Page 35 of Beautiful Dreamer

“And whose might those be?”

“Mine.”

Devyn paused her perusal of whatever was in that folder and metElizabeth’s gaze full on. Her hazel eyes sparkled with interest. “Yours, huh?”

Elizabeth pointed at her. “I’ll show you the Bay in all herglory.”

“This town is a girl?”

“Yes, yes, she is, and she’s awesome, and you’re going to seethat, and miss her desperately when you go home. But at least you’llknow.”

Devyn regarded her with the most unreadable expression on herface. Had she said something completely stupid? It wouldn’t be entirely unlikeher, but she stood by her offer. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Devyn shook her head. “You just have a lot of feelings on thetopic. Your whole face lit up and took on this animated quality. Itwas…something to behold.”

“Oh.” A pause struck, and they simply stared at each other. Themoment was a weighted one, and it reminded her of one from her past that shecouldn’t quite put her finger on. “Sometimes I can get going,” she saidquietly. “I’m enthusiastic.”

“Oh, I know, Ms. Chicken Suit.”

“Mrs.”

“Excuse me?”

Elizabeth gestured backward to reference the earlier mention. “Thechicken is married and lives in the Midwest. I have a whole backstory for her,but I won’t bore you with the details. At least not today. Just know that itmakes the telegram feel more authentic if the chicken is.”

Devyn seemed amused and confused in equal parts. “So noted.”

“What I will tell you is that Jill had her eleven o’clock meds,and we did our morning workout to Celine Dion, and now I have to run, so you’rein charge. You got this?”

“I’m on top of it. How are her spirits this morning?”

Elizabeth considered the question. “Holding strong. She’s moremobile now that she’s using the cane, and I think that gives her a sense ofindependence.”

“I’ve noticed that, too. She’s smiling more.”

“And singing. She does a great Celine Dion.” Elizabeth laughed andreflected on the conversation. She leaned in. “You realize we’re like a coupleof parents comparing notes on our kid.”

“We are.” Devyn laughed and shook her head. “We make a good tagteam. You the happy ray of sunshine and me the overly ambitious motivator.”

“So, are you free this weekend?” Elizabeth asked. Somethingpropelled her and she wasn’t about to resist it. There was an energy to herexchanges with Devyn lately that she didn’t encounter that often. Okay, ever,and she didn’t know at all what it meant, but she did know she craved more ofit.

Devyn looked caught off guard. “For what?”

“Relax,” she said, with a smile. “I’m merely asking if I can showyou some of the reasons I love this little place.”

“Oh.” It looked like Devyn was mulling over the offer, which wassilly, because what else could she possibly have going on other than more work?Which, let’s be honest, had to enter the realm of boring at some point. “Yeah,let’s do it,” she said, finally.

“Perfect.” Elizabeth backed out of the room. “Mark off Saturday inthe late afternoon. The other fourth-grade teachers are bringing dinner herefor Jill, so she’ll be all set.”

Devyn met her gaze. “What do I have to lose, right?”

* * *

“So, I’m adding the sour cream now or waiting?” Devyn used theback of her hand to wipe the wayward strand of hair from her eyes. She’d beentoiling over Jill’s potato soup recipe for over an hour now, and the heat fromthe pot was causing her to melt. She’d already tossed away the button-up shirtshe’d worn over her black tank top. If this got any worse, she had no problemcooking this soup in her bra. Jill would just have to deal.

“No,” Jill said, from her spot at the kitchen table. Her dark hairhad been gently curled with Devyn’s help and she now applied makeup whilelooking into a travel-sized mirror. “Condensed milk, remember?”

“Right. The damn condensed stuff. My bad. Now, where is thatagain?” She scanned the contents of the pantry and found the needed can anddarted back to the pot to keep stirring, apparently one of the potato souprules. Stir, stir, stir. She felt like one of those witches inMacbeth. Not that sheminded helping Jill get her big night off to a successful start. She checkedthe clock. Roughly thirty minutes until Jill’s teacher friends arrived. Chipsand dip were out, and those little mini quiches would be out of the oven infifteen. They were going to make it.

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