacks, heading uphill out of the valley.” He moved aside, gesturing her to pass. “It’s pretty much a one-lane road. You can set the pace.”

  Katie took the lead and immediately a canopy of trees sheltered them from the sun. The air was thick with the buzz of cicadas, and knotty roots snaked across the path. Soon the trail inclined sharply, and she was grateful that her jogging routine kept her in good shape.

  She took in the dense forest where fallen logs lay covered in moss and damp, decaying leaves carpeted the floor, giving off a rich, loamy scent. The trail switched back and grew steeper. Her lungs worked to keep pace with her heart.

  She walked through a web—yuck—and got it out of her face as best she could, hoping a spider hadn’t been attached to it. Conversation had come to a halt as they navigated the steep trail. Squirrels scrambled through underbrush, and birds tweeted from lofty perches. Still the trail climbed.

  “How are you faring back there?” she asked.

  “Doing great. Nice views.”

  She peered off through the woods toward town and the mountains on the other side of it. “We’re getting up there.”

  She ran through another web. This time she paused to clear its sticky remnants from her face.

  Cooper came up behind her. “Hold still.”

  She peered over her shoulder. “What? What is it?”

  He picked something off her shoulder—a black spider—and flung it away.

  She shuddered. “Ugh. Disgusting.”

  “Want me to take the lead?”

  “Nobody told me there’d be spiders.”

  He laughed and eased past her. “Let me know if you want to slow down.”

  They set off again, their conversation limited to the basics until the ground leveled off a bit.

  A slight rustle in the woods provoked a question. “Have you ever seen a bear while hiking?”

  “Only once. If you make plenty of noise they stay away.”

  “Where were you when you saw it? Was it a black bear?”

  “Yeah. At a shelter actually. I was hanging out by the picnic tables with some thru-hikers, and it just ambled right on by. Didn’t even glance our way.”

  “Gavin said I wouldn’t need bear spray.”

  “It weighs the pack down and like I said, they mostly keep away.”

  “It’s the ‘mostly’ that has me concerned.”

  He tossed her a smile over his shoulder. “If it makes you feel better, I carry my Glock. Just a habit. I’ve never had to use one on a bear and don’t plan to start now.”

  That did make her feel a little better. “I’m surprised we haven’t passed anyone yet.”

  “It’s early, and anyone coming this way would’ve spent the night at Deer Park Mountain shelter. We’ll probably be passing some folks soon.”

  The sun had risen a bit, and the temperature was noticeably warmer than when they’d started. The afternoon would be uncomfortable. But the cooler temperatures tonight would be a welcome reward.

  How would that be—sleeping in the shelter beside Cooper? Would it be weird? No weirder than sleeping six inches from a stranger, and according to Gavin, that’s how it was done.

  “So what are these shelters like exactly?”

  “Well, they vary. Walnut Mountain is a three-sided log structure. Sleeps five or so. It’s right on the trail, and there’s a fire pit and a picnic table, plus a privy and water source nearby.”

  “Will we have company?”

  “Most likely. Hopefully we’ll get there early enough to get a space.”

  “And if we don’t?”

  “We pitch the tent I brought just in case.”

  “Oh.” She hadn’t realized they might be sharing a tent. “That was smart thinking.”

  “Best to be prepared. People are pretty good about making room, especially if there’s bad weather, but sometimes they fill up. Some people just hang a hammock, but that’s no good in bad weather.”

  The ground leveled out a bit, and the inclines grew shorter. The ridge was above the trail, so the views were infrequent. When they reached a spot with a large log just off the trail beside a trickling stream, Cooper slowed.

  “Ready for a water break?”

  “Sure.”

  Gavin sank to the log and adjusted the laces on his boots.

  She shrugged off her pack, pulled out a water bottle, and drank in sips. Nature carried on around them: squirrels nattering, birds tweeting, wind rustling the treetops.

  And still the pervasive anticipatory feeling Katie had awakened with persevered. What would tomorrow feel like? Would scattering her brother’s ashes be the closure she needed? Or would the rite only pick open the scab over her heart?

  * * *

  Cooper grabbed a water bottle from his pack and quenched his thirst. “Don’t hold back on the water. You don’t want to get dehydrated, and there are plenty of water sources between here and Max Patch.”

  “Okay. I’m grateful for the shade. It’s going to get hot today.”

  “About three in the morning you’ll wish for a little warmth.”

  Cooper was enjoying the hike. Enjoying the company. Kate was easy to talk to. She didn’t complain or focus on the negative. Even though she’d had a difficult childhood, she remained optimistic. He admired that.

  He’d been glad to take the lead earlier. Her shapely form was a distraction he didn’t need. And with her hair up and that long, graceful neck exposed, she was a tempting sight. What was it about her neck? And why did he feel like that Twilight dude all of a sudden?

  He looked away. She was Gavin’s girl. He took another swig of water, his thoughts going back to the night he’d run into her coming from the AA meeting. As of a week ago, she hadn’t yet told Gavin about her issue. It was a constant worry in the back of Cooper’s mind. Maybe an addiction wasn’t something you shared on a first or second date. But surely things were starting to get serious between Kate and Gavin. After all, he was bringing her around the family.

  Gavin had a right to know about her addiction, even if she did have it under control. He had a right to make a decision about the relationship before he was too deeply involved. Maybe it was time to ease his worry. And when would he have a better chance?

  Cooper took a quick slug of water as he formulated his thoughts. “Listen, Kate. I know you might think this is none of my business, but I was wondering if you’d told Gavin about . . .” He struggled with the wording, not wanting to sound overly harsh or judgmental.

  She gave him a quizzical look. “What?”

  He sighed. “It’s the drinking thing . . . It’s a big deal. I mean, I’m sure you have a handle on it, and I’m glad you’re going to meetings and everything but—”

  Kate let out a laugh, covering her mouth to hold the water in.

  He frowned at her. “I don’t see anything funny about this. It’s a serious problem, and Gavin’s already been through a lot. It’s not fair to let him—”

  She waved his words away. “No, no. I’m not—This is not the way it seems, Cooper. I’m not an alcoholic.”

  He stared into blue eyes that were as convincing as any he’d seen. But he also had an alcoholic dad, and he knew they were capable of lying to themselves—not to mention others—quite convincingly.

  “No, really.” She clearly struggled with something. Finally she sighed. “Okay, I guess I’ll have to explain. You know I was a foster child. Well, my mom was an addict. Because of that, I’ve never touched drugs or alcohol.”

  Kate took another drink and capped the bottle. “After Spencer died I did some searching online and discovered our mother was living in Riverbend Gap. I found out she was a leader at the local AA group.”

  Ahhh. He tipped his head back, relief rolling through him. “You moved here because of her.”

  “Stupid, really. I mean, our mother never sought us out, even though we never left Asheville. We would’ve been easy enough to find. She’d obviously straightened out her life, but she still hadn’t bothered to find us.”

  “You attend the meetings to see her?”

  “I went to two meetings—and I did meet her.”

  “Would I know her?”

  Kate considered for a moment. “Beth Wallace?”

  “Name sounds a little familiar, but I don’t know her.”

  “She seems like a nice enough woman. She gave me her card and told me to call anytime.”

  “Have you?”

  She gave a wry huff. “I didn’t have to. She turned up at the clinic yesterday and invited me to coffee.”

  “Did you tell her who you are?”

  “No, not yet. And she didn’t recognize me either. She looked me right in the eyes—which are the same shade of blue as hers, by the way—and didn’t even know her own child.”

  “I’m sorry. That must’ve hurt.” He shifted his foot in the dirt, feeling her pain. “I know a little about having an alcoholic parent. About being rejected by said parent. It leaves its scars.”

  “Gavin told me about your dad. It was a connecting point for us. And yes, all the above can shape who you are.” She shook her head. “I set up a coffee date with Beth for next Saturday, and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “I suspect you’re trying to get to know who she is before you risk heartache by telling her outright.”

  “Yes. That’s it exactly. Is that stupid? I moved my life here on a whim, and if she rejects me . . .”

  “It’s wise to get to know her a little first. She’s given you no reason to trust her. But if she ultimately rejects you, it’s no reflection on you, Katelyn. You’re a terrific woman. You’re beautiful and smart and kind. Look how far you’ve come from the mess your mother left you in.”

  Her eyes caught on his, and Cooper felt the jolt down to the soles of his feet. Heat washed through him. Had he given himself away with those emphatic words? He broke eye contact and scratched the back of his neck.

  “Thank you, Cooper. You’re pretty wise yourself.”

  “Not beautiful and kind? I’m hurt.”

  She chuckled, just as he’d hoped she would.

  “Does Gavin know? About your mom being here?”

  She sobered. “Not yet. He knows I was a foster kid and that my mom had to give us up, but the rest of it . . . no.”

  “Your call, of course.” Why hadn’t she told him? But this wasn’t information that would hurt his brother. Just something Kate needed to sort out. He thought of telling her Gavin was an excellent sounding board. He had a good head on his shoulders. But for some reason, Cooper held back the words.

  “Wallace . . .” he said. “You have a different last name than your mom.”

  “I changed it when I was eighteen.” She shrugged. “I guess I felt the need to cut ties with her. And I knew this girl in high school—Jennie Loveland. I always thought it was such a wonderful last name.”

  “It has a nice ring to it.” He leaned into Kate’s shoulder and gave her a nudge. “No matter how this works out with your mom, you’re going to be just fine.”

  He wanted to tell her she was strong enough to get through this. That she could handle anything life threw her way. But he was afraid he’d already said too much.