Page 74 of Summer Kisses

I grimaced. "I hope I didn't detract from the program with talk of us being engaged."

She waved a hand. "I wouldn't worry about that."

"You don't think they'll make a big deal of it?" I asked hopefully.

"We're a small-town library. I don't think we'll get more than a few lines in the paper."

I hoped she was right. But I couldn't get that board member's words out of my head. "What do you think about other libraries having similar programs?"

"I hadn't even anticipated anything like that. I thought I'd offer something here, and I'd be lucky if I could get the funding and support to make it happen. But now it's coming true, and I have you to thank."

I accepted her hug and hoped I hadn't messed everything up. I wanted our engagement to help us in our personal and professional lives. Not hurt us.

Chapter Nineteen

HAZEL

Iwas working late this week to get everything ready for the after-school program. It meant that I couldn't spend much time with Brady in the evenings.

The story about the new program hit the papers on Monday, and I saw a few posts about it online too. Other libraries in Florida had reached out to me to ask questions about it, and now I was scheduled to speak at a few library board meetings later in the month.

I never anticipated that one program would turn into a cause, but I was excited to help the program grow.

Brady had submitted our engagement information to the video streaming platform to apply for the family designation. We hadn't heard anything yet, but I was hopeful it would work out for him.

Everything was going well, and I could only hope that it would continue.

Tonight we were going over to his family's house for dinner. I was looking forward to relaxing and celebrating the success of the after-school program.

On the way over, Brady seemed tense.

"Is everything okay?" I asked him.

"Of course."

But his answer came a little too quickly. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"It's just that you seem tense."

Brady sighed. "I'm not sure that Dad is going to like the publicity around the after-school program."

I frowned. "Isn't publicity a good thing? Especially when you're supporting a good cause?"

"I can never tell with my dad. If he can find a way to be disappointed in me, then he will." His shoulders lowered.

My forehead creased. "I didn't realize that your involvement would cause problems with your family. If I'd known, I never would have accepted it."

"How could we know that the reporters would be there and it would get statewide attention?"

"Not me. That's for sure. I never intended for it to be something I'd need to travel across the state to train people for."

He glanced over at me. "I'm so proud of you. You had an idea for something, and you made it happen. Now you're influencing libraries across the state to do the same."

"I don't know about that," I said, uncomfortable with the praise.

Brady glanced over at me. "You're amazing."

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