Chapter Twenty-Six
Maureen
Mayor Hoffman texted like she said she would and invited me to the book club in town. It was being held at The Bookstore. I had met Ryder, the owner, and his wife Ellie at the clubhouse, so I felt a little less awkward going somewhere new.
I didn’t feel like I was going in blind.
Opening the door, the small jingle of a bell announced my arrival, and everyone turned to look at me.
I was wrong.
It was still awkward.
“Maureen! I’m so glad you came.” Allie rushed over, pulling me into a hug.
“Everyone, this is Maureen, she is new in town, and I want you all to make her feel welcome.”
As I looked around the bookstore, I was surprised to see so many faces I recognized. The area wasn’t huge, but there was a couch, with folding chairs spread out around it.
“Maureen?”
Turning around, I smiled at Beck.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t even think to invite you. I am so sorry.”
The young woman in front of me looked to be on the verge of tears, and I knew her pregnancy was taking its toll in other ways than just her diet.
“Oh, honey, it’s ok.” I leaned over and whispered, “It’s been a bit crazy at the clubhouse.”
She barked out a laugh. “I wish I could say that was an understatement.”
“You two have already met?” Allie asked with a grin.
“I stayed at the clubhouse for a bit until my house was ready to sleep in.”
“So it wasn’t because Declan introduced you to his daughter?”
Beck rolled her eyes. “Come on, let me introduce you to those you haven’t met yet.”
Aside from Allie, I recognized Abby Thomas, Evie Samson, Ellie, Sam, Rachel, and Lily. All women I had met at the clubhouse.
Beck introduced me to Trudy. She was in her seventies and reminded me of my mom. So friendly and ready to share everything that was happening in town.
Then there was Joellen from The Diner, and Patti from The Bake Shoppe. There was Mrs. Henderson, who was in her eighties. And Mrs. Anderson, who was in her sixties. There were also a few other younger women who ran businesses around town.
And last but never least, as Beck put it, was Beatrice Allen. When I sat down beside Evie, she whispered in my ear, warning me to ignore everything Beatrice said.
According to Evie, Beatrice was the crankiest woman in Diamond Creek and never thought twice about letting anyone know about it.
The span of ages among the women here were surprising. Back home, the younger women didn’t mix with the older women. There was a distinct separation that never felt right.
How would the younger women learn if they never spent time with the older women? How did the women in the trenches survive without the support and encouragement of the women that came before them?
“Um, I didn’t finish reading the book,” I admitted hesitantly.
“Oh, don’t worry. We never read the books,” Evie said.
“Hey!”
“Oh, Ellie, we have all read your books,” Allie assured.
“Wait, you write books?”
“Ellie here is our very own romance writer. Her pen name is Rayne Perry,” Sam shared, tapping Ellie on her knee.
“Oh my gosh, I’ve read all your books.”
“Thank you.” The young woman lowered her eyes and a blush creeped over her cheeks.
“Maureen, I want to apologize.”
Apologize? Why would Allie need to apologize?
“I invited you here under false pretenses.”
“So you don’t have a book club?” I asked, looking around at the women. The first thing I noticed was none of them would look at me, except Beck, who had a big smile spread across her face.
“We do, but...” Allie paused, looking at each woman sitting in the large circle. “Tonight is more of a get to know the newest resident of Diamond Creek.” Allie winked at me.
Oh no.
“So,” Beck began. “You and my dad. What’s the story there?”
My eyes widened at her abrupt question. I wasn’t sure how much he had told her, and I didn’t want to share anything he wasn’t ready to divulge. Not that there was much to share, anyway.
Vague is best, Maureen.
“I mean, there really isn’t a story. We knew each other as kids. Then one day, he and your grandparents moved away. I haven’t seen him since until I moved here.”
“It’s a little coincidental that you would end up here, isn’t it? With a childhood friend you haven’t seen in nearly forty years,” Mrs. Andersen asked, smiling like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland .
“It’s not a coincidence at all, actually. My husband stayed in contact with Declan. I didn’t know that, but before he passed, he told me he wanted me to move here so I could have the life I always dreamed of.”
“Does that life include our sheriff?” Trudy asked, her eyebrows waggling up and down.
I laughed at the ridiculousness of Trudy’s expression. “Duane didn’t tell me Declan lived here. The only expectation I had of coming here was to fix up my house, get some chickens, and maybe a dog. And just live out the rest of my days,” I answered, shrugging my shoulders.
“But now that you do know he lives here? Has that expectation changed?” Sam asked.
“Honestly, Declan and I don’t know each other. I was ten years old when he moved away. A lifetime has passed since I saw him last and...” I looked over at Beck. Her, Sam, Rachel, and Ellie were all shaking their head. “I have the same expectation as when I got here.”
The girls didn’t need to worry. I had been in the life decades longer than them. I knew not to share anything beyond superficial information.
“So,” I started, rubbing my hands together. “Do I get to ask the questions too?”
Everyone laughed, and we spent the next two hours just talking and laughing. I shared some things with the girls about my pregnancy. Trudy talked about when her husband passed away, and it was wonderful having someone outside the family to talk to and share my feelings with.
When it was time to go, I had everyone’s numbers and had promised Trudy I would come by The Bake Shoppe for coffee and breakfast the next morning.
Diamond Creek was definitely growing on me. I was beginning to make friends here. Beginning to make a life here.
When I stepped out of my car at home, I paused to look up at the sky. I would never get tired of the view of the inky blackness with millions of twinkling stars.
“Thank you, Duane. I don’t know what your plan was. Whether it included Declan or not, but thank you for sending me here. You always had a way of giving me exactly what I wanted.”
I dedicated the next few days to working in the living room. The walls were painted a soft olive green. The trim was white, and the floors gleamed. I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the wooden floors throughout the house. The kitchen floor was torn up, but I guessed that was originally tile or linoleum.
Today was furniture delivery day. I had been sitting on the floor, scrolling through my phone, when there was a knock on the door.
Looking at the time, I noticed it was early for the furniture store. Maybe they had a cancellation.
“Coming!” I called out as I stood from the floor.
I hurried to open the door, but it wasn’t the furniture store.
“What are you doing here, Banshee?”
The handsome man rubbed the back of his neck and looked over at his pickup truck. Looking back at me, he hesitated.
“Is everything ok? King? Declan?”
Dropping his hand, he quickly doused my fears. “No, no, everyone’s fine. I didn’t mean to worry you. It’s just that...” He looked back at his truck again.
“Banshee, it’s cold with this door open.” I laughed.
“Sorry.”
He rushed down the porch steps, hurrying back to his truck.
“Banshee?”
I was about to close the door when I noticed he walked to the passenger side door. When he opened the door, a beautiful black dog immediately jumped down out of his truck.
“Oh my gosh,” I cried, my hands covering my mouth.
Banshee closed the door and walked back to my porch. The black dog followed closely. He didn’t have a leash in his hand, or one attached to the dog, but he didn’t run. He just followed him up the stairs.
I went down to my knees, and the dog watched me. The dog sat down, then looked up at Banshee expectantly.
“Go ahead,” he authorized, waving his hand in my direction.
The dog practically leaped at me, climbing into my lap and licking my face.
“He’s beautiful. What’s his name?” I asked, not looking at Banshee, but concentrating on the puppy in my arms. He may have been a big dog, a lab mix if I was correct, but all dogs were puppies.
“His name’s Tucker. He’s a lab/pit mix. He’s only a year old, so he might get a little bigger, but not much.”
I was only half listening, consumed by love the moment I set eyes on him.
I almost didn’t see Banshee walking back to his truck. Scrambling to my feet, I called out to him, “Banshee, where are you going?”
“Gotta get back.”
“But the dog?”
“He’s yours.”
“What? Wait, what do you mean?”
Banshee stopped his descent and turned around. “Heard the girls talking about you wanting a dog. Now you have one.” He turned away, continuing on to his truck.
“Banshee, wait!” I looked at the dog and said, “Stay!” He sat by the door, and I marveled at the fact he listened. When I turned to Banshee, he had stopped also, and I let out a giggle. I rushed over and threw my arms around the big man.
“Thank you. I’ve always wanted a dog.”
He simply shrugged like it was no big deal. My hands on his arms, I leaned up on my toes and kissed his cheek. Thanking him again.
Tucker barked, and we heard tires screech. We both turned toward the road and saw a vehicle with a familiar light bar pulling away.
“Shit.”
“You can say that again.” I sighed.
“I better get back.”
“Thank you, again,” I said, looking back at the dog that sat patiently waiting for me at my front door.
“It was nothing. Enjoy him.” He climbed into his truck and was gone. I was still standing in the driveway, looking at the place Declan had taken off from.
Shaking my head, I went back inside with my new puppy.
Sometime later, the furniture store came, and they delivered my furniture, putting everything where I asked them to, and I spent the rest of the day snuggled up on the couch in front of the fire, with my new best friend.