Page 39 of By Your Side

Straightening my sweater, I glance at the clock. Owen should be here any moment.

Taking a deep breath, I press my hand over my pounding heart. I haven’t been on a first date in over a decade. What’s the typical first date protocol when you’re a thirty-year-old widow? What will Owen expect from me?

The dogs bark, lights shining through the front room window. I do one last check in the mirror, doing a double take when I realize I forgot to put mascara on my left eye. Laughing at myself, my stomach settles as I shake out my body. It’s just one date. I can do one date. I match my left eye to my right before I throw my shoes on, grab my jacket, and run to Owen’s truck, my nerves not letting me wait for him to come to the door. It’s not as cold as I thought it would be, but it’s still cold enough that I’m glad the boots I ordered came in.

Owen is coming around the front of his truck as I reach it. He opens the door for me. Getting in the warm cab, I give Owen a small smile as he settles back into his seat. My throat feels tight as I fumble with the seatbelt before the click sounds in the quiet. “Hey.”

Closing my eyes, I cringe. So lame.

“You look beautiful.” His voice caresses me as he looks me up and down appreciatively. I’ve seen him check me out before, but it feels different this time.

“Thank you.” My voice is faint as I take him in.

He looks gorgeous in dark jeans and a plain black sweater. The material is thick but looks incredibly soft. My fingers itch to feel the material and the arm underneath it. I fold my hands on my lap as he drives. He carries the conversation until I relax a little, this is Owen. I’ve spoken to him nearly every day since I came to Willowbrook Lake.

He pulls into the parking lot by the pier, where I’m shocked to see it packed full of cars.

“Wow! I’m surprised so many people are braving the cold.” Hopping out of the truck, I join Owen and follow him to the beach. His arm brushes mine as we walk. Awareness courses through my body, and I don’t know what to do with my hands. “What’s going on?”

“Every year there’s an annual lantern release on the first Saturday in December. You write a wish, put it in the lantern, and release it.” We join a line of people waiting for their lanterns. “It’s especially neat because we found someone who makes lanterns that will disintegrate into fish food, so there is no negative impact on the environment.”

Bouncing on the balls of my feet to stay warm, I watch as couples get their lanterns before meandering along the beach. I’m buzzing as we finally get to the table to get our own.

Owen takes my hand, looking at me closely to make sure I’m okay with it, before leading me to a quiet section of the beach. “Have you thought of your wish?”

He opens a backpack I didn’t even notice him grab and lays out a blanket. He holds out his hand and I grab it, settling down next to him.

“Is there any guidance on the type of wish?” Smiling, I accept the pen he offers.

He chuckles as he pretends to ponder. “Hmm. I would say it should be meaningful to you.”

Nodding, I think to myself. What do I wish? I could wish for the cliché things like a happy and healthy life, but I want it to be more specific.

Owen’s head is bent as he writes his wish, his expression thoughtful. I watch as he pauses, his fingers stroking his chin before his pen starts moving again.

I think about what possibilities this town holds for me. Finally deciding that my wish should be to open my heart to those possibilities and to approach each day with excitement and courage.

Bending my head, I write my wish. My entire body relaxes as I put the words on paper, the words feeling right. Maybe it’s not so much a wish as a goal, but to have the guts to accept the joy and possibilities is the part I know I need help with.

Folding the piece of paper, I tuck it into a little pocket inside the lantern. Owen is done with his and when I look up, our eyes meet, his expression thoughtful.

Lighting our lanterns, we release ours as everyone on the beach does. The flickering candles lighting up the night sky. The lights are beautiful, floating up and away.

Shivering, I cross my arms. My breath is visible in the chilly night air.

Owen bends, grabbing a second blanket from the bag and wraps it around my shoulders, his arm pulling me into his side. The heat from his body sends waves of awareness pulsing through me.

“Is there any rule about whether it’s okay to share your wish? Or is it like when you blow out your birthday candles?” Smiling, I lean into him as I watch more and more lanterns joining the ones above until there are hundreds lighting up the night sky.

The sky is clear, stars twinkling over us. Despite how cold it is, we couldn’t have asked for a better night.

He chuckles at my question. “No, there’s no rules.”

“Hmm, well, just in case, I’m keeping mine a secret.”

We lose track of our lanterns but sit under the starlight, watching them float along. It’s magical.

Soon even the blanket isn’t enough. My body starts to shake a little, but I don’t say anything.

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