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“They’re excited, and it’s pretty darn cute,” she says, and her parents smile, giving a brief wave to my family, who tries to be discreet while failing miserably.
All I can do is laugh, and my hopes soar that maybe, just maybe, Nora and I will get through this with our friendship still intact. Even though every fiber in my being protests to the mere suggestion that that’s all we will ever be…friends.
“SJ, would you and Nora like to ride with us to dinner?” Marie asks. She’s standing in the doorway of my parents’ home.
I glance at Nora and then back at Marie. All of us agreed dining out tonight instead of cooking makes the most sense. Marie and Walt have been traveling, and we’ve all worked at the hardware store today. There’s a place just a few miles from my parents’ home with the best comfort food. It’s called Patty’s Place. It’s served family style so we can all sit together and catch up.
“SJ?” Nora’s voice this time. “Do you want us to ride with my parents?”
“Yeah, that’ll be fine.”
I’m used to driving myself. I enjoy being in control of the vehicle, especially when there’s an active threat against my client. We haven’t had any indications of David Miller being near since we’ve been in Sutter Creek, so I feel a little more at ease with saying yes.
“Great! Let’s get going, I’m starving!” Sam says, passing me and heading towards Marie.
Marie giggles at Sam’s enthusiasm. “Me too, kiddo.”
My parents and Sam will take Dad’s truck, and we’ll follow behind them with Marie and Walt to the restaurant.
“Everyone load up,” my Dad’s voice booms.
He’s a man of few words, but people listen when he speaks. I guess that’s where I get it from. Walt stays close to Dad’s truck for the short drive to Patty’s Place.
“I’m so glad you guys came to visit.” Nora’s happiness is infectious.
I was nervous about her parents coming, but seeing how happy it made her, I’m glad they’re here.
Marie turns in her seat so she can see Nora. “We are too, sweetheart. We’ve missed you so much.” Her eyes land on me next. “Sutter Creek is such a charming little town. Why’d you ever want to leave?”
I shift in my seat. I don’t know why this question always makes me a little uncomfortable. Growing up here was wonderful. I had an awesome childhood, and I love my parents. I just wanted…more.
“It is a great place to grow up. I wanted to see more, I guess. My job takes me all over the country and sometimes outside the country, depending on the client. But, if I’m being honest, being back here the last couple of weeks, I realize nowhere has ever felt like home quite like Sutter Creek.”
I didn’t even realize until that moment how much I’ve enjoyed being back in this small town with my family.
“Do you want to move back here?” Nora asks before Marie has time to respond. Her genuine curiosity is clear, but there’s a hint of something else. I’m unsure if it’s concern I hear or maybe something else.
“Well, if you’d asked me that a month ago, I would’ve said no. But now, I’m not sure,” I answer her honestly.
I don’t know why I’ve had this shift. Maybe it’s being here with Nora. Although things have been tense between us for a couple of days, I think being in Sutter Creek with her feels like home. That realization scares me a bit.
Marie’s eyes ping-pong between Nora and me. My face must give away my thoughts. I look away, trying to adjust my face to a neutral expression before looking back.
“What about you, Nora. How do you like Sutter Creek?” Walt asks, looking at us in the rearview mirror.
“It’s nice here, a big change from New York,” she answers simply.
“Well, could you see yourself living here, pumpkin?” he asks, glancing at her in the mirror again.
Nora’s eyes go sort of wide. “Why would I stay in Sutter Creek?”
Walt’s eyes study her in the mirror for a moment before glancing at me then back to the road. He doesn’t offer an explanation, just a barely audible “hmmm.”
Marie gives us a wink before turning to face forward in her seat.
The air in the vehicle is suddenly thick. I cut my eyes at Nora, but she’s looking straight ahead. I think I see a hint of pink on her cheeks. I turn to face the window to hide my grin from her. Maybe my feelings for her aren’t so far off from her feelings for me after all.
Nora releases a sigh of relief as we turn into the parking lot of Patty’s Place. It’s a short drive, but with the implications made during the conversations we had, it sure made it seem like a long one.
