Page 53 of A Bright Winter Season

“You’re most welcome.” Terrence nodded gallantly.

“Why don’t you get yourself some food?” Vivian asked him. “There are all kinds of delicious things to try. I especially recommend the creamed corn and the egg rolls.”

“Sounds wonderful. I’ll talk to you later, Vivian.” With another smile at Vivian and a nod at Hazel, Terrence made his way over to the buffet table.

Vivian and Hazel linked arms and began to stroll around the dining room together.

“I’m so relieved that everything’s been going so well.” Hazel looked around the space with a joyful expression. “All our hard work really paid off. This is the kind of event we’re all going to remember fondly for years to come.”

“I completely agree.” Vivian let out a long sigh of relief and contentment. “Look at Julia. She’s positively glowing with the thrill of managing a special occasion like this.”

“She is.” Hazel grinned, and gestured to Dean and Noelle, who were seated together at a small table in a corner, holding hands and laughing together about something. “And Dean and Noelle look extremely content.”

“And so do Alexis and Grayson.” Vivian smiled at the sight of Alexis and Grayson standing by the fireplace with their arms around each other, talking quietly and gazing into each other’s eyes. “They both look very relaxed. I’m so glad Alexis isn’t stressed about their big news anymore.”

“Me too. I knew she’d let her excitement overcome her worry soon enough. And she said Grayson was overjoyed when she told him.”

“I knew he would be. I can understand why she felt overwhelmed and concerned about telling him, but Grayson’s a good man who knows how to juggle a lot of things at once. I knew he was going to be excited about their happy news.”

“They’re going to be great parents,” Hazel said. “I can’t wait until they find out how wonderful it is to have a child.”

The two of them continued to stroll around the room for a while. Vivian saw Jacob standing in a corner talking and laughing with some of his friends, and she noticed that Hazel was intentionally avoiding looking at that part of the room.

“Have you spent any time with Jacob tonight?” Vivian asked gently. “You two seemed as thick as thieves when you were working on the vents together.”

Hazel shrugged and put on a forced smile. “Oh, not really. I figured I should be focusing on this event. I want to make sure that everything runs smoothly.”

Vivian knew the truth behind Hazel’s words. She could sense that Hazel was feeling apprehensive about Jacob, almost certainly because she still had feelings for him and she was nervous about stepping in the direction of romance. Vivian tapped her daughter on the shoulder gently. “Hazel. The event is just fine. There’s nothing left to do or worry about. Besides, we’re all here helping take care of things. It’s okay to focus on having some fun yourself. You put in a lot of work toward this event. You get to reap the rewards of that. Just like you’ve put in a lot of work toward your self-development. You get to reap the rewards of that too.”

“Okay.” Hazel’s eyes strayed over to where Jacob was talking and laughing with his friends. “I guess you’re right. Thanks, Mom.”

Vivian kissed Hazel on the cheek. “You go have some fun, sweetheart. Enjoy yourself.”

Hazel glanced at Jacob again, and then turned suddenly toward the buffet table. “I think I’ll go back for seconds. These mashed potatoes are the best I’ve ever had.”

“Okay. I know you love mashed potatoes. Don’t neglect talking to your friends, though!” “I won’t, don’t worry.”

Vivian watched her daughter walk toward the buffet table, noticing that she kept glancing at Jacob as she went.

I hope those two get together,Vivian thought.Jacob is such an upstanding guy. Hazel deserves to be with someone like him.

She smiled quietly to herself for a moment, and then decided to join Hazel in getting seconds.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Jacob leaned against the wall of the pub, listening to Trevor tell a wild story about chasing a dog through the supermarket and laughing. He was eating a slice of lemon meringue pie that was rumored to have been made by Dean’s girlfriend, Noelle, and it was absolutely fantastic. He’d been a touch disappointed to learn that, since he’d been hoping to choose a dessert that Hazel had made, but the pie was refreshingly tart and sweet.

Despite how discouraged he’d been about Hazel turning him down a second time, it had been a wonderful evening. He’d been enjoying fantastic food and even better company, talking with his friends and meeting new people. There was a joyful, festive atmosphere pervading the pub, and Jacob was having a particularly pleasant time.

He’d been keeping his distance from Hazel out of respect, although he’d caught himself glancing in her direction many times throughout the evening. He felt a kind of ache in his heart every time he looked at her, but he still felt hopeful that she might change her mind about him. The news that she’d been planning on asking him out a few months earlier made him feel as light as a feather.

I hope she changes her mind and agrees to go out with me, he thought, glancing around the dining room looking for her.I can’t believe she’s been interested in me all this time. Or, at least she was.

The crowd was starting to die down, since it was later in the evening. He didn’t see Hazel in the dining room, but then he caught sight of her through the large windows of the pub. She was standing on the front porch, bundled up in her winter coat and looking up at the stars.

His heart stirred when he looked at her. He wondered if she was all right, and he felt a sudden urge to go speak with her.

“Looking at Hazel Owens like a lovesick puppy, huh?” Trevor said, elbowing Jacob in the ribs. “Stop denying that you’re into her, man. She looks like she’s about to leave, so you’d better hurry if you want to talk to her.”

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