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Lightning flashed across the sky, and Steven jumped. “All right, Mom. We get the point.”
Dad and Lanie laughed as they pushed him across the graveyard and toward the van. The raindrops increased the closer they got, then a full-out downpour started the moment Dad pushed Steven into the van.
“We’ll stay here a moment until it lets up,” Dad said. “No sense driving when you can’t see five feet in front of your face.”
It wasn’t how Steven had planned to spend the anniversary of Mom’s death, but somehow, it seemed fitting to be huddled in a van in the middle of a thunderstorm with the only family he had left.
Chapter Twenty
Rose stood outside Bea’s Diner, trying to find the courage to open the door and walk inside. Looking in through the window, Rose guessed most of the town was in there. The diner was filled to the brim with bodies. And while they were all there because they cared for her and Steven and wanted to give them the wedding of their dreams, she couldn’t quite bring herself to take that next step.
What if we don’t raise any money because the town thinks we’re spoiled kids who should have planned better for a financial crisis? The medical bills were one thing, but it felt wrong to accept money for the wedding. If the fundraiser didn’t work, she had no idea how they would pay their vendors. Visions of appearing in small claims court and having her wages garnished danced before her eyes as she struggled to muster up the courage to enter the diner.
The door swung open, and Lanie stepped out. “Are you coming in?”
“Working on it,” Rose said, trying and failing to smile.
“Hey.” Lanie put a hand on her arm. “Everyone in there has come because they want to help in whatever way they can.”
“I don’t want them to think we’re irresponsible.”
Lanie shook her head. “Nobody thinks that.” She pointed at the diner. “Everyone in there has faced a hardship at some point in their lives. They’ve been where you are now, and they survived because people helped them when they needed it.” She slid her arm around Rose’s shoulders. “In this community, we take care of our own. And that includes you.”
Without another word, she led Rose to the door and opened it. As Rose entered the diner, the swath of smiling faces made the situation more bearable. Though she searched each face, she could find no trace of judgment or ridicule, only love and acceptance. She supposed Lanie was right. They’d all been in similar shoes at some point, and they’d survived life’s ups and downs by rallying together.
“Rose,” Toccara said. “It’s good to see you.” She kissed Rose’s cheek and waved to the crowded room. “Quite a turnout, huh?”
Rose nodded. “Much bigger than I was expecting.”
“Just shows how new you are to this town,” Trudy replied, coming up behind her. “Where’s your dashing fiancé?”
It took her a moment, but Rose located Steven near the breakfast bar. He was with his father, Michael, and Bea. They were laughing at something Bea said. Rose couldn’t help comparing the carefree look on his face to the last time she’d seen him in the restaurant. His palpable joy brought a tightness to her chest.
“He’s over there. If you’ll excuse me.”
When he saw her, his face lit up, and he grabbed her hands. It was as if their argument in the restaurant had never happened. He turned her around to face Max and Michael, and each gave her a nod.
“So, are we passing a hat, or how is this a fundraiser and not a party?” Michael asked.
Max rolled his eyes. “If you knew my daughter, you would know better. Nothing is ever that simple.”
“It’s multifaceted,” Steven clarified. “Bea is donating some of the proceeds from sales, a couple of local organizations put together baskets that are up for auction, and there’s a donation box for people who want to contribute something without making any purchases.”
As if her ears were burning, Lanie stepped up to the counter and tapped a glass until the room quieted. She winked at Rose before hopping up onto a chair.
“First, I’d like to thank you all for coming. The best thing about Cedar Haven is the tight-knit community. When someone needs help, we don’t hesitate to do what we can to lift them up, and that is never more evident than during one of our infamous fundraisers!”
A cheer went up through the room, and Lanie grinned. Nate came out of the kitchen, carrying several orders of fries. He broke into a smile at the sight of her before he turned to deliver the food.
“As you know, my family has had more than our fair share of tragedy this last year. After we lost Mom, I thought we might get a reprieve, but Steven gave us all a scare last month.” Lanie’s smile faltered, and Rose’s eyes stung with unshed tears. Her future sister-in-law pressed on. “Thankfully, he’s still with us, but unfortunately, it’s caused a setback to the wedding with the medical bills piling up. But I refuse to let tragedy stop him from marrying the woman of his dreams.” Pointing at the back of the room, she continued, “We’ve got several baskets up for auction, door prizes, and we’ll be having a karaoke contest later. There’s a minimal entry fee, but it’s going to a good cause.”
Turning toward the kitchen, she gestured Bea forward. “And our beloved Bea has offered to donate seventy percent of the proceeds from food and beverage sales.”
The room exploded in applause, and Steven’s hand tightened around Rose’s. It felt a little surreal, seeing so many people there to support her and Steven.
“Without further ado, let’s get this party started!” Lanie jumped off the chair to several hoots before disappearing to the back of the restaurant.
Steven signaled to Bea. “Can we get a couple of sodas?” He glanced at Rose, who nodded. “And maybe some food as well?”
