Page 86 of Holding Ground

After a monologue about the history of the Blueberry Bake-Off from the mayor, he hands it over to the judges.

Deacon steps forward and thanks all the kids for their entries, speaking about how much he loves seeing the little ones discover new talents. “And now it’s time to announce the winner. A big congratulations goes to…Jacob Tierney for his blueberry pie.”

Everyone in the room claps, and a woman I don’t know guides a little boy Baylor’s age up to the front.

“Yay, Daddy, Jacob won!” Baylor wheels around and tips her head back to look up at us.

She doesn’t seem bothered by the fact that she didn’t win, but I can’t say the same for Elliott, who narrows his eyes at the little boy.

“You know him?” I ask her.

She nods. “He’s in my class at school.” Then she turns back around to watch the rest of the festivities.

Elliott drops his head toward me. “That’s bullshit. I’ll bet you any money Mindy helped him with that pie,” Elliott mutters.

I elbow him and cover my mouth with my hand so I won’t burst out laughing.

We stay to watch the rest of the winners be announced and leave shortly after.

Once we’re outside, Elliott hunches down in front of Baylor. “I’m sorry you didn’t win, kiddo.”

She shrugs. “It’s okay. I still had fun.”

“That’s a great attitude to have,” I tell her.

She beams at me, then swings back to her father. “Can we go to the park, Daddy?”

“I need to do the grocery shopping, kiddo. Sorry.”

Baylor drops her chin and sticks out her lip, then quickly lifts her head toward me. “Can Emelia take me?”

My eyes go wide, and I cut a look toward Elliott. I certainly don’t mind, but I also know that he’s firm about trying to create some distance between Baylor and me, which I understand and support.

“You can’t put Emelia or me on the spot like that, Baylor.”

“I don’t mind,” I say in a low voice.

Elliott pushes his hands into his pockets, and his gaze moves between us. “Are you sure?”

I nod. “We’ll go for a little bit, and when you get home, I’ll take off,” I say, so he knows I won’t spend the remainder of the day with her.

“All right.”

“Yay!” Before Elliott can say another word, Baylor seizes my hand and pulls me away.

I glance back over my shoulder at Elliott. “Guess we’ll see you at home.”

Elliott’s deep-blue eyes warm as he watches the two of us go, and it seeps right down to my bones.

Though I enjoy the feeling, it’s quickly followed by a flash of fear, because I feel myself starting to belong, and that’s the scariest thing of all. I’ve never really felt like I fit anywhere, so why am I starting to feel that way now, when I know I have to leave?

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FIVE

Elliott

When I’m done grocery shopping, I decide to swing by the Hollow Pine Café to grab Baylor a strawberry and cream steamer. She seems okay with the fact that she didn’t win today, but I’m still irritated by it.