Page 39 of More Than Words
It was yet another version of her.Another version that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from.
“I have some candles in the hutch over there,” she said, grabbing my attention.“Just in case the power goes out.”
“It’s not a bad idea.”I followed her directions and found a selection of candles just where she instructed.Some tea lights in mismatched holders, a few tapers, and one vanilla-scented one in a jar that looked like it had been a gift.
I set them all on the coffee table as she joined me with two bowls of stew.“Sorry,” she said.“I don’t have a table, so this will have to do.”She tossed two oversized pillows on the floor to act as chairs right as the lights overhead flickered once, twice, and then stayed out.
“Well, that didn’t take long.”
She laughed.“Good thing we’re ready.”
Together, we lit the collection of candles and settled onto the floor to eat in the warm glow of candlelight.
The stew was delicious.Thick and meaty and homemade.It was easily the best thing I’d eaten in weeks.“Did you make this?”
She shrugged.“I like to cook, but it’s usually only me, so I freeze a lot of leftovers.”
“It’s delicious.”I took another big bite.“If you ever want someone to share with…” I trailed off, unsure of how to finish the thought.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”Delaney smiled as she put a spoonful in her mouth.
“We should have a drink,” I said, only half joking.
She gave me a look.“Please don’t suggest beer.No offense.”
“None taken.”I laughed.“And no, I could use a break from beer myself.”
“What about wine?”She got to her feet.“I think I have a bottle of red.”
“Perfect.”
A moment later, she handed me a glass and settled back onto her pillow, cross-legged.
“To snowstorms.”I held out my glass.
She hesitated for a moment before clinking her glass to mine.“To snowstorms.”
We settled into our meals, sipping our wine as we finished dinner and talked.
First, about the storm and what kind of winter we each thought we’d have.She asked about the brewery, and I asked about book sales.
And then she mentioned Ontario.
“You’re from there?”
Delaney nodded.“I ran a little shop out there.Nook & Nest.”
“Sounds cute.”
“It was.”She pushed her empty bowl to the middle of the table and leaned back on her arms.“It was mostly home decor and some local art and things.I loved it.”
“What happened?How did you end up out West?”
She was quiet, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure she was going to answer me.Then she sighed.“My ex-husband.He made a lot of bad decisions, promised a lot of things to a lot of people.Promises he couldn’t keep.Especially not to me.”She lifted her wine to her mouth.“I lost everything.”
“Delaney.I’m sorry.”
She took a sip and put her glass down before looking at me with a small smile.“So was I,” she said.“At first.But I worked hard to build my credit up again and put together some savings.Now I live here, and I have Plot Twist.I wouldn’t change anything.”
