Page 120 of One Small Spark
She moves her fingers in tiny circles over my stomach. “Are you ready for next week?”
She doesn’t have to specify. The town hall meeting hangs over my head like a guillotine glinting in the sun.
“As ready as I can be.” I know the presentation backward and forward. I’ve repeated every line until my voice went hoarse. I know what Lila’s going to say to introduce me, and where to click through for each slide.
But it’s still a dark smudge in my mind, like a grease spot I can’t clear away.
“Just look at me when you need to focus.”
I run my hands over her fleece-covered arm. Her Thanksgiving attire is a pink hoodie that says,Exhausted by Existence.
“Looking at you will ruin my focus in entirely different ways.”
“Did you at least tell your family?”
I make a negative sound in the back of my throat, which earns an angry little growl from her.
“Shepherd.”
I should not enjoy her scolding me so much.
“This is so important for you,” she adds, driving her point home with a gentle poke to my stomach.
“It’s just a technicality in the approval process. It’s not an awards ceremony or something.” And honestly, Lilacouldgive the entire presentation if she wasn’t so determined it should be me.
“But it’s a big deal for you to overcome your anxiety to do it.”
I suppose. Doesn’t make it more of a win in my book.
“Would you want them to be there if they didn’t have that dumb gala?”
I try to imagine my parents and Charlie showing up for me at the meeting. Cheering me on the way Grandpa always did.Showing me in tangible ways that what’s important to me is important to them. “Yes. I would want them there.”
She lifts up onto her elbow so she can glare at me. “See?”
“But I’m not going to ask them to choose between me and their event at the lodge. That’s just putting unnecessary pressure on everybody.”
She lies back down, grumbling. “I guess. I still disagree with you.”
I crane my neck to kiss the crown of her head. “I like that you’re so upset in my defense, but I promise you, it’s fine.”
“Then I’ll just have to be your rock. You’re going to be awesome and convince everybody how great your trails idea is, and Sunshine will become a big tourist trap for bike nerds.”
“Aww. You know what I like to hear.”
She pinches my side. “And if some of your customers wander next door for a slice of pie, I won’t complain.”
“I always tell new customers to visit your bakery.”
She pops up again. “You do?”
I push a lock of hair behind her ear. “Of course.”
“So all this time, you’ve been advertising my business and defending me and pining for me, and I never knew?”
“Pretty much.”
She leans forward to kiss me. “That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”
