Page 101 of Starting Over

“Thank you.” The young woman lowered her eyes and a blush creeped over her cheeks.

“Maureen, I want to apologize.”

Apologize? Why would Allie need to apologize?

“I invited you here under false pretenses.”

“So you don’t have a book club?” I asked, looking around at the women. The first thing I noticed was none of them would look at me, except Beck, who had a big smile spread across her face.

“We do, but...” Allie paused, looking at each woman sitting in the large circle. “Tonight is more of a get to know the newest resident of Diamond Creek.” Allie winked at me.

Oh no.

“So,” Beck began. “You and my dad. What’s the story there?”

My eyes widened at her abrupt question. I wasn’t sure how much he had told her, and I didn’t want to share anything he wasn’t ready to divulge. Not that there was much to share, anyway.

Vague is best, Maureen.

“I mean, there really isn’t a story. We knew each other as kids. Then one day, he and your grandparents moved away. I haven’t seen him since until I moved here.”

“It’s a little coincidental that you would end up here, isn’t it? With a childhood friend you haven’t seen in nearly forty years,” Mrs. Andersen asked, smiling like the Cheshire cat fromAlice in Wonderland.

“It’s not a coincidence at all, actually. My husband stayed in contact with Declan. I didn’t know that, but before he passed, he told me he wanted me to move here so I could have the life I always dreamed of.”

“Does that life include our sheriff?” Trudy asked, her eyebrows waggling up and down.

I laughed at the ridiculousness of Trudy’s expression. “Duane didn’t tell me Declan lived here. The only expectation I had of coming here was to fix up my house, get some chickens, and maybe a dog. And just live out the rest of my days,” I answered, shrugging my shoulders.

“But now that you do know he lives here? Has that expectation changed?” Sam asked.

“Honestly, Declan and I don’t know each other. I was ten years old when he moved away. A lifetime has passed since I saw him last and...” I looked over at Beck. Her, Sam, Rachel, and Ellie were all shaking their head. “I have the same expectation as when I got here.”

The girls didn’t need to worry. I had been in the life decades longer than them. I knew not to share anything beyond superficial information.

“So,” I started, rubbing my hands together. “Do I get to ask the questions too?”

Everyone laughed, and we spent the next two hours just talking and laughing. I shared some things with the girls aboutmy pregnancy. Trudy talked about when her husband passed away, and it was wonderful having someone outside the family to talk to and share my feelings with.

When it was time to go, I had everyone’s numbers and had promised Trudy I would come by The Bake Shoppe for coffee and breakfast the next morning.

Diamond Creek was definitely growing on me. I was beginning to make friends here. Beginning to make a life here.

When I stepped out of my car at home, I paused to look up at the sky. I would never get tired of the view of the inky blackness with millions of twinkling stars.

“Thank you, Duane. I don’t know what your plan was. Whether it included Declan or not, but thank you for sending me here. You always had a way of giving me exactly what I wanted.”

I dedicated the next few days to working in the living room. The walls were painted a soft olive green. The trim was white, and the floors gleamed. I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the wooden floors throughout the house. The kitchen floor was torn up, but I guessed that was originally tile or linoleum.

Today was furniture delivery day. I had been sitting on the floor, scrolling through my phone, when there was a knock on the door.

Looking at the time, I noticed it was early for the furniture store. Maybe they had a cancellation.

“Coming!” I called out as I stood from the floor.

I hurried to open the door, but it wasn’t the furniture store.

“What are you doing here, Banshee?”

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