Page 43 of Every Star that Shines

“Sorry, Miss Fletcher, but you’re too late,” Emma said, her lips stretched in an excited grin as she handed several cards to her dad, the banker, and laid down some pieces of her own. “I just won.”

Caleb gazed at the board, counting, while he rubbed the dark beard he’d been letting grow in. He laid his cards down. “Congratulations, Chickadee.”

“What? Already?” Delanie peered at the girl’s impressive sprawling empire of interconnected red wooden pieces. She had played Settlers of Catan enough to know what she was doing, but she was by no means an expert, especially at the Cities and Knights variation. Still, it seemed like she had just started gaining momentum, so how could Emma already have enough points to win?

Emma pointed at her pieces on the game board as she summed up her points. “Ten, eleven, and two for the longest road is thirteen. See?” She grinned proudly, then glanced at Delanie. “Next time, you should try to turn your villages into cities earlier. It helps a lot.”

Delanie laughed off the girl’s unsolicited advice and began collecting her pieces. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

While Emma’s focus was on gathering her pieces and dropping them in a little plastic bag to put away, Caleb rolled his eyes for Delanie alone to see. “She gets that from her mother,” he whispered.

Delanie chuckled.

“What did you say, Daddy?” Emma blinked at him innocently.

“Nothing, kiddo.” Caleb repressed his smile. He stood and helped Delanie sort out the remaining game pieces. “Your mom should be here soon. Why don’t you go make sure you have everything you’re taking over there? Miss Fletcher and I can clean up.”

“Sure.” His daughter obediently hopped out of her chair.

As though on cue, a light knock sounded on the door. Delanie glanced toward the street through the living room picture window and saw a minivan sitting on the street curb, its lights glowing red in the deepening dusk.

Emma ran to open the door and greeted her mother, who wore the brick-red button-down shirt uniform of a cashier at the local grocery store, Miller’s Market, under a pilled cream cardigan.

“Guess what!” Emma exclaimed as Monica came inside. “Miss Fletcher came over for supper. I totally beat her and Daddy at Settlers of Catan.”

Monica smoothed Emma’s hair with an indulgent smile before casting a tense glance at Delanie and Caleb. “I’m sure you did. You’ve gotten so good at that game. Hurry up, now. It’s getting late.”

“Okay, be right back.” Emma raced away down the hall toward her room.

“No running,” Caleb called after her, and she moderated her step a little.

“I’ll finish here,” Delanie said quietly to Caleb. She could sense Monica’s chilly attitude from across the living room, and suddenly felt like an awkward third wheel. “You go see Emma off.”

Caleb’s brow furrowed. “If you’re sure.”

“It’s almost all put away anyway.”

Caleb nodded, then went over to talk to Monica. Delanie tried not to listen in, but from what she did hear, they were mostly talking about Emma and that week’s schedule. By the time Emma returned with her pink fall coat on and her mint backpack over the shoulder, Delanie had put the lid on the box. She left it in the middle of the table and went to lean on the wall dividing the galley kitchen from the living room, trying to stay out of the way.

Monica glanced over at her. “I was sorry to hear about your grandmother.”

Surprised, Delanie mumbled, “Thank you.” Glancing down while trying to think of something to say, she noticed the large sparkling diamond on Monica’s left hand. “Congratulations on the engagement. And the baby.”

Monica looked taken aback. “How did you—?”

“Emma let it slip.” Delanie gave a small smile. “Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone.”

Monica gave her daughter a look of consternation, but Emma was focused on putting her shoes on and didn’t notice. Monica glanced back at Delanie, her smile softening. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Emma hopped to her feet. “Okay, Mom. Ready!”

“Okay, sweetie.”

Emma threw her arms around Caleb’s waist and he hugged her awkwardly around the shoulders while standing. They said their goodnights, and moments later the door had closed behind Monica and the vivacious girl. Caleb went to the living room window and waved at Emma, who stood on the sidewalk below waving madly. Then the girl raced toward the minivan after her mom. He stood watching until the minivan had driven away, then turned to face Delanie, who had awkwardly watched the whole scene from the arch between the dining nook and the living room.

Delanie was suddenly acutely aware that it was just the two of them in the house—she was alone with Caleb Toews for the first time in ten years. Her pounding heart and dry mouth told her it was time to go.

But, surprisingly, a larger part of her didn’t want to leave.

---