Page 64 of Silver Lining Love

In all the years I’d lived in Wishing Well, I’d never actually wished on the well. It felt strange to dig another coin from my pocket. Normally, I didn’t have change in my pocket, but my mom had insisted on sending two twenties with me for her groceries, and I had her change.

I closed my eyes, and the same visions I’d had before dinner last night played out in my head. I hadn’t tried to envision them. They just appeared. I opened my eyes and threw the coin in.

“What did you wish for?” Alice asked excitedly.

“Um…” There was no way I was going to tell her what my wish had been. Not for any superstitious reason. I just didn’t want her to repeat it to Whitney. “I wished for something I never knew I always wanted.”

Alice’s nose scrunched up. “You mean like when I didn’t want to eat the sushi, but Auntie Whitney made me try it, and then I loved it and wanted it?”

“Yeah. Exactly like that.” I couldn’t have explained it better myself.

Whitney, Michael, Alice, and Benji were my sushi.

29

WHITNEY

“You can’t make progress without making decisions.” ~ Gamma Mary

I glanced behind me and saw Mikey scanning the crowds as we looked for a parking space. Ever since Wyatt mentioned that JJ was going to be at the Movies in the Park when we’d climbed into his truck, he’d been on high alert.

“Are you sure your mom’s okay with Benji?” I asked Wyatt for the third time.

When Wyatt came home from running the errands with the kids and suggested tonight’s outing, Dolly insisted that I leave Benji with her.

“Yes,” he assured me.

“It’s the night before her birthday.” I shifted in my seat. “I feel bad that she’s babysitting the night before her big party.”

The right corner of Wyatt’s mouth curled. “Getting a baby all to herself is the best birthday present you could ever give Dolly Briggs.”

I knew that he wasn’t just saying that to make me feel better. Dollydidseem happiest when she had Benji on her hip.

We pulled into a parking space, and everyone piled out and went to the back of the truck to grab supplies. Michael and Wyatt took the chairs and ice chest, while Alice carried the blanket, and I handled the tote bag filled with popcorn and other goodies Dolly had packed for us.

We’d only made it a few feet onto the grass when I heard my name.

“Whitney?!” I turned around and saw a girl who looked to be about thirteen. I didn’t recognize her, but figured she must know Wyatt and knew that I was in town with him. I didn’t remember any of Wyatt’s nieces or nephews being preteens or teenagers but maybe she was just someone who lived in town. From what Wyatt had told me, everyone knew everyone here.

I smiled widely. “Hi.”

“Whitney in the Wild?!”

“Oh, right, yes.” During the height of my influencer fame, I’d gotten recognized on a fairly regular basis. Pretty much every time I went out, I was stopped for a selfie. But it had been a long time since that had happened.

“Oh my gosh! I thought you moved to Saudi Arabia and married some prince.”

That was a new one, I thought to myself.

“Hey, Sadie.” A kid who had a soccer ball tucked under his arm and looked about her age walked up. When he noticed, she was talking to people, he looked our way, and recognition dawned on his expression when he saw Mikey and Alice. “Oh, hey guys.”

“Hi Milo!” Alice enthused.

“Hey,” Mikey lifted his chin, clearly trying to be cool.

I tried not to have any reaction, even though it made my heart hurt a little. Mikey was ten now and obviously wanted to seem mature around these teenagers. Soonhewould be ateenager. Then Alice. And then Benji. Before I knew it, they would all be living their own lives. The thought made me…sad.

I’d been so focused on just keeping everyone alive that I hadn’t really thought about the future. I remember Gamma Mary saying that the days were long, but the years were short. I’d never fully understood what that meant until this moment.

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