“He wrote a check,” said a woman, new to the area and the running club, standing near the bookshelf. “And not a small one. His name’s going to be on everything.”
Steph sipped from her glass.
“He’s doing more than writing a check,” Rachel Newton added. “He’s running the course too. I think—”
Rachel’s words stopped abruptly when she noticed Steph nearby.
“Oh, hey,” Rachel said. “We were just, um...you’ve met Jack Swisher, right?”
“We’ve met,” Steph agreed with a nod and another sip of seltzer.
“That’s right.” Rachel’s smile went wide. “I forgot he saved you from getting run over by that car.”
Rachel had a business just off Grand Avenue and had been out that morning, clearing the sidewalk in front of her hair salon. Steph and Jocelyn had even chatted with her as they ran past. The near accident became the main topic of conversation at running club that Wednesday night, a meeting Rachel had said she probably would skip since she didn’t like running in the snow.
Funny enough, it turned into one of their best turnouts since summer. Apparently, the running club organizer nearly being run over by a car and then saved by her sworn enemy was enough to draw a crowd.
“Did they ever find the driver?” Rachel asked.
Steph shrugged. “Not that I know of. Nobody’s said anything.”
“You didn’t tell the sheriff? He would’ve made sure—”
“I never saw a license plate or anything.”
“Hmm. Still . . . ”
“How’s business? Do you have a lot of bookings for people getting ready for Christmas parties?”
Rachel smiled. “Tons. Especially for Jocelyn’s play and the musical.” Rachel’s brow furrowed. “Where is she? I thought she’d be here by now.”
So did I, Steph thought.
“You know Jocelyn. Some days her timing isn’t exactly perfect.” It was the gentlest way she could think of to remind Rachel that her friend had a habit of running late.
As if summoned, the front door opened and Jocelyn called out, “Hello! I’m so sorry I’m late.”
She swept in with that familiar burst of energy. Auburn hair caught the light as she moved through the room, green eyes already scanning for familiar faces. Air kisses and quick greetings followed her from person to person as she made her rounds.
While Jocelyn went around the room, Steph replayed the conversation she’d walked up on in her mind. The Christmas charity run had been her project—not officially, not with her name on anything, but in every way that actually counted. Raising money for Windy Basin Youth mattered to her.
Steph had spent years working behind the scenes at both the December Jingle Run and the Spring Basin Bolt. She lined up sponsors, designed and marked the courses, organized the volunteers, and did whatever else needed doing.
She was on-site at the events, making sure everything went smoothly and Windy Basin Youth received as much funding as possible toward their mission, never once having run the course herself. She was much too busy for that.
Jack Swisher’s new running club and business might bring in money, but he wouldn’t be the one doing the behind-the-scenes work, especially if he planned to participate in the event himself.
“Now that Jocelyn is here, the party can start,” Joe said with a laugh. “Help yourself to appetizers and drinks. We’ll move on to the entrées in about half an hour.”
Jocelyn appeared beside Steph. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, yourself. Busy morning?”
She sighed. “Yes, but no. I just had a few things I wanted to do at the theater before I came and, well, you know how it is.” Jocelyn smiled.
“You lost track of time.”
Jocelyn snickered. “You know me too well. I should set multiple alarms on my watch like you do. Then maybe I’d stop being late for things.”
