Page 39 of Through the Dark Night
They laughed together, and then Lance guided Shannon over to their seats with a light hand on the middle of her back. It didn’t feel dictatorial. It was more of a kind guidance and steadying if she needed it. It felt comforting and warm, and she appreciated it.
With James, she always felt like he was demanding that she do whatever he wanted, and he didn’t usually guide her, he led her, dragging her behind him.
She pushed the idea of James out of her head. He had good qualities too. But when she stacked him up against Lance, it always seemed like he was lacking.
As they reached their seats, she noted that Emma had gotten stopped in conversation by Vera, who seemed to be giving her some motherly affection. Skyler then stopped, and she and Katie chatted with Emma in what seemed to be a very animated conversation.
She and Lance had filled their plates and were back eating before Katie and Emma sat down.
“Everyone is so caring and friendly,” Emma said as she leaned over the table to confide that to her mother. “You were not lying about the small-town atmosphere. I’ve never felt so included and seen in my life before.”
“It’s a pretty great place,” Shannon said, but she was smiling hugely inside. This was why she didn’t want to miss the church supper.
“But everyone’s assuming that you and Lance are a couple.” She glanced at Lance, who was chatting with Katie across the table and didn’t seem to be paying attention to them. “In fact, someone, I’m not even sure of their name, asked me when you guys were setting a date. Did they mean a wedding?” Emma asked, seriously surprised.
“I don’t know…”
“You’re stumbling and mumbling around like… It’s just funny.” Emma laughed and then leaned back. “I’m having such a great time. Someone said there’s a guitar and a few other instruments and there might be some dancing later. I wish I would have brought Brian. You should have warned me.”
“I’m sorry. There wasn’t any dancing last time.”
“That’s because Wesley and Birdie weren’t here. Wesley is a big hockey star, and Birdie is a pop superstar, but they both play and sing as well, and typically when they’re around, they treat us to a little bit.” Lance nodded over at a couple who had a group of people around them.
As Shannon watched, someone—a little girl—shyly walked up to them and asked for their autograph. It was super cute as the two of them signed their names on her ball cap together.
“They seem just as friendly as the rest of the town,” Emma said as she watched them along with Shannon and Lance.
“They’re really kind. I’ve spoken with them some, but their schedules don’t allow them to live here full-time. Although both of them are talking about retiring and raising a family here.”
“I can’t imagine a better place to raise a family,” Shannon said, and she wondered why she’d left. She knew why, and she didn’t know if she could go back, whether she’d do it differently or not. The deep, searing pain of losing a daughter and being reminded of her at every turn, every step, every view, was a little bit—a lot—hard and intimidating. Maybe she’d needed to get away for a while.
“This Nutella banana bread is amazing,” Grace said as she stopped at their table for a moment. She greeted Emma and chatted a bit.
She wasn’t the only person who stopped at their table to comment about the Nutella banana bread. It seemed to be the hit of the afternoon.
It was soon gone, and then they had people stopping at their table, asking if Marina would make more so they could try it since it seemed to be legendary already and they didn’t even know what it tasted like.
“I think you can include that on the menu for the inn when you open it,” Lance said as the fifth or sixth person went by asking for Marina to make it again so they could try it.
“I think Marina got the recipe from Lauren and perhaps tweaked it a bit, and it does seem to have been a big hit. It’s crazy what Marina can make out of a little bit of nothing.”
“She was definitely a real find,” Lance said. “Have you talked to her any more?” he asked, his voice lowering.
Shannon glanced at Emma who was in conversation with Katie. She shook her head. “No. I’ve offered multiple times to be a confidant, and that’s pretty much all I can do. But she’s very tight-lipped. She did mention feeling safe here. Which, I understand where she’s coming from. The way the town protects its own is endearing, and I know they’ll do that for her too.”
“Especially after this,” Lance said, holding up his last bite of Nutella banana bread. “They’ll definitely not want to lose someone who can bake like this.”
Shannon laughed. “I’m going to get jealous if you keep talking like that.”
Lance’s brows rose, and Shannon realized she was flirting, and she shouldn’t have been. Especially since she didn’t really know how she felt about him.
His voice was lowered and soft as he said, “There’s no need. The banana bread is good, but it doesn’t hold a candle to you. Not in my eyes.”
When did her mouth get dry? Why couldn’t she swallow? And her hands felt like they were trembling.
Thankfully, the strains of a guitar being strummed caused everyone to be quiet for just a moment as they all looked around to see what was going on.
“Looks like they’re going to play for a while,” Emma said, looking eager.
