Home to Walnut Ridge by Diane Moody Read Free Book Online Page A

his legs out on the coffee table. He
really liked it here at the cottage. When Buddy first offered the
place to him, he told him thanks but no thanks. At the time, he’d
been unattached from anyone and anything for quite a while. He
wasn’t ready to be tied down, least of all to a place of his own.
Then, the more he thought about it, the more the idea grew on
him.
    He’d liked Buddy from the first time
they met on a weekend bike trip over to the Blue Ridge Mountains. A
couple of the other roadies were Harley riders and invited him on
one of their weekend trips. Noah had learned to love the open road
and never passed up a chance to ride. On that particular trip, he’d
been curious about the guy everyone called Buddy. He seemed
genuine, but you never know about the religious ones. Buddy wasn’t
obnoxious about all that, but it slipped into conversation now and
then. For some reason, coming from this guy with the fun-loving
smile and white ponytail, it seemed natural. Just a part of who he
was.
    Noah sunk down into the leather sofa
and rested his head against the cushion. His mind drifted back to
that first night they’d talked beside a fire pit on the campground
where they stopped for the night. Buddy had asked him where he was
from. He’d mentioned growing up in Virginia, and how much he loved
playing sports. Undergraduate degree from Florida State and his
graduate work at Harvard Law School.
    “ Harvard!” Buddy had
marveled. “Didn’t realize I was in the presence of an Ivy
Leaguer.”
    “ I keep that to myself
most of the time,” Noah had said. “That’s all ancient history
now.”
    “ Really? You never
practiced law after graduating?”
    “ I did. For a
while.”
    “ Where was that, if you
don’t mind my asking?”
    “ New York City. I had a
lot of doors opened to me along the way.”
    Buddy had waited, probably expecting
some kind of explanation. Noah hesitated, then realized the guy
seemed sincerely interested. And so he began telling him his story.
About his successes on Wall Street as a finance attorney. About his
wife who he’d married the day after graduation from law school.
About their life together in the Big Apple.
    And then he’d stopped. The break in
his voice seemed as good a sign as any to draw the line. Why burden
a stranger with all that?
    “ Noah, you probably don’t
know this, but I used to be a pastor.”
    “ Oh?”
    “ I’m not doing that
anymore, but I still have a good ear, and I still do a good bit of
counseling now and then. Which means, my friend, I still know how
to tell when someone’s burdened with heartache.” He’d leveled his
gaze at Noah. “So if you need someone to talk to, son, I’d be
honored to listen.”
    Noah remembered staring at Buddy,
seeing the kindness in his eyes as the reflection of the fire
danced around them. He had a feeling the man looking at him could
surely see all the way to his soul.
    “ Melissa . . .” he’d whispered.
    “ Your wife?”
    Noah nodded because he
couldn’t speak. Buddy seemed to have all the time in the world.
When Noah dug in his pocket for his handkerchief, Buddy had patted
his knee. As if to say take as long as you
need. When he could, he tried
again.
    He told Buddy of the April
day he’d been tied up in court with a judge who had a serious
God-complex. Noah knew if he had left, the case would be thrown
out, and his firm would reassign him to the mailroom. He’d texted
Melissa, apologizing profusely and promising he’d meet her at the
address she’d sent him as soon as he could. She had found the
perfect loft for them to buy in Soho, and wanted him to see it so
they could make an offer before someone else snapped it up.
Hopefully, they’d wait until he got there. Her text came back
immediately‌—‌ HURRY!
    A half-hour later he’d dashed from the
court house in the pouring rain and flagged down a cab. He was
soaked by the time one stopped. As soon as he settled into the back
seat, he dialed her repeatedly