Page 69 of Finding Home

“Mom, Elle brought presents!” Nat announced.

“Happy Birthday, Mrs. Owens.” Elle handed her the gift bag.

“Oh!” Mrs. Owens placed a hand on her heart. “You didn’t need to bring me a gift.”

“She also baked Magic Bars for dad. Is he in the kitchen?”Clayton asked, holding up the container of sweets.

The two women eyed Elle as if appraising her like a prize cow being shown at the county fair. Though the comparison wasn’t flattering, Elle hoped for a blue ribbon.

“Should I open it now or wait?”Mrs. Owens asked already removing the tissue paper.

“I hope you like it.” Elle focused on the other woman. “Mrs. Wilson, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Maura, look!” Mrs. Owens held up the small jewelry box.

“Oh, Heidi, isn’t that the one you wanted from the shop in town?” Maura leaned in, examining the small box.

“Elle, how did you know? Every time I go in there, they are sold out of these.” Her fingers danced along the smooth edges of the box, eyes wide as she opened it, finding the four pairs of earrings. “Oh, sweetie.”

“I remembered you always wore earrings, and I wanted something for you to put them in. I just found the box and thought it looked like something you’d like.” Elle fiddled with her starfish necklace.

Clayton looped his arm around her middle, and when she looked at him, gratitude sketched his features.

“Those are adorable. We need to go shopping together. Ooh, sparkles.” Nat said admiring the rose tear-drop earrings in her mother’s hand.

“Open yours, Nat.” Clayton grinned, his head tipping to his sister.

Nat dug into her gift bag. “A matching pair! So cute…Seriously, how did he score you? You’re too good for him.”

“I’ve been asking myself that too.” He squeezed her tight.

How didIget so lucky?Clayton was the book she wanted to read over and over again. Beneath its handsome cover were paragraphs of thoughtfulness, sweetness, kindness, laughter, patience, trust, and all the best words to lose herself within his pages.

“It’s because you’re wonderful,”Elle whispered.

“Oh, I like her, Heidi.” Maura elbowed a smiling Heidi. “I wish Noah could find someone,” she sighed.

Clayton kissed Elle’s cheek and changed the subject. “Is Dad in the kitchen? Is Noah here?”he asked, turning to his mom.

“Your dad is in the kitchen with Scott. Noah will be here in a bit.”

“Ok, we can take these into him,” Clayton said, starting to lead Elle out of the room.

“Oh, no you don’t,” a grinning Nat scolded, pulling Elle back to her. “I want to give her a tour and show her all your embarrassing photos.”

With a resigned smile, Clayton headed toward the kitchen. Clasping Elle’s hand, Nat tugged her along with a childlikeenergy that did not match her twenty-seven years. They passed a portrait gallery filled with snapshots of family moments as they climbed the stairs.

“Ta-da!” Nat threw open a door at the end of the hall.

Clayton’s room was like a time capsule. A full-size bed draped in a green plaid comforter. Classics, action adventure, and animal science books filled two bookcases flanking a small desk.

On the bedstand was a small lamp with a white shade and a copy of Clayton’s senior yearbook. Flipping it open to a page bookmarked by a ticket stub she found a picture from that Winter Ball her Junior year, his Senior year. In the front of the picture a teenaged Noah swayed with some girl but in the background, Elle sat in the bleachers, her eyes fixed forward. Beside her Clayton sat looking at her, while she looked at everyone else.

Even then he saw me.

“I haven’t looked at this in forever.”Nat sat beside Elle, flipping through the glossy pages.“I had such a crush on Noah when I was a little girl.I used to flip to all the pictures of him. I was such a dork.”

“I crushed on Noah in high school too.”

---