Page 62 of Meet Me at the Grand

They’d concluded their meeting at seven last night, cross-eyed and exhausted, but he hadn’t slept well.

And even though he’d just sat through a sermon by Pastor Arnie on peace, Liam’s insides were as fidgety as ever.

It had been kind of nice to attend church though. Little Stone Bible—with its steeply angled A-frame roof, its twenty wooden pews with red hymnals that had clearly been handled over the years by multiple generations—was not at all like the mega church he’d attended as a kid with Mom and Dad, but despite its humble existence, love pulsed strong here. Liam could feel it in the greetings he’d received before service, in the sturdy presence of Seb and his whole family, including Dani, who sat on the opposite end of the pew next to her cousin Mia.

“That’s all for today,” Arnie Chamberlain said from the small pulpit. The fifty-something-year-old pastor closed his Bible, and the light streaming through the stained-glass windows lining the walls reflected off his shock of red hair. “Be sure to say hello to all of our guests and make them feel welcome.”

And by that he meant Liam, because as far as he could tell, the fifty or so people here were all Jonathon Island residents.

The crowd stood and the din of their chatter rose, filling the small space. Laughter, pleasant and long. Hugs exchanged. Liam got up and moved to the wall, watching it all from the sidelines. His gaze narrowed in on Dani, so pretty in her long floral skirt and white top, her hair down and curled, looking like a spring flower.

How he’d managed to be in the same room as her yesterday and not kiss her again was a wonder.

“Mr. Stone.”

He startled, and he looked to his left, finding Pastor Arnie there smiling at him in his black button-up shirt, his red hair slicked back. “Hi, Pastor.” Liam straightened and fiddled with one of the cuff links on his suit jacket. It had seemed appropriate to wear to church, but after a few days of dressing down, the thing felt a bit awkward, even here. “Thanks for that sermon today. I’ll be thinking about those verses on anxiety for sure.”

“I’m glad, son. And happy to have you visit with us today.” Pastor Arnie held out his hand and Liam took it, shook. “Finding peace is something some spend their whole lives figuring out. It’s one thing to say ‘trust God.’ Another completely to actually learn how to do it.”

Liam laughed, and it came out stunted. “I understand better than I’d like to.”

“Well, we’d love to see you next week.” He tapped his Bible against his chest. “We’ll be talking more about it then.”

“Wish I could, but I’m leaving Friday.” Seb had agreed to move the council meeting to Thursday, which meant Liam’s time here was running out.

And so was his time to figure out a better hotel plan with Dani.

“Too bad. Next time you’re on the island, we’d love to see you though.”

Like he could ever bring himself to come back. Not with how hard it already was to think about leaving Dani once. He’d never survive a second goodbye.

But Liam just smiled and nodded. “You got it.”

As Pastor Arnie moved off to speak to an older woman, Liam blew out a breath and snuck a look at his watch, then again at Dani. Maybe he should just tell her he’d meet her over at the Tourism Bureau?—

“Liam, dear.”

This time it was Constance Franklin at his elbow—Mia’s mother-in-law, the one who’d lost her son and husband in the boating accident a few years ago. “Hi, Constance.” He’d met her at the town picnic the other night. “What can I do for you?”

“Oh, I was just wondering if you liked blueberry muffins.” The woman smiled in a motherly way and pulled a Ziploc full of muffins from her large purse. Miraculously, they weren’t squished. “I baked some extras and thought you and Dani might like to enjoy them together.”

“That’s really kind of you.” Too kind, really. What would she say if she knew he’d kissed Dani and then called it a mistake? Probably lob all of these muffins in his face. Or maybe she was too nice for that. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure.” She handed him the package of muffins and then shrugged, something frail in the motion. “They were my Troy’s favorite. I always bake extras…old habits. So I’m happy if they can go to someone else and not straight to my hips.”

Wow. “They look delicious, and I know for a fact Dani has a sweet tooth. These are gonna help fuel our next brainstorming session.”

Constance nodded and patted him on the shoulder. “I’m glad, dear, I’m glad.” Then she shuffled off, leaving Liam with nothing to do but lean back against the church’s white wall.

This town really was something else.

“Are those Constance’s famous blueberry muffins?” Seb asked as he sauntered up, rubbing his hands together.

“They are. Want one?”

Seb scanned the crowd, his gaze stopping on the spot where Elise, Dani, and Mia were chatting. “I’d better not. Elise has been after me to lessen my sugar intake. But you enjoy.”

“I told her I’d bring it to my next brainstorming session with Dani this afternoon.”

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