Lila chuckled and pushed the credit card back. “I’ve got this.”
Reva’s mind drifted to Capri. She glanced at the door, frowning slightly. “Capri’s late...again.”
The mood shifted slightly, and the women shared a look of concern. Lila sighed. “She did reach out, but I couldn’t get away from the clinic.”
Charlie Grace nodded. “Same here. I wanted to be there for her, but it’s been so hectic.”
Reva folded her hands, her voice firm but gentle. “We all need to step up and be better friends. Capri’s going through a lot right now.”
Just as the weight of the conversation settled, the door to the Rustic Pine burst open, drawing their attention. Capri strode in, a confident smile on her face, but what shocked them all was the unknown cowboy with his arm around her.
He pulled her close, planting a kiss on her lips in front of everyone before tipping his hat and heading back out the door with a promise to see her again soon.
* * *
Capri sauntered over to the table, slid into the seat next to Reva, who exchanged stunned glances with the others, struggling to reconcile this version of Capri with the friend they knew. Capri was not someone who casually hooked up with men. Yet, she’d been seen with several guys lately.
“Who was that?” Lila asked, her tone laced with disbelief.
Capri shrugged, her smile still in place. “Just someone I met. He’s visiting from Cheyenne. But not to worry, I won’t be seeing him again. He’s too boring.”
The table fell into an uneasy silence. Reva was the first to find her voice. “Capri...are you okay?”
Capri dismissed her concern with a wave of her hand. “I’m fine. Never better.”
But Reva wasn’t convinced, and neither were the others. They knew Capri, and this wasn’t like her at all.
Unspoken concern lingered in the air as Reva tried to understand what their friend was going through and how they could help her navigate this storm.
Before Reva or the others could prod for more information, Capri’s expression lit up. “Oh, I have news.”
“News?” Annie asked as she neared the table to take their order.
Capri turned to her. “Yeah. Great news actually.”
Reva and the others leaned forward. “Tell us,” Reva urged.
Capri took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and resolve. “I’ve decided to tear down my mom’s house and rebuild it from the ground up.” She knotted her ponytail at the nape of her neck. “Before Mom left with Earl, she reminded me she deeded the house over to me back when I turned eighteen—when Dick was drinking, and she was afraid he’d do something to put them in financial jeopardy. She has no plans to return to Thunder Mountain and told me the property is now mine. I can do what I want with it.” She leaned her elbows on the table. “And I plan to tear the house down.”
A brief silence followed as her friends processed the weight of her announcement. Reva exchanged a quick glance with Lila and Charlie Grace, trying to gauge their reactions to see if they were as stunned by this news as she was.
“Wow,” Lila finally said, her voice cautious. “That’s a big decision, Capri.”
“It is,” Capri nodded, her tone firm. “But it feels right. That little cabin—it holds so many memories, but it’s also a reminder of everything that’s changed. I think it’s time to start fresh, you know?”
Charlie Grace leaned back in her chair, studying Capri with a mix of admiration and concern. “Are you sure you’re ready for that? Rebuilding is a huge project, emotionally and financially.”
Capri shrugged, a determined smile on her lips. “Money’s no object. Besides, I’ve thought about it long and hard. This isn’t just about the house—it’s about me, too. It’s time I fix what’s been broken and create something new, something that’s mine.”
Reva, sensing the deeper meaning behind Capri’s words, reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “If anyone can pull this off, it’s you. Just remember, you don’t have to do it alone.”
Capri’s expression softened, the bravado giving way to vulnerability. “Thanks, Reva. I might need a few hands along the way.”
Annie, who had been quietly listening, broke the tension with a bright smile. “Well, that sounds like a reason to celebrate. How about some drinks on the house?”
The offer brought a round of laughter, easing the seriousness of the moment. As Annie took their orders and headed back to the bar, the friends returned their focus to Capri.
“So,” Charlie Grace said, her tone lightening. “Do you have a plan in mind, or are you just going to swing a hammer and see what happens?”
