“Steven says he’s accepted my decision, but my dad…” I shook my head. “Part of me wonders if I’m making a mistake, but I feel like I have to at least try, you know?” I didn’t mention the application and interview for the local teaching position. No reason to get anyone’s hopes up. “I appreciate their concern, but I think it’s for the best.”
“And not even a certain someone will change your mind?” Rose asked innocently, but I saw right through her.
“Did Steven put you up to this?” I retorted with a glare.
“No. Like you said, he’s accepted your decision.” She grinned. “But I’m not blind. I’ve seen the way Nate looks at you.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, turning away from her. Lucky for me, Steven and my father entered at that moment. I wasn’t ready to address my conflicting feelings toward Nate.
My dad gave me a nod before he walked over to the table and surveyed the china. He picked up various pieces and turned them in his hands, his eyes far away. I wondered if he was remembering happier times with Mom.
After cleaning the crumbs from my fingers, I moved next to Dad at the table. He had lifted a gravy boat and was fiddling with a small crack at its base. I touched his arm gently, and he turned to me with a sad smile.
“Your mother cracked this when she slammed it down on the table one Thanksgiving,” he said, his eyes wistful. “I don’t remember exactly what I did, but I do recall she was hopping mad with me.”
When I rested my head on his shoulder, he set the dish down and wrapped his arms around me. We stood there together, lost in our memories, our ongoing argument about my plan to leave momentarily forgotten. It touched me to know that despite everything that had happened, my parents had never stopped loving each other. What their marriage had taught me, above all else, was that love wasn’t enough. Good relationships required work, communication, and a hefty dose of humility.
I stifled a sigh as realization swept in. James and I needed to talk, and the sooner the better. If I planned to have a future with him, I needed to hear him out on the new apartment and discuss my concerns like a rational adult. Not jump feetfirst into a job opportunity just to prove I could. And who knew? Maybe talking to him would help me sort out whatever was going on between Nate and me, assuming there was anything going on. It could be all in my head.
“You’d better get started on pricing everything,” my father whispered, pulling me back to the present as he extracted himself from our embrace. “You know how your brother is.”
I nodded and turned to Rose. The men left the kitchen to continue preparing the rest of the house. Working with my future sister-in-law was exactly what I needed for the day. We shared a comfortable silence, only sporadically broken by a comment on an item here or a shared memory there. It was peaceful, and I appreciated the lack of unnecessary chatter.
Soon the sale began, and Steven opened the front door to welcome the customers. I blinked when I saw the line already waiting outside, but I recognized many of them. Dad stationed himself by the back door, managing the cash box and tablet with a card reader attached. Rose and Steven worked the floor, helping customers. They both had previous sales experience, and they were naturals.
I opted to stay in the kitchen, helping customers who wandered in but wanting to maintain a low profile. Some people sought me out to express their condolences, but most seemed to understand my need for solitude. I hoped the day would pass quickly and successfully.
“Thanks for staying, Rose,” I said as we finished cleaning up from the sale. What few items remained were destined to be donated.
“No problem,” Rose replied as she set a Sold sign on the kitchen table. “Got any plans tonight?”
“A night in my jammies with a glass of wine sounds like heaven.”
“You two should go out,” Steven said as he came into the room and surveyed our progress. “You’ve earned it.”
“Don’t you have plans?” I tried to disguise the desperation in my voice. I could use a quiet night at home after the exhausting day I’d just had.
“Nope, she’s all yours,” Steven said as he slipped an arm around Rose and gave her a quick squeeze. “Tonight, Dad and I are helping load some of the furniture that sold.” He gave me an appraising look. “Unless you want to help us, I suggest you two go have some fun.”
“What do ya say, Lanie? I hear Seabreeze has karaoke,” Rose suggested.
The last thing I wanted to do was spend a night listening to awful singing, but Rose looked so hopeful, I couldn’t bring myself to turn her down. And karaoke night was one of the most popular events at the bar. I would be able to disappear into the crowd.
“Sure, sounds great,” I said, forcing myself to sound enthusiastic.
“Perfect!” Rose exclaimed. “Let me just run home to change. Pick you up in an hour?” Rose embraced me without waiting for a reply and rushed out the door. With a resigned sigh, I trudged up the stairs to get ready.
I chose an off-the-shoulder pink dress that hugged me in all the right places. It wasn’t exactly the best option for blending in, but after being so underdressed for Bobby McKey’s the other night, I didn’t want to risk it again. No chance of that in this dress. I curled my hair and applied a little makeup. Before I knew it, the front door opened, and Rose’s voice drifted up the stairs.
I slid my feet into a pair of matching heels and met Rose in the hall. One look at Rose’s outfit made me second-guess my choice. Had I overdone it? I pursed my lips. Did I care? The dress could be my armor, and something told me that tonight, I would need it.
Steven dropped us off at Seabreeze, which was already packed. Seeing all those people caused conflicting emotions to bubble up inside me. As we walked toward the bar, Rose linked our arms, and I was grateful for the support. The distinct sound of steel drums poured out from within, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. A Caribbean paradise, right in the middle of quiet Cedar Haven. Sometimes, the town tried way too hard to be something it wasn’t.
Once inside, we searched the crowded place for empty seats, and my traitorous heart skipped a beat when I saw Nate. He sat at a table with a couple of the guys from the shop and a few women I didn’t recognize. A burning sensation spread through my chest, and I froze. What was wrong with me? I had James, so I had no right to be jealous.
Before I could assess the feeling further, Nate’s eyes met mine, and the slow smile that came over his face took my breath away. He had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and his well-defined arm was draped over the back of his chair. I gave him a shy smile in return then scurried after Rose to a booth along the wall of the bar.
“Thanks for coming out with me tonight,” Rose said as we sat down. “I’ve been hoping to get a chance to talk to you alone.”