Page 36 of Coastal Reflections

“Did something happen?” Michelle asked, sitting down on Elaine’s other side.

Elaine clasped her hands and set them down on the kitchen table. She didn’t want to talk about the way Shep had refused her offer, but she also knew that sharing it with her daughter and granddaughter would help her to feel better that much sooner. They were sure to give her good advice and consolation.

“I was just at Townsend’s,” Elaine said slowly.

“What, and you came back without a free pastry?” Michelle teased. “Was Shep even there?”

Elaine smiled. “Oh, he was there. And maybe he would have offered me something, but I left pretty abruptly.”

“What happened?” Audrey asked, taking Elaine’s hand.

“I asked him—well, I didn’t come right out and say it was a date, but I asked him to go for a walk along Main Street with me tomorrow night.”

“You what?” Michelle squealed.

“Mom.” Audrey’s grin was huge. “You asked Shep out?”

Elaine laughed. “Oh, stop being so gleeful, you two. He said no. He told me he was busy tomorrow night, but I think we can all assume he was just making that up. I doubt Shep’s social calendar is a very full one.”

“Well, maybe he really is busy,” Audrey pointed out. “It’s unlikely, but possible.” She still looked absolutely thrilled.

“But then why didn’t he suggest another day?” Elaine countered. “That’s usually what people do, isn’t it, when they want to spend time with someone? If the suggested day doesn’t work for them, they volunteer another that will work.”

“Not everyone does that,” Michelle said, “and of all the people I know, Shep is the one least likely to be on top of that social nicety. Besides, I bet he was as flabbergasted by your offer as a fish out of water. Did he look really surprised?”

“Yeah, like this?” Audrey imitated a fish out of water, opening and closing her mouth in a goofy way.

“Oh stop.” Elaine shook her head, chuckling. “Yes, I’ll admit, he did look pretty surprised.”

“See?” Audrey said encouragingly. “Don’t be discouraged, Mom. This is a big step for Shep. He hasn’t dated anyone in years. He was probably shocked you asked and felt nervous. It doesn’t mean he won’t say yes if you ask him again sometime.”

“I agree.” Michelle nodded. “Give Shep some time to ponder your offer. You didn’t come right out and say it was a date, right, so he’s probably trying to wrap his head around the question of whether or not it is. My guess would be that he does want it to be a date, and he’s nervous about saying yes and nervous that isn’t what you actually meant.”

Elaine shook her head. “I guess I should have stated it outright. I wanted to say more to him, but I got so nervous. But I should have made it clear I’m interested in him romantically, so he doesn’t have to wonder. I have to admit, though, I’d be feeling even worse right now if I’d asked him out directly and he’d turned me down.”

Audrey gave her mother a sideways hug. “You were still very brave. You spoke up, and you took a chance, and you did great.”

“I second that,” Michelle said. “You don’t know what Shep is thinking. He might even have no clue there were any romantic implications in your invitation and just genuinely have something going on tomorrow night. Men can be pretty thick sometimes.”

“Michelle,” Audrey reprimanded, laughing.

Michelle chuckled. “Well, they can be. And Shep is a very straightforward kind of guy, and I doubt he’s quick to pick up on romantic nuance. Just give him some time to process what you said.”

“Yes, and then you can ask him again and see what he says,” Audrey said. “I think he does like you, Mom—maybe he just needs some time with all this.”

Elaine sighed and offered Audrey and Michelle a watery smile. “Okay. I feel much better already—thank you both. That’s good advice. I can only hope you’re right.”

“Come on,” Audrey said, standing up and pulling Elaine to her feet. “Come and help us make these mint chocolate chip cookies. Shep’s not the only person in town who knows how to make a mean cookie, and we’re going to feast on these after dinner tonight while we play a board game.”

Elaine laughed, grateful for Audrey and Michelle’s efforts to cheer her up. She felt significantly better already, and she didn’t know what she would have done without her daughter and granddaughter’s encouragement.

I just hope they’re right, she thought as she donned an apron of her own. The disappointment I feel at the thought of Shep not wanting to get to know me better in a romantic way is acute.

She did her best to push thoughts of Shep from her mind so that she could enjoy spending time with Audrey and Michelle. All night, however, the thought of him lingered in her brain, and she felt torn between disappointment over what he’d said and hope that he would say something different in the future.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Audrey stepped out of The Birchwood House, smiling as a chilly gust of autumn wind blew against her face.