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“What’s that?” Meg said.
“That sounds interesting.” Baylee sat up straighter and leaned onto the table. She wrapped her hands around her cup of tea in front of her.
“It’s something Rachel Anderson wanted to do this year. She works at the Community Center, as well as volunteers as chaplain with the police and fire department. She thought it might be a fun way to raise money and awareness for those who struggle with mental illness. In her work, she helps a lot of people with PTSD and wants to add to the programs at the Community Center—expand ways for people to come and have somewhere to meet and talk. Not walk through their struggles alone.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Baylee took a sip of her tea. “Although I’m guessing the miles part of the title has to do with running and that is certainly not my strong suit.”
“I’ll run.” Meg offered.
“I had a feeling you would.” Hannah beamed. “It’s no secret around here that you run every single day. I don’t know how you do it. I’m more of a walker myself. Although now with two little ones, running is more a part of my day—running after them anyway.” She smiled down at Hope and kissed the top of her head. “Now that I think about it, Fireman Chet runs all the time, too.”
Hannah’s comment was as innocent as they come, but it still caused Meg to choke on her sip of coffee. She grabbed a napkin and sat forward in her chair, embarrassed and yet grateful coffee didn’t come out her nose.
“Are you okay?” Hannah handed her another napkin. “Keep coughing. Coughing is good.”
Her motherly tone told Meg that comment was something Hannah had said often to her young daughter. Baylee patted her back gently as if Meg were a toddler. This was what she got for having friends who were moms.
“I’m…fine,” she choked out between coughs. She leaned back in her chair, mainly to get Baylee to move her hand. “Sign me up to run.”
“Great!” Hannah tapped again on her tablet, a big smile on her face. “I will let Rachel know. She’s organizing the event. It starts two weeks before the festival, so not far off. You get people to sponsor you per mile and then you track your miles during those two weeks. At the festival, Rachel will announce how much money was raised and there’s a prize for the person who raises the most money.”
“What a wonderful idea. I’m so glad you’re joining in, Meg.” Baylee smiled at her.
Meg coughed one more time and smiled back. With her composure regained, she trusted her voice to talk. “The diner is doing a booth again as well.” She took a sip of coffee, grateful it was now tepid, and continued. “Do you want me to do similar items as last year or something new?”
“The same is great,” Hannah said. “You have the best burgers in town so those for sure and then maybe a pumpkin soup or something? I don’t know. You’re the diner owner so you decide.Festiveandfallare the main things we are looking for.”
“And Eva and I are working on some fun new cookie designs, as well as cake pops and cupcakes for the bakery booth,” Baylee added.
“Ooooh, I can’t wait to see those! And try them.” Hannah glowed with energy. This was certainly in her wheelhouse. Meg had known Hannah in high school, but Hannah was a few years ahead so they didn’t hang out or anything. Hannah was a bubbly cheerleader then, and for the most part, not much had changed.
Hannah chatted on with Baylee about their favorite kinds of cookies. Meg sat back and listened. Even though returning to Silver Bay had been tough for her, she was grateful to be there. And she did want to contribute to the community.
She had spent her childhood and teenage years in Silver Bay but followed Myles to San Jose immediately after high school graduation. It wasn’t that small-town life bothered her—she just wanted a change. It was hard on their dad to have them both gone, but he was supportive. When their dad died suddenly of a heart attack and left her the diner in his will, she came back. It broke her heart to even think of selling what her dad had spent his life building, so she stayed.
Being back in Silver Bay had taken some getting used to. Sure, people tended to know more about you than you actually shared, but as long as Meg stayed hidden in the background without any attention, she was fine. She found herself getting excited to be a part of the fundraiser. More time to herself each day to run, push herself for more miles, and all for a good cause? Sounded perfect.
*
Chet walked intothe firehouse, his bag of gear over his shoulder. Dottie trotted beside him and made her way straight to the sofain the main office. She plopped her backside on it, her front legs straight on the floor, as usual.
“Looks like she’s running the meeting today,” Rachel said as she entered the room.
At five foot two, she was a full foot shorter than Chet. Her dark hair was straight and sat just at her shoulders in a bob. He felt it an accurate description to call her cute, but he knew better. She was small, but she was mighty. With a black belt in karate, she fooled anyone who thought they could take advantage of her. Her heart was the size of a fire truck, too. As a volunteer chaplain with the fire department, she had either seen or heard of the same gruesome things the firefighters had, and yet her goal was to helpthemthrough it.
Chet set down his gear and smiled at her, then looked at Dottie. “I think she’s under the belief that she runs everything, meetings and all else.”
Rachel walked over and scratched behind Dottie’s ears. The dog’s head was almost eye level with Rachel. Chet was getting used to Dottie’s size, but when he saw her with other people, it amazed him again how big she was. Which made it all the more incredible that she was going to get bigger.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Chet said to Rachel.
Dottie flopped on her side on the sofa and Rachel began rubbing her belly. “It’s good to see you, too.” Rachel smiled at him. “How can I be of help?”
Chet knew that Rachel was always available to talk, but today he had something specific to ask her.
“Well, it’s not anything personal. It’s more of a favor.”
Rachel stopped rubbing Dottie’s belly and turned to him. “Of course. Name it.”
