Page 20 of Every Star that Shines

But what happened when those people came home and that old wound wasn’t quite as scarred over as they thought it was?

The question occupied Delanie’s circling thoughts for the rest of the day.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Delanie Fletcher, is that you?”

Delanie glanced up from the debit machine at the till of Cool Beans and peered at the slim young woman moving toward her on the other side of the counter, trying to place her. The chin-length wavy rich brown bob was a new style, but the pretty face with high cheek bones and flawless warm ivory skin was familiar. Unfortunately, the woman wasn’t wearing a name tag. Smiling to cover her lapse of memory, Delanie handed the debit machine back to the cashier to buy herself some time, her other hand clenched around Nan’s binder. Then she remembered. Her high school friend Stephanie’s younger sister.

“Autumn? Autumn Neufeld?”

The woman smiled. “It’s Autumn Lambert now. Wow, I haven’t seen you since you and Stephanie graduated. You look fabulous! Are you in town for a visit?”

Delanie moved aside to allow the next person in line access to the cashier, facing Autumn from across a glass display case full of scrumptious-looking home-baked goods. “In a manner of speaking. My grandmother just died. I came to town for her funeral, and I’m taking over her role as director of the kids’ play, so I’ll be in town for a couple months.”

Autumn’s big dark brown eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t heard.”

Delanie shook her head dismissively. “It’s fine. She lived a long, full life.” She pushed aside the pinch in her heart. Ever since her mom had given her the news last week, she couldn’t help but feel that she had squandered so many opportunities to spend time with Nan. She should have come home more, or called more often. Now she couldn’t. “So, how long have you been working here?” she said, anxious to change the subject.

“Oh, forever.” Autumn swept the counter area and its small hive of worker bees with a glance and a heavy sigh that was at once anxious and weary. “My parents own this place, and I’ve been managing it for years now. I do most of the baking, too, so I’m usually stuck in the kitchen.”

Delanie blinked. “That’s amazing.”

Autumn smiled wistfully. “The mornings are pretty early, but it means I get afternoons with my son. Stephanie helps out sometimes on her days off too.”

Her son? The dark circles under Autumn’s eyes made sense now.

“Stephanie’s still in town too?”

Autumn nodded. “She’s a nurse up at the hospital.”

“I see.”

Delanie wondered if Stephanie was married with kids too. Sometimes Delanie felt like she was the only one in her graduating class who had opted to leave Peace Crossing to pursue her career instead of settling down to have a family. She wasn’t sure if that made her feel isolated or relieved that she had found a way out of this little town with its small dreams.

She forced a smile. “Good for you. I’m looking forward to sampling your carrot cake in a minute.”

“And I better get started on your latte,” Autumn said. “Excuse me. Jeff will bring your order out when it’s ready.”

“Thanks. Tell Stephanie I said hi.”

Autumn flashed her a brief grin. “I will. She’ll be thrilled to hear you’re in town.”

Autumn moved away down the counter and began working the espresso machine. Delanie looked around the small coffee shop to find a table, and noticed that Violet had slipped in and sat down since Delanie had walked in. The music director already had a steaming white mug and a binder on the table in front of her. She must have been in the washroom.

Delanie picked her way through the labyrinth of square and rectangular tables, taking in the changes since the last time she had been in here. The room was full and cluttered in the coziest way possible. Tables were tucked between short barriers of double-sided open shelves made of stacked squares. Some of the cubby-holes held worn copies of well-thumbed bestsellers in a variety of genres, while others contained unusual antique items that looked mostly coffee-related, like old grinders and stainless steel and ceramic pots. Potted succulents and trailing plants that Delanie was pretty sure were real sat on top of the shelves, offering some privacy between the tables. Oil paintings and large framed photographs covered walls painted a misty grey, with the exception of an intense green between the large rectangular windows along one side. In the far corner stood another tall bookshelf full of board games, which sat next to a small sitting area—a love seat and two overstuffed chairs around a coffee table near a gas fireplace insert. The overall effect was like being welcomed into a sunny, inviting living space.

Finally, Delanie reached the table for four that Violet had chosen near a window not far from the sitting area. The blinds were open partway, but the sun had already moved around to the west side of the building, giving them a great view of the gorgeous September day outside without any glare.

Delanie set Nan’s binder on the table and pulled out the chair across from Violet, who glanced up from her notes. When the older woman saw her, she gave a warm grin.

“There you are.”

“Here I am.” Delanie slung her purse over the back of the chair and unbuttoned her long cabled knit cardigan coat before she sat down. “Caleb and Amber aren’t here?”

“They just walked through the door,” Violet said, gesturing beyond Delanie.

Delanie turned around to see that such was the case, returning Caleb’s smile and Amber’s nod of acknowledgement with a little wave, then faced Violet.

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