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She spread her cat quilt on top of her comforter in case Henry ever knocked on her door or peeked in.Not that he would, of course.Unless it was something extremely important.She grabbed her slick yellow raincoat with extra big pockets and a hood to put on over her clothes, then closed and locked the door behind her.
Carefully, Stephanie tiptoed around the man but accidentally bumped his old pair of sneakers.He stirred and opened his eyes.
They stood frozen; gazes locked.He looked terrified and tried to pack up his few things, mumbling something she couldn't grasp.
She put a hand on his shoulder."It's okay for you to stay a little longer.You don't need to leave."Her mother had always taught her daughters that the homeless where not bad people: they had just lost their way.
He blinked and attempted to get up, but she moved faster than him.Taking the back stairs, she dashed through the lane to the bakery on the corner.
She had never treated Henry to lunch before and was happy to do it today.Three freshly made almond raspberry tarts fresh from the oven, two cheddar cheese and ham paninis, and two peppermint mocha coffees to go.She balanced the loaded carton to the shop.Henry must have been on the lookout for her as he opened the door.David had luckily left.Maybe the crazy act would keep him away.Worth a try anyway.
Stephanie folded a napkin and placed the third tart in the center, stashing it in her handbag to give to the man upstairs—if he was still there when she got home.The afternoon picked up some, but in a moment of quiet she ran upstairs to give her treat to the uninvited guest.No luck, he was gone.It made her heart hurt, knowing that one act of kindness could change his day.
For the next few hours, she assisted the customers with a smile, yet her mind was locked on the past.Before the shooting her mother would take both daughters to a homeless shelter once a month where they'd feed the sad, empty-eyed line of people with extra provisions from the farm.Chicken pot pies, a hearty stew, chili with fresh bread, and homemade soups were so appreciated.She remembered their faces as they'd hold up a paper plate, and how grateful they were for the warm food..
The school tragedy had changed all that, touching every part of their lives.Consumed with grief, helping Jessica every step of the way, the Collins family had nothing left to give.
When it was closing time Stephanie knew she didn't want to return upstairs and her memories.What would a heroine in her book do?Why, treat themselves to something special to cheer themselves up.A nice dinner where she’d only think happy thoughts.
After saying goodnight to Henry, she'd stopped at the door and looked back.He was staring out the window to the busy street, lost in thoughts of his own.Probably when his wife was still alive, and possibly Nicole, his little girl he’d once loved so much.Did he have any regrets?
"Henry?"she called softly."Why don't you be my date tonight?I'm buying dinner, someplace fancy too, and it's not so much fun eating alone."
He shook his head."That's a nice offer but I'm not in a going-out mood.You enjoy yourself and act friendly.Maybe you'll catch the eye of a handsome stranger."
She laughed."Now who's the romantic here?"
"That ship has sailed, but not for you.Go get it—you deserve it."
"Perhaps, but romance for me is on hold.I have adventures that I need to do by myself."
He patted Charlie at his side andtsked."Don't let time slip by and regret the opportunities missed."
She swallowed a lump."I won't, I promise."
As much as she looked forward to her future adventures, she had not been living them here in Harmony.Time to change all that.Tonight, she'd branch out and find a place she'd never been to before.With all the decent restaurants within a ten-minute radius from the bookstore, she'd never ventured farther.
As she wandered down the street, she stopped to check out the menus in the windows.A few had sidewalk boards with tempting specials, but she was in the mood for Italian and kept on walking.There was a little out-of-the-way place called La Bella Cucina that she'd heard good things about, and according to her map app it was only two more blocks down the road.
Dining alone didn't bother her anymore—she was quite used to it.They'd seat her at a table for two and she always had her tablet for company.
Walking briskly, she arrived at the restaurant at six-thirty.The old red brick building was situated on a large piece of property with massive oak trees and weeping willows, bare now.The structure was beautiful, with peaked towers, modern rounded windows on the lower floor, and the original small rectangular windows above.David had raved about the place and invited her several times.
No reason why she couldn't discover the place by herself.
"Good evening," the forty-something maître' d greeted her with a smile."Will someone be joining you this evening, or would you like a table for one?"
"For one, someplace quiet," she told him.
"Well, we do have a piano bar so I can't guarantee quiet, but you will be pleasantly entertained as you dine."
"Perfect."She followed a waiter named Conner, dressed like a handsome young penguin in his black pants and white shirt.He stopped at a small table for two in the corner.
She could see it was busy for a Tuesday night, as the lively music lured people in.Single women and a few stray men sat at a counter near the piano, requesting music and filling up the money jar.
Once seated, Conner handed her a white napkin and placed a menu on the table."Can I get you anything while you look at the menu?Water, a glass of wine, perhaps?"
"Yes, please.I'll have a merlot."
