For the first time, her full smile appeared, bright and warm, deep dimples standing out on her flushed cheeks. “Oh, yeah. Thanks! I know it’s all kind of last-minute, but we’ve worked some things out. And neither of us wants to wait anymore. This spot at the Barn was open, and while I would have been happy to take our time and plan, plan, plan . . . You know how I am, right? Well, Blake just told me we should go for it. Get married, grab the brass ring. So we’re doing it. Saturday.”

“I get it. You guys know each other well now.”

She suddenly turned more serious than I’d ever seen her. “And, Ryan, I’m so sorry you and Amanda weren’t invited. I mean, I tried to talk to Blake about it. I did. But he’s still kind of peeved about the thing with Amanda. You know, the thing with Henry and the lampshade.”

“It’s okay—”

“No, it totally isn’t.” She scooted to the edge of the couch, her face serious. “I wanted to call Amanda and tell her, but you’re here now, so I can tell you. Please just come, the two of you, on Saturday. Just come. Blake wants you there. I know he does. And you know I love Amanda. She’s so great, such a great friend. She reminds me so much of my friends from college. Smart. Hardworking. But fun too. She said a lot of harsh things about Blake. I know that. But hey, maybe I’d do the same thing if someone bonked my baby’s head. That’s what I like about Amanda. She’s so tough. So fierce. I get it.”

“Sam, I’m not worried about it. We just want you guys to be happy.”

She placed her hands against her cheeks, and the flush deepened. “But that’s just it, Ryan. I’m not sure Blake is happy. He hasn’t been acting like himself the last few days. He needs you, Ryan. That’s why I’m a little flummoxed tonight. All over the place. I’m worried. Worried he might start to drink again. Or . . . Look, he really needs you in his life. More than ever.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

When Samantha lowered her hands from her face and placed them on the tops of her thighs, they were shaking. I’d never noticed that she chewed her nails, but they were gnawed to nubs. Her smile was long gone, her lips pressed tight together.

I sat in a leather recliner across from her.

“Do you want something?” she asked. “A beer or whatever? I was having some wine earlier. A couple glasses, actually . . . Blake wasn’t home, and I’ve been laying off when he’s around.”

“I’m good. What’s going on with him that has you so worried?”