And Julian responded beautifully. Working hard to be the lookout and taking pride in his work.
“It’s a Maplewood thing,” Ruby said.
“They really all pretend to just ‘show up’ to help?” Evie asked.
“Yep,” Ruby confirmed. “When in reality, Paul’s had this date blocked off on his calendar since last year. And he went to Staples last week and upgraded his clipboard for the occasion.”
“Bless his accountant heart,” Stella said.
“It might sound cute, but you weren’t the one stuck listening to him go on last night about the model he built to estimate firewood yields,” Ruby grumbled. “It’s a good thing he looks so hot swinging an axe right now.”
I snorted, watching the men work. “Are they competing with one another?”
Evie laughed. “Yes and no. From what Jasper told me, the idea is that they chop all the wood so that everyone can take some home for the winter. But a few of them, Jasper included, seem to think this is some kind of manly challenge.” Licking her lips, she surveyed the scene. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“Hear-hear,” Ruby said. “My husband is a beast in the spreadsheets, so I enjoy seeing this side of him.”
“I’m especially impressed by Josh,” Evie said. “Jasperand I took bets on how quickly he’d melt down after the old people started messing around with their chainsaws.”
“Nah. I’m not surprised. He’s nicer when he’s got his tools,” Stella explained.
“Yes,” Ruby added. “He doesn’t have to talk. Or feel.”
Evie sighed. “Trust me, that man feels deeply.”
I studied my fingernails, pretending I wasn’t fascinated by this conversation.
“He just hides all those feelings under the beard and flannel,” she mused.
Half the group was chopping wood and several high school kids were stacking it. A third faction, led by Jasper, had broken off to build a bonfire.
“But Frankie’s kicking all of their asses,” Stella said, her lips twitching.
“She always does,” Ruby said. “That woman has enough rage to power the entire state of Vermont.”
“I’m surprised Nolan hasn’t gotten in his car and driven away,” Evie added. “She’s got a blade in her hands.”
I’d heard Frankie mentioned a few times and gathered she was a close friend of these women, and according to Callie, she was an excellent mechanic, but I hadn’t yet met her.
As if she could hear my thoughts, Evie looked up at me. “She’s one of our best friends, so we can say this. But she’s been in a bad place since the arrest.”
Ruby nodded, her face falling. “I’m worried about her. She still won’t talk about it, and she spends every minute she isn’t under the hood of a car contacting lawyers and reading legal articles.”
Frowning, I looked from one woman to another. I wasn’t following.
“Her little brother,” Stella explained, lowering her voice. “He was arrested…um.” She trailed off, looking at Evie and Ruby for help.
“He was arrested for murder,” Ruby whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.
My eyes shot to Julian. He was throwing a stick to Wayne, who dutifully returned it each and every time. I blew out a breath. There was no way he’d overheard that from where he stood.
“And arson,” she added. “But she swears he’s innocent and that Nolan botched the investigation.”
“But then he went and confessed,” Stella said, watching Frankie with a sympathetic look on her face.
“She’s been on a crusade for justice ever since. Going down to Boston to find him the best lawyers, visiting him in jail. Hounding the FBI, demanding they investigate Nolan. She’s grieving.”
My stomach twisted painfully. I knew what that felt like. The grief of realizing a person I loved had the capacity to hurt. I’d rarely been as devastated as I was the moment I realized my trust had been broken completely.