by Lynn Shannon
She rubbed her forehead. Now was not the time to be thinking about this. The Celebration of Reading events were almost over, and they needed her focus. Everything else, including Grant, had to come second.
The afternoon went by in a blur. Sara finalized the last-minute details for tomorrow night’s big bash. The band was supposed to arrive in the afternoon, and each one of the volunteers had been contacted to confirm their participation. The Smokey BBQ Joint verified everything was on target food and beverage wise.
An hour before closing time, Jennie flipped Sara’s computer off at the front desk. “Go home. Get some rest. I’ll lock up.”
“Are you sure?”
Her assistant librarian rubbed her pregnant belly. “Absolutely. Take advantage of me while you still can. Before you know it, I’ll be on maternity leave.”
“If we’re still in business then.”
“We will be. I have a good feeling about tomorrow, Sara. You’ve done a great job.”
She stood and stretched her stiff muscles. “I haven’t done it yet. We’ll see tomorrow.” Sara gave her friend a small smile. “But thanks for the vote of confidence and for locking up tonight.”
Grabbing her purse, she headed out into the cool air. Sunshine splayed across the parking lot, and she decided to take a walk down Main Street. After sitting for so many hours, it would be nice to be outside and moving around.
She hiked her purse up on her shoulder. The scent of cookies from Coop’s Coffee tickled her nose, but instead of tempting her, it only made Sara think of Grant. It made her heart ache. She kept strolling, saying hi to several people as she passed by.
Before Sara realized it, she was standing in front of the car repair shop. Her steps slowed. The front of the building was smeared with paint. Blue letters spelled out EDWARDS CAR REPAIR COMING SOON.
Her breath hitched. Grant had bought it?
As if called by her thoughts, the door to the shop opened, and Grant emerged. Blue paint splattered his T-shirt, and a streak of it marred his jeans. There was even a bit in his hair. Grant was followed by a man Sara didn’t recognize. He was wearing a cowboy hat and boots.
Grant blinked, as if shocked to see her there, but quickly recovered. “Hey, Sara.”
“H-Hi.”
The man in the cowboy hat stepped forward and extended his hand. “So you’re the lovely Sara Wilson. I’m Boone Smith. Pleasure to finally meet you, ma’am.”
Sara shook his hand. “Ma’am? Am I really that old?”
He laughed. “I’m from Texas, and ma’am is required. It sounds good with my drawl.”
Boone was extremely handsome, with light brown hair and sharp green eyes. Paired with his charm and drawl, she had little doubt he was a hit with the ladies. But she didn’t feel so much as a blip when they touched.
“Boone is the buddy I told you about,” Grant said. “The one whose brother is a singer for The Dixie Kings.”
She tapped her forehead with her hand. “Of course, I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize the name. Thank you so much for helping to arrange the band’s performance tomorrow night. I can hardly believe they’re coming.”
“Oh, they are.” Boone clapped Grant on the shoulder. “For this guy, my brother would do just about anything. You know he saved my life.”
Her gaze swung to Grant, then focused back on Boone. “He did?”
“Absolutely. It’s a long story, and I’d love to tell you sometime. Right now, I have a dinner date with a beautiful lady at the diner.” He winked. “Don’t want to keep her waiting. See y’all later.”
Sara watched, half-amused and half-fascinated, as Boone ambled down the street. “How long has he been in town?”
“Four hours.”
“And he has a date already?”
“Yep. He ran into Harmony Phillips at Coop’s Coffee a few hours ago. They hit it off.”
Sara shook her head and laughed. Grant joined her. As their laughter died off, an awkward silence settled between them. She licked her lips, then gestured to the building. “You bought it?”
“I did.”
Her heart picked up speed. “Then you really are going to stay?”
“I am.” Grant stuck his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been thinking about getting out of the navy for a while, but I couldn’t see what a life beyond the military would look like. Coming home was the final shove I needed. I’ve been running from Hidden Hollows for a long time, but this town is exactly where I need to be.”
He took a deep breath and faced her. “Sara, I’m sorry for what happened last night. I sprang a lot on you all at once, and you’re already going through a stressful time with the library.”
She traced a crack in the sidewalk with her shoe. “I’m the one who should apologize. The thing I said about Jared wasn’t okay. I didn’t mean it.”
“But it was true. None of this would be happening if Jared was alive. That’s a hard pill to swallow. Not just for me, but for you too. I get it.”
Relief rushed over her, uncoiling some of the knot in her stomach. Grant had managed to put into words a feeling she’d been wrestling with but couldn’t articulate.
He met her gaze. “I know you’re scared, and I don’t blame you. One minute I’m saying I’ll never live in Hidden Hollows, the next I’m buying my dad’s old shop.”
“The switch is unsettling. I can’t tell if this is really going to last. If…” She took a fortifying breath. “If your feelings for me are temporary or the real deal.”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Opening it, Grant removed a piece of paper and handed it to her. Sara unfolded it, immediately recognizing her own handwriting. It was a note she’d written to Grant and placed in one of the care packages. The message wasn’t anything special, but the edges of the paper were worn as if it’d been handled many times. “You kept this?”
“I kept them all.”
She lifted her gaze, and her heart stuttered at the look on Grant’s face. It was a mixture of love and vulnerability.
“I carry one of your notes with me everywhere.” He drew closer. “Every mission, every country. When things went south and I needed something to hold on to, I’d pull out the message and read it. And think about you. Hope and pray at that moment you were happy.”
Her chin trembled, and a fresh wave of tears stung her eyes.
“You got me through a lot of dark days, Sara. While my commitment to Hidden Hollows wavered, my love for you never did.”
She stepped forward, stumbling in her race to hug him. He caught her in his strong arms. Held her close while tears ran down her cheeks. “You keep making me cry, Grant Edwards.”
“I’m sorry.” He wiped the tears from her face. “I don’t want to make you cry. I just need you to understand where I’m coming from. This isn’t a fluke, Sara. I love you. I want a new life, and I want you and Ben to be a part of it.”
She believed him, but the fear still lingered. “My heart has been broken badly.”
“I know.” Grant kissed her forehead. “And what I’m asking for is a leap of faith. I get it. I also know that I’ve had a lot longer to sort through my feelings than you have. So take your time, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”
18
Grant
Grant lifted the suitcase and secured it in the trunk of his aunt’s car. The front door to the house opened, and Aunt Suzie bustled out with another bag. Grant hurried to intercept her. “I’ve got it.”
She smiled gratefully. “Thanks. I think your mother packed enough stuff for a year.”
The suitcase was heavy, but his mom would be staying in treatment for a while. Grant also had a feeling she’d included a lot of unnecessary items. The last few days had been good, but his mom’s hoarding wasn’t going away any time soon.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to give you a ride to the airport?” Grant strolled back to the car. “I don’t mind.”
“No, dear. We’ll be fine.”
He loaded
the second bag in the truck and then checked his watch. “You guys better get on the road if you’re going to make your flight. Where’s Mom?”
“I’m here.” April hurried down the walkway. Her hands were fluttering, and she bit her lip. “It took me some time to pull myself together.”
She was nervous. Grant hugged her. “I’m really proud of you, Mom. I know this is a hard step. Thank you for taking it.”
“I have a long road ahead of me.”
“We do. You aren’t in this by yourself.”
Suzie nodded. “Your son’s right, April. We’re both here to support you, and we’ll do whatever we can.”
“I know, and I love you both for it.” April backed out of Grant’s embrace but held on to his hands. “You’re going to the library party tonight, aren’t you?”
He nodded. Grant planned to keep a low profile since he was giving Sara time to sort out her feelings, but he still wanted to be there to support her.
“Please tell Sara I’m sorry to miss it,” she continued. “I hope everything works out for her.”
“I’ll be sure to let her know, Mom.” Grant jerked his head toward the car. “You’d better get going.”
“Wait, I have one more thing.” She dropped his hands and dug around inside the purse hooked over her shoulder. “Suzie and I found something in my drawer while we were packing, and I want you to have it.”
She pulled out a diamond engagement ring. It sparkled in the sun. “Your father gave me this when he proposed.”
“Aw, Mom. I can’t take this. Besides, we are far from any engagement. Sara’s not even sure she’s in love with me.”
Although the idea of marrying her made his heart skip a beat. If only he was that lucky.
April pressed it into his hand. “Take it anyway. I have a good feeling.”
He chuckled. “Not one of your good feeling stories again.”
She smacked his shoulder lightly. “Listen to your mother, young man.” Her expression grew serious. “Your father supported me through difficult times. Be patient with her, son. She’s had a rough go of it.”
“So be like Pop, that’s what you’re saying.”
She nodded then hugged him. “You’re more like your father than you know. We’ll talk soon.”
His mom hopped in the car, and Aunt Suzie drove away. Grant gave a last wave before they turned the corner at the end of the street. He glanced down at the diamond ring in his hand. It was a beautiful teardrop shape with smaller diamonds around the edge. His father had chosen wisely.
There wasn’t a chance on earth he’d need the ring any time soon, but Grant tucked it in his pocket anyway. As a symbol of his future.
A future he hoped to share with Sara.
Overhead, a brilliant full moon lit the night sky. The delicious smells of brisket and hamburgers scented the air. Sara raced from one area of the library party to the other, ensuring everything was taken care of. No detail could be overlooked.
All around her, the citizens of Hidden Hollows had set up chairs and spread out blankets. The band was going to perform soon. A sound check had already been done. Country music filtered across the grassy space from the speakers surrounding the area.
“You’ve done a wonderful job, Sara.” Peggy Haines, owner of The Smokey BBQ Joint,
wiped her hands on her apron. “We’ve got more than enough volunteers to man the food stations.”
“That’s fantastic. Thank you, Mrs. Haines. If you need anything, give me a shout.”
Sara weaved through the crowd. There were many familiar faces, but she hadn’t seen
Grant at all. Maybe he wasn’t coming. She couldn’t blame him for skipping the event since things between them were uncertain, although a part of her wanted him there all the same.
Sara stopped to say hi to Rachel and her family. Her brother-in-law, John, was working his way through a slice of pie. “This is amazing.”
“Millie from the bakery donated them. Along with cookies and other pastries.” Sara bent down to hug Ben. “How are you doing? Did you get enough to eat?”
Rachel snorted. “He had two plates.”
“You did?”
Ben grinned. “The food is really good. And I’m excited about the band.”
“Me too.” She checked her watch. “In fact, I should get up to the stage. The mayor wants to give a speech before they start playing.”
She worried her bottom lip as she crisscrossed through the crowd. Everything seemed to be going as planned, but Sara wouldn’t count it as a victory until the night was done.
It was standing room only near the front of the stage. Sara spared a few minutes to thank the band again for coming. They’d eaten their fill of dinner and were doing a final check of their equipment.
Mayor Stewart, dressed in jeans and a flowy top, clapped her hands together. “The whole town is buzzing over this event, Sara. I asked you to make a splash, and you did.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I had a lot of help.”
Mostly from Grant. If he hadn’t encouraged her and helped pick her up when she’d stumbled, none of this would’ve been possible. Sara scanned the crowd again but didn’t see him.
She missed him. It was a hollow ache settling in her chest. There had been complications today, small issues to sort through, and she’d managed. But it would’ve been so much better to do it with Grant. He’d crack a joke and make her laugh, or tease her about being worried, or simply brush his hand across hers in comfort.
“It’s time.” Mayor Stewart grabbed Sara’s hand and tugged her on stage. She waved to the DJ to shut off the music and then tapped on the microphone. “If I can have your attention for one minute, please.”
The crowd went silent. Sara’s cheeks heated. Being the center of attention wasn’t her strong suit, and she felt exposed standing on the stage next to the mayor. Sara clasped her hands in front of her.
“I want to thank you all for coming to tonight’s event.” Mayor Stewart smiled brightly. “I know you are excited about The Dixie Kings’ performance, but first, please give a big round of applause for Sara Wilson, the head librarian who made this all possible.”
Cheers and whistles went up from the crowd. Sara waved a hand as a thank you, and the heat in her cheeks increased.
The mayor gestured for the crowd to settle down. “As many of you know, the city council has taken library funding under advisement this month.”
Sara held her breath. Did the vote happen already? Was the mayor going to explain how the library was closing down? Her stomach clenched, and Sara knotted her hands together so tightly, her knuckles turned white.
Mayor Stewart tugged Sara forward. “I’m pleased to announce the city council has decided to continue funding the library. It’s cherished by our residents. So much so, that we received hundreds of letters in protest. As a result, the city council has agreed to fund the Hidden Hollows Library permanently.”
Sara’s mouth dropped open. Permanently? It would never close down. Her grandmother’s legacy was safe. Tears pricked Sara’s eyes as the crowd cheered and whistled again.
“Sara, would you like to say a few words?” the mayor asked.
She was dumbstruck, but she stepped to the microphone anyway. It was like a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her gaze swept across the crowd, pausing on her sister and Ben. The whole family was jumping for joy. Sara could relate. This was, quite possibly, one of the happiest moments of her life. But something was missing.
She wanted Grant.
It slammed into her like a hurricane. She wanted Grant there, alongside her, sharing this moment. She was in love with him. Utterly, impossibly, in love with him.
Yes, it was terrifying. But not having him here with her…that was so much worse.
“Sara?” Mayor Stewart whispered. “Everyone is waiting.”
She blinked and realized the entire crowd was staring at her. Sara cleared her throat. “Th-th-thank you.” She closed her eyes, willed herself to
stop stuttering, and took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mayor Stewart, and the city council. I also want to thank the volunteers who helped make tonight possible.”
She paused as her gaze snagged on a familiar figure standing at the edge of the crowd. Her heart skipped a beat. Grant. He was here.
Sara raised a hand and gripped the microphone. “If you’ll allow me, I have something else I need to say besides just a thank you. Tonight wouldn’t have been possible without one very special person. Grant Edwards.”
Grant pushed off the tree he was leaning against. Surprise flickered across his features.
“When Grant found out the library was in danger, he rolled up his sleeves to help me save it. No job was impossible. He wrangled five-year-olds in the after-school program and arranged for The Dixie Kings to be here tonight.” She sucked in a breath, knowing in her heart everything she needed to say. “He supported me every step of the way, and somehow, without even knowing it, I fell in love with him.”
The crowd was dead quiet. No one moved, but Sara couldn’t see anyone except Grant.
“I love you, Grant. I’ve been in love with you for a while, but I didn’t want to admit it. I was scared. Love is risky, and it can hurt sometimes. But this moment has made me realize that it’s worse to turn your back on it. I’d rather have the love for as long as I can, then never have it at all. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out. I’ve been a fool.”
Grant started moving toward her. The crowd parted, making a path as he broke into a jog and raced up to the stage. Sara’s heart pounded as he stopped in front of her.
His gaze locked on hers. “Say it again.”
“I’m sorry. I’m a fool—”
“Not that, Sara. Say you love me again.”
His expression was a mixture of hope and disbelief. Sara’s chin trembled. “I love you, Grant.”
He inhaled sharply. “Like a forever, get married, live-our-whole-lives-together love?”
She bit her cheek to keep herself from crying and nodded. “Yes.”
Grant reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring before getting down on one knee. The entire crowd gasped. Behind Sara, the mayor clapped and said a loud, “Shush.”