Page 72 of Captiva Book Club

She shook her head, laughing at herself. It’s just dinner, she reminded herself, though the thought did little to ease her worries.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Chelsea hurried to open it, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Steven standing there with a warm smile, holding a bouquet of deep red roses.

“For the lady of the house,” he said warmly as he handed her the flowers.

Chelsea blushed as she took them. “They’re beautiful, Steven. Thank you.” But even as she smiled, a tiny voice in the back of her mind whispered, Are these goodbye flowers?

Steven leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping inside. As he entered the house, Stella trotted over, tail held high and began winding around his legs in a display of unusual affection.

Chelsea watched in disbelief.

“She’s never like this with anyone but you. Usually, she hides under the bed the moment someone new walks in.”

Steven knelt to scratch under Stella’s chin, and the cat purred loudly, clearly pleased with the attention.

Chelsea shook her head in wonder as she took the flowers to the kitchen, filling a vase with water.

Or maybe she knows this might be one of the last times she sees you here, she thought, her heart sinking at the idea. She had been trying so hard to push these thoughts aside, but they kept creeping back in, uninvited and relentless.

“You’re making me look bad, you know. I’m the one who feeds her,” she called out as she arranged the roses in the vase.

Steven followed her into the kitchen.

“Something smells amazing,” he said, his voice carrying a note of appreciation.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Chelsea replied, placing the vase of roses in the center of the table. “I might have gone a little overboard with the sides.”

“I am starving actually,” he said. “How much longer until it’s ready?”

Chelsea smiled. “Perfect timing, because it’s ready right now. I’ve got a bottle of white wine chilling next to the table. Would you please do the honors?” she asked.

“Gladly,” he said, finding the corkscrew on the table.

Chelsea filled the salad plates and then brought them to the table, as Steven filled their glasses with Pinot Grigio.

Steven ran to Chelsea and pulled out her chair.

“Thank you,” she said, her stomach turning more by the second.

When they were finished with the salad, Chelsea took the plates to the sink and then filled two dinner plates with the chicken, potatoes and green beans.

Dinner passed in a comfortable rhythm, filled with laughter and easy conversation, but Chelsea couldn’t fully relax. Every time Steven’s gaze lingered on her a moment too long, or his voice softened with what seemed like hesitation, she wondered, Is this it? Is he about to tell me it’s over?

The roast chicken was tender, the potatoes creamy, and the green beans had just the right amount of crunch. But despite the delicious meal, Chelsea found herself barely tasting any of it.

When dinner was done, Steven walked to the entrance to the lanai and looked at the sunset on the horizon.

“Shall we take our coffee outside?” Chelsea suggested, glancing toward the lanai, where a gentle breeze was rustling of the palm fronds.

“That sounds perfect,” he agreed. Steven gathered the dishes, insisting on helping her clear the table despite her protests.

As she brewed the coffee, her hands shook slightly, and she had to take a deep breath to steady herself.

Stop it, she scolded herself silently. Maybe he’s just been busy. Not everything has to mean something terrible.

Soon, they settled on the lanai, steaming cups of coffee in hand. The horizon was painted with shades of pink and orange, the setting sun a perfect backdrop for the evening. Stella, true to form, had followed them outside and was now perched on the edge of Chelsea’s chair, eyeing Steven with what could only be described as something other than feline admiration.

“You know, cats don’t normally fall in love with peopleoften. They tolerate us, but Stella seems to adore you,” she said.

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