Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

On Monday morning, Nora drove to The Mellow Mug for a client meeting. She left a little early, hoping to have some time to go over her decorating plans and enjoy a cup of coffee before the meeting. She was still skeptical about Bethany’s plans for the chandelier, and unsure that it would work, but she had decided to go ahead as if it would. It was getting to be too close to the party’s date to order anything else, so her best hope, it seemed, was that the makeshift chandelier would come together.

“Nora!” Melanie called out the minute Nora walked into the warm interior of the coffee shop, hurrying excitedly around the counter. “I have something for you. I saw the ad Sabrina ran in the paper about the trinkets.” She reached into the pocket of her apron, fumbling for a second before producing a small package wrapped in tissue paper. “Will this work for the chandelier?”

Nora bit her lip as she took it, trying to manage her expectations. She didn’t want to let her best friend down by showing her disappointment if she didn’t like it. But to her surprise, as she unwrapped it, she realized it was beautiful.

It was a small, snowflake-shaped glass piece. As she held it up, the wintry light coming through the window reflected off of it, sending prism-like flashes of color glinting off of the glass. Nora could immediately see how the light would reflect off of it beautifully in her living room.

“Thank you!” Nora exclaimed, giving her friend a quick hug before carefully re-wrapping the snowflake and tucking it into her purse. “This will be perfect.”

“Oh, good.” Melanie smiled broadly. “I’m so happy it could help!”

She went to get Nora’s coffee order, a cinnamon caramel macchiato, and Nora went to sit down at a small table to organize her things for the meeting. She felt a little more hopeful now, after seeing the snowflake, that maybe other pieces that would be just as lovely would be donated. Maybe Bethany had been onto something with the idea, after all.

It lifted her mood considerably as her client arrived and they went over plans for a graduation party that she wanted Nora to plan. As they were wrapping up, Nora tucking away fabric samples and a photo collage for inspiration into her tote, the woman suddenly reached into her purse, handing Nora a small wrapped package not unlike the one Melanie had handed her earlier.

“Oh—thank you!” Nora exclaimed, surprised. She hadn’t expected it at all, but she realized as she took it that more people than she’d expected must have seen the ad asking for donations.

People were always willing to help in Evergreen Hollow. It had been that way as long as she’d lived there before, and ever since she’d come back. She really shouldn’t have been surprised, she thought, as she unwrapped it and looked at the pretty, faceted glass teardrop.

The two donations were enough to motivate her to really get started on the chandelier. The first two pieces she’d gotten were perfect, beautiful enough to make her think that this really was a possibility. So as she parted ways with her client and packed up her things, she decided to head over to Sugar Maple and start picking up some of the things that Aiden would need to DIY the base for the homemade chandelier.

“Morning, Nora,” Leon called out as she walked in. “You’re looking awful cheerful today.”

“I think Bethany’s idea might work out.” Nora walked to a nearby shelf, looking for some of the items Aiden might need. She knew at least some of what it would take, and if he needed anything else, he might already have it or could come pick it out himself. “I’ve already received two pieces that are beautiful. And it made me think that I might get more that will really make this more perfect than I thought it would be.”

“Well, that’s great.” Leon grinned as she brought her purchases up to the counter, setting them down and taking out the two glass pieces to show him. “Those really are beautiful. You get more like that, you’ll have a real fine chandelier.”

His enthusiasm only made her more excited and hopeful, as she handed over her card and he bagged her items to take home to Aiden.

She thought that this really could work, after all.

Rhett poured himself a cup of coffee the minute he got to the firehouse, tired and hoping that whoever had brewed it had made it extra strong today. He poured a bit of cream into it, and as he was settling in to a chair to drink it before he clocked in, he saw Pete walk in through the front door.

Pete made a beeline to him immediately, grinning as he got himself a cup of coffee too. “So, how’d the date go, man?” he asked enthusiastically, clearly ready to be debriefed on it. “I suggested the restaurant, so you’ve got to tell me.”

“That place was perfect.” Rhett could feel the smile already spreading over his face, remembering it. “Super romantic, and the food and drinks were great. And she loved it.”

“The two of you hit it off, then?” Pete raised an eyebrow, and Rhett nodded.

“She’s wonderful, man,” he said, taking a long drink of his coffee and setting the mug down. “The way she manages that inn for her folks—she’s strong and capable, but there’s this really sweet and caring side to her too. I feel like a lot of people don’t see it, but I do. It’s easy to see, if you look for it.”

“You’ve got it bad ,” Pete said, laughing. “I thought you said you weren’t looking for a relationship. Something change, there?”

“No, you’re right. I wasn’t,” Rhett admitted. “I didn’t have any plans to go looking for love, honestly. But then I met Caroline, and, well…” He paused, letting out a long breath. “I’m still not entirely sure it’s the right time. Really, it’s not the right time. But I don’t want to let this pass me by, you know? I’ve never known someone like her. And I feel like if you meet someone special like that, you don’t just walk away. Even if the timing isn’t quite right, or you weren’t expecting it, or you didn’t think you were ready for it. You can’t just let it get away because you’re unsure.”

“No, I get it.” Pete nodded, still smiling. “I’m happy for you. What about Jay? How’s he going to handle you dating? That’s got to be a little bit difficult, right?”

Rhett felt a small knot of worry in his gut at the thought. “I’ve been concerned about it,” he said, rubbing a hand over his mouth. “I know Jay likes Caroline already, so that’s not an issue. It’s more that I’m worried getting into a relationship will take my focus away from him . It’s already a lot, trying to raise him on my own while working and supporting us. That’s a big part of the reason I didn’t want to look for a relationship in the first place. I don’t ever want Jay to feel like he takes second place to someone I’m seeing, you know? Or be with a woman who doesn’t want to spend time with him.

Pete cocked his head to one side, considering. “Well, that’s all valid stuff to worry about,” he said finally. “But I think you’re getting in your head a little. Just take it a day at a time. It’s going all right for now, so just see how it goes, yeah?”

Rhett felt himself relax a little, and he nodded, smiling. “That’s good advice,” he said, finishing his coffee. “We should probably get to work.”

Pete rinsed out his cup, and the two of them headed out to the main part of the station. As Rhett started his day, he focused on that advice, telling himself not to worry too much.

Things with Caroline were good, so far. He’d take things as they came, and see what the future held.

He was hopeful that it would be something good for them both.