Page 102 of Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance

“There they are!” The woman who took our order leaves her damp rag on a table and heads to the door.

“It’s the school choir,” Randy says. “They’re doing the same rounds they do at Christmas. It’s amazing how the whole town is getting into the spirit of the fundraiser.”

“The school lets them wander and sing?”

“It’s the last week of school. We timed the dance to be their last day to encourage people to come celebrate. The teachers are tired, so I guess they went out caroling.” He grins. “I bet some of them sneak off to Harvey’s Sweet Shop to buy candy.”

A group of ten children, all aged ten to twelve or so, sing as they walk along the sidewalk of the square. Behind them is a woman with a harmonica, blowing an occasional note to keep them in tune.

They see us watching them and pause on the other side of the window. The woman at the door throws it open so the sound can penetrate.

“And a happy New Year!”

Now it does seem odd, since it’s only about to turn into a happy June, and of course the kids are all in shorts and sandals.

But for my purposes, it’s perfect.

The script is holding up exactly right.

And when I think about it, I can see myself at the homestead, greeting the latest visitors, baking bread from scratch and sending them off with a jar of my own preserves with a cute checkered bow.

And kids. Two of them, totally into their grandma Carrie.

This is what I was thinking of. Randy described it exactly.

The dairy farm life without the dairy farm work.

Living like my upbringing without the bitterness.

And with a bonus—the opportunity to meet new people all the time even though I live in a tight community.

I think I just found my dream.

Chapter 34

ZACHERYTURNS ON ADIME

I don’t have to talk to Kelsey to know she and Randy hit it off.

It’s all over her face.

They pull up in a green truck, dust blowing behind it, as I sit on the upstairs deck, using my phone to research a director Jester sent me, work that normally goes to Kelsey.

They shouldn’t be able to see me up here. They’ve been gone all day, and the light is fading.

Randy stops the truck, then rushes around the front and opens the door for Kelsey.

They don’t do that in Hollywood, not unless it’s a driver or a valet. Even so, I’m hit with a bite of regret that he’s more courteous with her than I am.

She steps out with a huge smile, giddy as a schoolgirl.

Randy takes her hand as they head up the steps to the front door.

Thankfully, that’s below me and I can’t see him kiss her, if he does. That’s Hallmark third base, but maybe Kelsey’s thrown it out the window again.

The last person who kissed her was me.

I crank the music in my earbuds to ensure I can’t hear anything, including if they go up to her room. I close my eyes to the darkening sky. This is what I’m here for. Kelsey. To watch over her.

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