Page 36 of Finding Home

The sun had set, and after the wedding feast was cleared away, fairy lights illuminated the tent with a romantic glow. Carmen and Mathew had moved onto the dance floor for the first of what Elle knew would be many dances. Noah headed to the bar to check on Todd. Elle sat alone reading texts from Willa and Viet demanding pictures of her hot farmer in his wedding suit.

“Elle.”

She looked up to find Clayton, hands in his pockets and a flirtatious grin on his face.

“I liked your toast. It was the perfect Austen fanboy moment.”

“Can I buy you a free drink.” He gestured to the bar with his head.

“Ok,” Elle agreed, ignoring her full glass of rosé on the table.

As they walked to the bar, his palm pressed against her lower back. Heat flooded every inch of her body at his touch.

“Clayton! You look so handsome in your suit.” A silver-haired woman turned from the bar her arms spread. It had been eighteen years since Elle had last seen Mrs. Owens, but she knew her thanks to the pair of soft gray eyes identical to her son’s.

“Thanks, Mom.” He blushed. “You remember Elle Davidson?”

“Elle…”Mrs. Owens searched, her eyes growing wide with recognition. “Eleanor!”

“Mrs. Owens. It’s nice to see you again.”

“What a beauty you grew up to be. I’m not surprised. I must find Chris. He’d love to say hello.” She held Elle’s hands.

“Where is Dad?”

“He’s in the restroom. Old age, small bladder.”

“TMI, Mom.” Clayton shook his head.

“Here you go, Mrs. Owens.” Todd placed a beer alongside a glass of red wine on the bar.

“Thank you. Let me get these back to our table,” she said.

“Mom, do you want me to carry those?” Clayton asked, looking at Elle with apologetic eyes.

“I wouldn’t want you to desert Elle.”

“Oh, I’m fine. I helped set this joint up, so I won’t get lost.”Elle brushed it off with a wave.

“Thank you, Elle. I haven’t seen him all week. I’ll have him back to you shortly.” Mrs. Owens held her drinks out to Clayton.

“It was nice seeing you, Mrs. Owens.”

“I’ll see you later.” He shrugged.

“Clayton, come back and buy me that free drink later?”

With a big smile, he tipped up his chin before spinning to catch up with his mom.

“Eleanor, you still want that free drink?” Todd teased.

Eleanor?There’d been a familiarity about Todd at the Wine Down earlier that week, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. The use of Eleanor, when he’d heard her referred to as Elle by Carmen and Noah made her flip through the pages of her mental photo album.

“Todd Krueger!” she gaped.

“The one and only.” He bowed.

Todd was two years younger than Elle, but had been in band with her. The brass section had been made up of all boys and Elle. The shy, pint-size Todd was so different from the cocksure tall man in front of her.

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