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So, I made sure everything was locked up, switched out all the key lights, leaving the small one in the kitchen lit, then headed to bed.
And hoped to hell Briggs didn’t invade my dreams and turn them into nightmares.
ChapterTen
Chris
Tonight wasthe first Spring Rains Festival organizers’ meeting that I’d attended, and as soon as Rachel had mentioned it in the family chat group—in her capacity as co-organizer of this year—I jumped on my brother’s wife for information. If I was going to leverage the event to raise money for the school team, then I needed to volunteer my time in exchange.
Turned out, as soon as I’d started asking Rachel questions, this wasn’t the first meeting—Maggie and Rachel had been working on logistics for the parade, the market, and the live music since last September, so I wasn’t in at the ground level, but I hoped to get something from attending tonight.
The meeting was packed—Neil was there for the Sheriff’s office, local businesses had representatives, and a huge part of me hoped Noah would be there, but there was no sign of him. Shame I had to focus on work and not on staring at pretty men who confused me, and made me happy, and worried me, and then made me smile.
“Okay, everyone, welcome our newest member to the organizational committee,” Maggie began and stared at me, as did the other ten or so people in the room, Rachel included. Everyone seemed curious to see me there, but I needed to bide my time before I launched into a full-on charm offensive. I gave a hint of a wave and smiled.
“Hi,” I offered.
There was a discordant mumbling of hellos, and then, we all turned back to the imposing figure that was Maggie Hamilton.
“Our other new volunteer appears to be late.” She pursed her lips.
All of us turned to the door as if we expected someone to walk in just because she’d mentioned them. From my perspective, Maggie was someone who’d always been a part of my life in Whisper Ridge. She was in her sixties now, but to me, she was this ageless person—a constant from when I was little. She had this warm, inviting face, surrounded by soft curls that had kept their blonde color, and whenever I saw her, her eyes were twinkling with a kind of mischievous knowledge, as if she knew all the secrets of Whisper Ridge and could see right through anyone. She was a force of nature, and if it was possible to will someone to arrive, it would be her.
I vividly recall, as a kid, being captivated by her stories about the founders of Whisper Ridge—the local legends and the tales of our community’s past—with her knack for storytelling and impressive memory. She remembered many details that most of us would forget—things like birthdays and anniversaries, and she even remembered my favorite snack from when I was little. Maggie, in her own unique way, had always been there, and I liked her, and I think she liked me. I hope that went some way to making the little speech I was going to give easier.
She was the type who was involved in just about everything in town. Whether it was organizing local events or volunteering at the library, she was always there, a constant and reassuring presence. There wasn’t much that happened in Whisper Ridge Maggie didn’t know about or have a hand in, including leading the organizing committee for the Spring Rains Festival.
Her number-two this year was a brand-new addition—my brother Scott’s wife, Rachel, and that had to count for something, right?
The door to the small community hall slammed open, a blast of icy wind heralding a new arrival, and we all turned around to see an apologetic Noah, Fox with him looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else. Noah juggled two boxes and shut the door with his ass.
His very fine ass.
“Sorry. Sorry,” he apologized, “the second oven timer broke, and I lost track of time and… I brought some lemon drizzle cake and coffees, which are just in to-go cups, but there’s creamer in this bag, and sugar.”
Maggie glanced over at the table with the coffee station, and Noah followed her gaze and turned red. “Oops,” he said, and dropped the boxes onto the table. “I'll just arrange this quickly and…”
He was scarlet as he set out the cups and containers holding cake and even some paper plates. Fox was right behind him, but he’d slunk to the back row and sat down. I couldn’t stand to see Noah all embarrassed up there, so I limped over and helped him serve up cake and coffee, passing it down the line. I was just thankful Abby from JJ’s wasn’t here with coffee and pastries because then we might’ve had a coffee war. That thought was funny, and I must have been grinning at Noah because he dipped his gaze, then peered up at me through his eyelashes.
“I messed up,” he said under his breath. “I’m late. I didn’t know there’d be catering.”
“It’s not good coffee,” I said in a whisper. “So your lemon drizzle will win even the hardest of hearts.” We grinned at each other over our shared joke.
Once everyone was settled again, murmuring over the cake, and eyeing Noah with new enthusiasm, it was a determined Maggie who called the meeting to order with her clipboard of notes.
“We’re only fourteen weeks away from the event, everyone. Firstly, Mr. Bennett, I take it from your attendance and lemon drizzle bribe that the diner will be part of the event?”
He opened and closed his mouth, as if to defend the bribe part, but in the end, he nodded. “If that’s okay.”
Maggie dropped her stern expression and winked. “I’m only teasing—it will be wonderful to have the diner as part of the event this year. Rachel?”
Rachel glanced up, “Yes?” Her pen was poised over a pad.
“Can you make a note to have a meeting at Lily’s Diner?”
“Sure.”
As I bit into the best lemon drizzle loaf I’d ever tasted, Maggie was reviewing the agenda. Noah had taken the vacant seat to my right, sipping coffee all worried, and I knocked my knee to his in reassurance.
