Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long. When the door swung open without a knock, I beamed and trotted over to the entry, ready to greet Kit with a kiss and congratulations.
He would be so proud to see this. So pleased. I knew it.
He stopped on the other side of the threshold to knock the snow off his boots, and there he stayed, gawking at the flock of people who had all turned to his arrival.
I threw my arms around him, catching a touch of chill as a gust whipped past and made his cloak billow around his legs. I expected him to shoo me inside, but he remained fixed in place and so quiet I finally leaned back to get a glimpse of his face.
The usual soot lined the creases in his forehead as he frowned, and his eyes panned across those gathered.
“Gods, Pen,” he murmured. “You’ve managed to pack half the town in there.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the living area. Since we’d brought in the chairs from the kitchen, the room was lined wall to wall with furniture, and the open space was littered with those of us on our feet.
“It’s cozy,” I insisted. “And only two families. We’ll have more next time.”
Kit’s throat bobbed through a swallow. “Next time?” he asked, his voice a croak.
“Of course.” I tugged on his arms, trying to lure him in from the cold. “It should be a regular thing. Meeting, discussing, advancing the plan…”
“The plan,” Kit echoed flatly. “Right.”
Everyone was watching and keeping so quiet I worried they could hear our conversation.
This wasnotthe reaction I’d expected. Kit seemed stunned by it all, like it was a surprise party rather than a planned event. Gripping his biceps, I pushed up to kiss his cheek and stayed on my tiptoes while I whispered in his ear.
“You didn’t forget, did you? We talked about it this morning.”
He gave his head a slow shake, dusting dark curls across my nose. “I didn’t forget, I just thought we might have a bit of time…” He swallowed again, and I heard his jaw tick. “I’m later getting back than I expected is all.”
Planting one more kiss on his stubbled jaw, I pulled back and gave a little shiver to shake off the cold whipping through.
“Well, come in,” I urged. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
If not for seeing me shudder, I wasn’t sure he would have entered at all. He looked more apt to return to the smithy and stay there, and his discomfort didn’t lessen as Reimond and Rosie’s fathers both stood and came to greet him.
“Thank you for arranging this.” Reimond’s father grabbed Kit’s hand and pumped it in a forceful shake.
I untied Kit’s cloak and whisked it away to the hooks by the door while the older man carried on.
“We’ve needed someone with vision in this place for far too long. Glad to have you taking charge.”
Rosie’s father crowded in next and clapped his hand on Kit’s shoulder. “I had my doubts about you when you first came back, but Penny has nothing but good to say of you, and now I see why.”
Kit’s pale cheeks flooded with blush as he nodded wordlessly to the older men’s compliments. My smile had returned at their kind words. Since we’d first come to Ashpoint, Kit had been steadfastly cynical and skeptical of the people. It had been wonderful to watch that change over time, for him to gradually see the good I saw in our neighbors and now friends. And forthem to see the good in Kit, enough to come here tonight and tell him so, was a truly beautiful thing.
I was grinning wide when Kit sidestepped and pressed his hand in the small of my back.
“Pen, can I help you with anything in the kitchen?” he asked.
Judging by the urgency in his brown-black eyes and his gentle push forward, it was more of a demand than a question.
“Uh, sure.” My face flushed with a touch of embarrassment at being delayed a second time. I addressed our guests as Kit ushered me past them. “Be right back, everyone. Then we’ll get started.”
The kitchen was only a matter of feet removed from the living room, but even that meager distance seemed to alleviate some of the strain on Kit’s face as he went to the coffee pot to pour himself a cup. Finding none, he went next to the cabinet while I stood idly beside the dining table and twisted my stockinged foot against the floorboards.
After a hurried rifling of the cabinet, he turned to me. “Where are all the cups?”
I tipped my thumb toward the gathering that had, thankfully, resumed small talk behind us. “In use,” I said apologetically.
