“It’s no problem,” Audrey assured her. “I was planning on it.”
“No more school for two weeks, Mommy!”
“That’s what I hear.”
Lydia’s bubbly excitement was contagious and Holly shared a smile with Audrey.
“You don’t have to stay and watch her, though. Ginger is coming back to close up after she finishes a couple of deliveries. I was thinking I would try to take off early, with the storm coming and also the party at the Shelter Inn. Are you and your uncle coming to that?”
She tried to ask the question casually, as if it didn’t matter to her what Ryan did or did not do.
Ha. She hadn’t stopped thinking about the man since he had walked out of her house the other night, leaving her aching and needy and hopelessly in love.
The annual holiday potluck party had begun after an emergency a few years earlier, when an intense lake-effect blizzard shut down traffic throughout the area, trapping the senior citizens who lived at the Shelter Inn away from family celebrations.
Over the past few years, it had evolved into a community event that drew more than a hundred people. More than that, counting the residents of the retirement community.
“We’re probably not going to make it this year.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.”
Holly told herself she had no reason to be disappointed. After two sleepless nights, she had determined her best course of action was to move forward with her life and put this strange chapter behind her.
“Yeah. I’ll be sad to miss it.” Audrey gave her a sudden impish smile. “But I’m not sure my mom will feel up to a big party.”
She stared as the words sank in. “Your mom? Is she back?”
Audrey grinned. “Not yet, but she’s on her way. Uncle Ryan went to pick her up in Boise. They’re supposed to be here in about an hour. I was hoping I could go home early so I can try to make something for dinner. I’m sure she won’t feel like going anywhere, her first night back.”
Holly felt a strange mix of emotions. She was thrilled that Kim would be able to return to join her daughter for the holidays at the same time she felt a hollow ache deep inside, knowing that meant Ryan’s time here in Shelter Springs would be coming to an end.
“Let me take you dinner. I made two huge slow cookers ofpasta e fagiolisoup to share at the potluck. I can easily drop some off for you on my way to the Shelter Inn tonight.”
“That would be great!” Audrey exclaimed. “You know my mom loves yourpasta e fagiolisoup. She talks about it all the time. Are you sure, though? You made it for the party.”
“Positive. It is the least I can do. Seriously. Your uncle was a lifesaver at the wedding on Saturday.”
She didn’t want to think about what had happened at her house after the reception—or whathadn’thappened.
“Did you guys have fun? I asked Uncle Ryan but it seemed like he really didn’t want to talk about it. I wondered if maybe he’s not a very good dancer, especially with his bad knee.”
“He’s a wonderful dancer.”
And kisser.
And man.
Her throat felt tight and achy as she contemplated how empty her world would feel after he left Shelter Springs, but she forced a smile.
“I’ll drop off a container of soup on my way to the Shelter Inn. I even have breadsticks to go with it.”
“I love breadsticks,” Lydia said, pulling off her snow boots and plopping them onto the floor of the shop willy-nilly.
“I know you do, Bug. That’s why I made them for you. Now move your boots and your backpack to the break room so someone doesn’t trip over them, then grab a snack, okay?”
Her daughter obediently scooped everything up and trotted to the back.
“If you’re sure you don’t mind, soup and breadsticks sounds delicious. Thank you.”
