AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was glad to have her mind back on something that required no emotion. That was one of the main reasons she liked owning the diner. The work was consistent, she could be a part of the community without getting too close to anyone, and her mind was focused on the job so there wasn’t time for emotions to muck things up.
“It really is so nice to meet you. Hopefully I’ll see more of you at the Community Center.” Rachel smiled up at her. “And thank you again for signing up for the fundraiser. I appreciate all the involvement from everyone.”
Although the invite to the Community Center was genuine and subtle, it still rattled Meg. Her life was just as she wanted it. Safe. Simple. Uncomplicated. Unconnected.
That was how she intended it to stay.
Chapter Seven
The main areaof the Community Center was buzzing with activity. It was a large multi-purpose room located in the center of the facility and used for everything from basketball to volleyball to dances. At one end was a large stage for plays and musicals that were put on from time to time by the drama club.
Meg had only been inside once, when the diner catered a high school event.
Chairs had been set up in rows facing the stage where a lone microphone stood dead center. Hannah and two other people stood behind it chatting and looking at a clipboard in Hannah’s hands.
Meg scanned the crowd for Baylee. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Chet talking with a few other people near the corner of the room. She zoned in on Baylee’s blonde curls and headed that direction. Going around the room to avoid Chet and his friends, she made her way to the row where Baylee sat with Casey.
“Hey.” Baylee turned and hugged Meg as she sat down. “We saved you a seat.”
“Thanks.” Meg looked in the opposite direction of where Chet stood. “It looks like a great turnout. I feel like there are more and more people each year.”
“I know,” Baylee said. “I just love this town. When I left Texas, I wasn’t sure I’d find a place where both Casey and I would be comfortable, but Silver Bay fits us like a glove.”
Meg smiled at her friend and sat back in her chair. Meg knew that Baylee had loved Texas and living near her family. Her first husband, however, couldn’t accept having a special needs child. When they divorced, Casey’s father gladly gave Baylee full custody—good riddance—and Baylee moved to Silver Bay to start over. When her dad passed away not long after, her mother, Jenny, moved here as well. Then Drew entered their lives and it was happily ever after. Although Meg didn’t believe in happy endings for herself, she was grateful her friend had found true love.
Baylee’s strength and resilience were inspiring. She’d endured so much and simply kept going. And with a positive attitude and a smile to boot. Meg had a lot to learn from her friend but feared her cynicism and dark side ran too deep for redemption.
“Casey and I wanted to know if you want to come over after this and join us for dinner.”
“Sure. Sounds great.” Meg leaned forward so she could speak to Casey. “Sorry there’s no more baseball to watch, Case.”
He looked straight at her. “Yes, there is. There are still more playoffs and then the World Series.” After that declaration, he looked back down at the book of baseball statistics in his lap. Drew had given him a similar book when he and Baylee were dating, and the kid soaked in the numbers and information like a sponge. He couldn’t get enough of it.
Meg nodded. “That’s true.” Her eyes shifted to Baylee who sighed.
“It is true, but sadly the Empires lost in the playoffs.”
“That means Drew is headed home though, right?” Meg said, trying to cheer up her friend.
Baylee nodded. “It is bittersweet. I want him home so badly, but not this way.”
“How’s he holding up?”
“We talked last night. He’ll be home the day after tomorrow. He needs to wrap some things up in New York. He sounds okay. Understandably pretty down though.”
Meg knew it wasn’t Drew’s last season, but it was close. The following year would most likely be when he retired. In the few conversations Meg had had with Drew, he admitted that before Baylee and Casey came along, he would have played baseball until his body literally quit on him. But now they had a life together, and the injury he’d come back from the year before was wearing him down faster than he’d anticipated. It was bittersweet all around, but Meg knew Drew and Baylee would make the best decision for them. They were meant to be together, with baseball or without.
“I can only imagine.” It was a lot of work to not have the press and people constantly in your face. Besides Baylee, of course, it was one of the reasons he loved Silver Bay. The locals knew him and treated him as one of their own. Which included being fiercely protective of his privacy so anyone looking for a chance to meet Drew was kindly and firmly turned away. It was like he and Baylee and Casey had their own town of bodyguards.
“Hello everyone.” Hannah’s voice boomed through the speakers. She took a step back from the microphone. “Sorry about that. I guess I have your attention now, though, don’t I?”
Laughter filled the room as everyone settled into their seats and turned toward Hannah.
“Thank you so much for coming. I know that I speak for all of us organizing the Harvest Festival when I say how grateful we are for all the effort and support you all give.” She looked behind her at Rachel and two other people who smiled and nodded in agreement.
“And we appreciate you taking the time this afternoon to meet here so we can go over details of the event. There’s lots to do and much fun to be had so let’s get started.”
Hannah raised a cheerleader fist in the air, and Meg chuckled. The woman could rally troops into battle, making sure there was a smile on every single face while doing so.
