Chapter 8 #2
The simple statement, so honestly spoken, had the power to bring sudden and unexpected tears to Zoe’s eyes.
When had someone ever said something like that to her?
With her lighthearted, snarky attitude, people were more likely to laugh along as they rolled their eyes than ever say they were glad she was in their lives.
She’d made sure of it, and yet right now…
she was glad Dan was different. That she was different with him, even if she wasn’t sure why, considering how she hardly knew him.
“Okay, I think dinner’s ready,” Maggie announced, and Zoe stepped away from Dan, both glad and regretful that their little tête-à-tête was over. “Ben, you sit here,” Maggie instructed as she gestured to various seats. “Zach next to Sophie, Zoe and Dan, you can sit here at the end.”
It was, Zoe decided as she took her seat, a fairly unsubtle way of putting her and Dan together.
Ben and Sophie were opposite each other, Maggie at one end and Zach in the middle, and Zoe and Dan at the opposite end, catty corner to each other.
Even with four others seated at the table, it felt cozy.
As Dan sat down, his knee pressed against Zoe’s and he quickly moved it away, blushing as he muttered, “Sorry…”
Which made the moment even more awkward, and yet also kind of exciting, because it made her wonder again if they had been flirting. Things certainly felt very… flirtatious.
Maggie began doling out the food, and the conversation became more general.
Dan asked Maggie about how she’d started the boardgame café, and then Zach started talking about his wood restoration business, and for a few moments Zoe was able to sit back and simply be.
Breathe, because for a little while there, talking to Dan, it felt as if she’d forgotten how.
Eventually, however, and inevitably, the conversation turned to her. “I feel like I hardly ever see you,” Maggie remarked with a playful smile. “You must have a very busy social life, Zoe! I’m glad you were able to fit tonight in.”
Zoe gave a small, rather tense smile in return. She knew Maggie thought that because it was what she pretended was the case. Like she was someone so busy you’d be lucky if you got a moment in with her, never mind a whole evening.
It was amazing, Zoe reflected, not for the first time, how little the good people of Starr’s Fall knew about her real life, considering how nosy they all were, in a lovable way, of course.
Annie Lyman’s mother Barb had been friends with her parents a long time ago, but they’d lost touch years ago when Barb had developed Parkinson’s, and her own parents had continued with their health struggles.
Annie still asked sometimes about her parents, as one fellow carer to another, but Zoe often put her off because she didn’t like talking about it, and Annie had had enough troubles of her own.
Then Barb had died several months ago, and Annie seemed to forget about Zoe’s parents, which was both a relief and a disappointment. Zoe didn’t like when people asked about her mom and dad, but some contrary part of her still wanted them to.
Besides Annie, though, there were very few other people who asked about her parents anymore.
Most people, she suspected, assumed they were the same or had maybe even recovered and were living their best lives, however that looked.
Wasn’t that what everyone assumed, if you didn’t say otherwise?
That if you didn’t see or talk to someone, they were probably just busy?
Busy and happy, just as everyone else seemed to be.
Starr’s Fall was a small place, but it wasn’t that small.
Her parents still managed to slip under the radar every single day… and so did she, in her way.
But she liked it that way… or so she told herself. Sometimes it still hurt, how easy it could be to hide in plain sight.
“I’m glad for the invitation,” Zoe told Maggie lightly, “despite my busy schedule.” She added enough gentle sarcasm to her tone, so she didn’t think anyone thought she was serious, and fortunately the conversation moved on, to the ever-present issue of the town’s streetlights, less of an issue in summer, but Maggie was thinking ahead.
“You know we’re doing something for 4 July?” she told Zoe. “A hog roast followed by fireworks on the village green. It’s a bit of last-minute thing, since it’s only in a few weeks, but Mike found a good deal on fireworks, so we thought we’d just go ahead and do it.”
“That sounds like Mike,” Zoe replied with a laugh.
Mike the Mechanic was a legend in Starr’s Fall; he knew everyone and could source just about anything you might want, just don’t ask him where he’d got it.
“I didn’t know about the fireworks, though,” Zoe continued.
“Was it discussed at the last business association meeting?” She’d missed the last one, because her dad had had to have a blood transfusion that day.
“Yes, it was in the minutes,” Maggie said with a laugh. “But I know no one reads those. We haven’t done any advertising, though, just word of mouth…” She turned to Dan. “Maybe you could design a banner or something? Is that in your wheelhouse? We could pay…”
“I could,” Dan replied, “but it’s also something you could knock up yourself on any online print store.” He made a face. “With the ease of online design tools, I occasionally worry that my job is going to become obsolete.”
“True creativity will always be needed,” Maggie insisted.
“And yes, I could knock up something online, but it wouldn’t look very good, and in any case, the business association is about supporting fellow local businesses.
If you’re up for a quick turnaround, I’m sure Lizzy Harper would agree. She’s our chair.”
Dan spread his hands, smiling. “Sure. If you let me know what you’re looking for.”
“Oh, I don’t know the first thing about any of that,” Maggie declared quickly.
“I don’t have a creative bone in my body.
” Her eyes lit up like a novel thought had just occurred to her, while Zoe was pretty sure it was one she’d been having all along.
“Oh, I know,” Maggie exclaimed. “Why doesn’t Zoe help you?
She’s the creative one in the business association.
Did you know the paintings on the walls of The Latest Scoop are all hers? They’re gorgeous.”
“Not all,” Zoe felt compelled to interject. “Just most.”
“Still,” Maggie insisted, determined now. “You two would be perfect to work together on the design.”
Zoe shook her head slowly. She knew Maggie meant well, but the obviousness of her ploy was more than a little excruciating. “I’m sure Dan can come up with something on his own,” she said. “That’s generally what graphic designers do.”
“Yes, but you could give him direction,” Maggie insisted. She was starting to sound a little desperate, and inwardly Zoe cringed.
“A little direction is always helpful.” Dan joined the conversation with a small smile and a friendly tone. “If you don’t mind, Zoe.” He met her gaze in that direct way of his that made Zoe feel like he saw far too much.
What was she supposed to do now? Refusing would be churlish, and far from her expected flippant response.
And truth be told, part of her was looking for any excuse to spend more time with him, especially when he gave her that crooked little smile, his gray eyes gleaming.
And so Zoe did the only thing she could think of.
She smiled, raising her eyebrows, and gave Dan a smile that was almost, but not quite, flirty.
“Sure, why not?” she said.