She’d been wherever there was work for the last ten years. He’d been in Virgin River for the last eight and they kept in touch from time to time.

He listened to the message on his phone. “Landry, darling, call me back soon! I have some good news.”

He thought he knew what that meant. She probably had a new film and would be telling him where she’d be spending the next several months. He wasn’t sure why she bothered. But then, they did have a good, compatible relationship for people who had effectively separated ten years ago.

“Landry!” she said as she answered the phone. “How are you! I’ve missed you!”

“I’m great and Otis says hello. How are you and what’s your news?”

“I’m going to be in San Francisco for at least a few days. I’m auditioning for a play. I thought I’d tack a few days on to the audition and visit you. Then if I get the part I’ll be living in San Francisco for several months and we can see more of each other.”

Damn, he thought. “When is your audition?”

“It’s in a couple of weeks. This is a huge sacrifice, Landry. The work is hard and the director and writer are walking nightmares. But it would be so good to see you.”

“Likewise, but you picked an awful time. I have several community art shows in a row. The fall festivals. The fall months are tough. During September and October I’ll be out of town four times, four days each time. If you’re still in San Francisco in November, there will be more room to breathe.”

“Can’t you cancel a couple of your fair things? They can’t be that important.”

There were a million angry replies that jumped to his lips, but he wouldn’t let them out. Those “fair things” were important and very good moneymakers. Over the years there were people who followed him from fair to fair just to see what was new. He reserved space a year in advance, was listed in the catalog, and taking and setting up his wares was not quick and easy. Each event was exhausting. But he loved it and he knew many of the people who participated and shopped. They were big events. “I pay for the booth a year in advance and there’s no refund at this late date, Laura. It’s a huge commitment. I usually use the whole week before an art fair to finish my work and have it ready and three days to take everything to the show and to do the setup. It’s a lot of work.”

“Well, try to fit me into your schedule,” she said. “I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

“Text me the dates you’ll be in San Francisco and I’ll see what I can do.”

“That would be wonderful!”

They chatted for a while about her play. He knew he’d be calling her back in two days to tell her that he just didn’t have any extra time. It was true, the time surrounding these fall town fairs was short and busy. But he also wasn’t interested in cutting his time with Kaylee short.

* * *

The morning after her dinner with Landry and Otis, Kaylee went out for her usual walk. The air was cooling down quite a bit and the leaves were already starting to turn. She saw that Landry’s truck was in his drive and Otis was on the porch, but Landry was probably in his shop, madly creating.

When she passed Landry’s house, Otis came down the walk, moving slowly and lazily, and just took up the place at the end of Landry’s walk. She said, “Heel, heel,” to Otis and he trotted to her side and stayed with her. She stopped and told him to sit and he did. She told him to stay and walked ahead of him and he did. There was something about the small amount of power she had over him that made her giddy with enthusiasm.

When she came back from her walk Landry was on his porch. “I thought my dog might be walking you.”

“He was very polite,” she said.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“A yogurt,” she said.

“I’m going to scramble eggs. Interested?”

“You’re investing way more in me than I deserve,” she said.

* * *

Kaylee had developed a very nice routine. She’d walk in the mornings and sometimes also in the afternoons, often with Otis as an escort, and it amazed her how much she talked with Landry. Some days she’d go to the bar for breakfast or lunch; some days she’d show up there in the afternoons when it was quiet. Quiet afternoons were a good time to run into Mel as she took a break.

Kaylee loved Jilly’s farm! She tried not to be a pest but she found herself driving out there a few more times after her initial tour. And she always came away with whatever Jilly was pulling out of the ground. In order to balance the scales, she ordered books on the internet to give to Jilly and Kelly as thanks for their generosity.

The first weekend that Landry was away, she heard the Cavanaugh orchard was having a big open house. You could pick your own bushel of apples or buy some of the many apple products for sale from cider to apple butter to pie filling. It felt like the whole town was there. There were people sitting under trees in their camp chairs, playing catch with kids, chasing dogs, just hanging out and enjoying the day. She knew so many of them, it was like enjoying a picnic. She found herself flitting from grouping to grouping of locals, sitting for a while to ask them how they were enjoying the brisk fall weather, and they were full of questions for her.

“What do you know about the remodel of that fire-damaged house?”

“How’s your book coming along?”

“How do you like living out at Landry’s place?”

Realizing she didn’t know anything about the remodel, she called Bonnie that evening and learned that after looking at some pictures Paul provided, they told him to go ahead and get started. He was happy to send them progress pictures every few days. They had to pick out appliances, tile, fixtures, sinks, etc., but they could pick them out in LA and they would be shipped to Paul in Virgin River. “As I understand it, he’s getting to work on it immediately because there was a break in his schedule and we wanted to take advantage of it.”

“It’s so lucky that you didn’t have drive all the way up here to meet with him,” Kaylee said.

“You can do almost anything on the computer these days,” Bonnie said.

“If you need me to help, please let me know,” Kaylee said. “It’s not that I’m overbooked!”

And at least once every three days she had dinner with Landry either at his house or hers. Sometimes on those days they didn’t have dinner together, they would still meet on the porch for a cup of coffee or glass of wine, maybe in the morning, maybe in the evening. And they always waved to each other multiple times a day.

Although Kaylee was determined that Landry was merely a friend and a landlord, the romance she’d created between Caroline and Landon was growing more intense. When they looked at each other now, there was real longing in their eyes.

The first weekend in October, Kaylee drove to Grace Valley to check out the Fall Art Walk. The main street was blocked off and filled with booths that displayed everything from woodworking to spices, from hummus to paintings. She should have known she’d see friends there. Kelly’s daughter was manning a booth that sold many of her mother’s salsas, relishes and sauces. People she knew introduced her to people she didn’t. She met the Grace Valley town doctor, June, introduced to her by Mel. She met the Grace Valley minister, Harry, introduced to her by Colin. She found Landry’s booth and gasped at the beauty of his pots, vases and wind chimes. She had not seen much of his work before, just those pieces that decorated his house and hers. He was amazing and had a large group of people gathered there.

They ate some barbecue together in his booth since he couldn’t leave. She had come only to show interest and support but once there, she was enchanted by the bounty of goods and crafts. It was early afternoon when the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen in her life came into the booth, saw Landry and said, “Darling!”

He walked to her and kissed her cheek. “Hi, Laura.”

“Look at your wonderful pieces! You just get better all the time. You are the most fabulous artist.”

Laura was tall, thin, blonde with intense blue eyes to match his and when they stood side by side, they appeared made for each other. Her teeth were perfect and straight, her figure svelte and buxom. Of course her makeup was professional-looking and her nails were star quality. She was stunning. She wore a midlength white lace skirt, a denim jacket and drop dead gorgeous brown leather boots. And the confidence she exuded was palpable.

“And who’s this?” she asked, sticking her hand out toward Kaylee. “Hello there, I’m Laura. Landry’s wife.”

She did look every bit the actress. Kaylee suddenly felt very short and plump and way underdressed in her jeans and hoodie. “It’s a pleasure,” she said a bit awkwardly. “I’m Kaylee. I rent Landry’s house. The smaller one.”

“How wonderful!” Then Laura fluttered her lashes at him. “You look so good, Landry. You’ve been taking care of yourself. Do you have time to walk me around the fair?”

“I really can’t, Laura. I’ll be busy here the rest of the day. I’m sorry. Why don’t you look around and enjoy yourself and maybe we’ll talk later.”

“Oh, can’t your little friend manage your booth for a while?”

“Of course not,” he said, irritation in his voice. “Kaylee doesn’t know anything about these things. She just stopped by to say hello.”

“And it’s really time I get going,” Kaylee said, trying out a smile. “I still have more of this fair to see.”

She gathered up her purse and left Landry and his wife.

Wife? Hadn’t he said he was married but it didn’t work out? She must have meant she was his ex-wife. But they certainly had a cordial relationship.

* * *

Landry was immediately busy with customers, answering their questions about his wares, explaining his process and helping them choose what to buy. His was usually a busy booth and today was no different. After no more than twenty minutes Laura had wandered off, telling him she’d see him later.