Page 41 of Every Star that Shines

Delanie blinked, then remembered to smile. “You’re welcome.”

Nodding stiffly, Amber moved past her up the aisle toward the back hall after Celeste.

“Well,” said Caleb’s voice behind her, “that was unexpected.”

Delanie nearly jumped out of her boots. She whirled toward the double doors at the front left of the hall that led backstage to see him standing there with two metal travel mugs in his hands. How long has he been standing there?

“What do you mean?”

As he walked toward her, he took a sip from one of the mugs and then nodded at Amber. “Her, showing gratitude. Better mark it on the calendar.”

Delanie rolled her eyes. “Oh, she’s not that bad. Cut her some slack.”

“Weren’t you the one who was calling me, desperate for advice, not two days ago?” He gave an amused snort and held out the other mug toward her.

“What’s this?”

“Latte with three sugars and some cinnamon on top, just the way you like it.”

She blinked. “Cool Beans is closed on Sundays.”

He gave her a small grin. “I didn’t get it from Cool Beans.”

She popped the top on the mug and inhaled the aromatic steam. It smelled like heaven. “Where did you get it, then?”

He gave her an impish grin. “I’ll tell you after you try it.”

“O-kay.”

She hesitantly took a sip, watching him over the rim of the cup. The hall was getting noisier as kids shuffled in from their various chorus group rehearsals to practise the big group numbers.

“Mm. Tastes even better than it smells,” she said, loud enough to be heard over the din. “Okay, spill the beans. Is there a new coffee shop in town no one told me about? Or does Tim Hortons have something new on their menu?”

He gave a self-satisfied smirk. “Nope. I made it.”

She gaped at him, speechless.

He chuckled. “I got an espresso machine a few years ago. It’s become a bit of a hobby of mine. Sometime you’ll have to come over so I can make you one with fancy latte art on the top. It all gets messed up in a travel mug.”

“Well, Mr. Toews,” Delanie said playfully, choosing to ignore the fact that he’d just invited her to his house, “aren’t you just full of surprises?”

“I have my moments.”

Caleb took another sip of his coffee, and the look in his eyes made Delanie glance away. Her stomach had gotten all fluttery, and she was pretty sure it had nothing to do with the creamy caffeine in her mug.

Violet made her way to the front of the room, along with their pianist, Edith, who proceeded to settle herself at the small electric piano on the auditorium floor near the stage. Celeste came in and sat with the other senior high students, and Amber stood in the back near the stairs with her arms crossed, her expression stern.

“How did it go with Amber, by the way?” Caleb said quietly from right beside her.

Delanie jumped again, startled by how close he was. Taking a breath to gather herself, she glanced up at him. His brows were furrowed in concern.

“It hasn’t yet. I’m looking for the right moment.”

“I know what that’s like,” he muttered. He cleared his throat. “Say, uh, I know I already made you coffee, but would you like to go out for coffee after rehearsal? I mean, you could have tea or water or, um, something else if that’s too much caffeine. I could even buy you dinner, or whatever you want. If you want. Emma’s with Monica this weekend, so it would be a perfect time to, er, catch up.”

Delanie’s heart had sped up with each word. She almost chuckled at his awkward delivery, but she was much less unprepared this time than when he had asked her to his parents’ for supper. And much less unwilling, she had to admit.

“Um, sure.”

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