“It’s a damn shame he never got to see you in these.” Honey was upside down on the bed, her head hanging off the side and holding the strappy black thong like a slingshot.
Pressing my lips in a thin line, I snatched the lingerie I’d purchased from the Blush Boutique out of her hand and stuffed it into a drawer. “Knock it off.”
Her hearty laughter did little to wash away my sour mood. It had been nearly a month since I left Chikalu Falls. Autumn had settled into the West, bringing cool breezes and crisp nights, but no sign of Lincoln. A small ember of hope that he’d come to his senses and see how good we were together still burned inside of me. But I couldn’t wait for him. Sitting around the cottage was too painful so I had packed my belongings and returned to Honey’s apartment in Butte.
Invigorated by newly found determination, I scoured the local public lands, finding new and interesting places to bring clients. Before leaving town, I had reached out to the Chikalu Women’s Club about setting up a fishing program for veterans. Nature had healing qualities, I knew it from experience, and I wanted to help in any way I could. I met with similar small-town groups, brainstorming how to form an outreach program. The buzz about the program reached clear across the county, and I had four meetings set up to discuss how to get supplies, pair the veterans with a guide, and create groups for the men and women to socialize over the water.
It was different than what I had imagined but was quickly becoming so much more than I could have dreamed. Honey made a few phone calls, and before I knew it, a launch event was being planned. My phone was blowing up with several calls a day from people who had heard about the newly formed program and either wanted to sign up or volunteer to guide.
I called it Project Eir to honor the Valkyrie goddess of healing. Eir was a badass warrior and so was I, but I would be lying if I didn’t say it also made me think of Lincoln and the time we shared. The sharpness in my chest was still there every time I thought about him.
