Chapter 33
JIM
Jim was stunned by Shelby’s breakdown. He hadn’t seen that coming, and he was honored that she trusted him enough to show him her vulnerability.
But what was the cause? It wasn’t just Voyager.
He sensed that much. He’d been concerned about her for a while.
There was clearly more going on in her personal life than she was ready to talk about.
How could he support her for the remainder of this trip?
He felt protective of his younger teammate, but he also wanted to give her space.
Her breakdown explained her behavior over the past few months, and why she’d suddenly seemed so intense about every single detail of their shared campaigns.
He hoped that he’d done enough to make her feel seen, to put her at ease, and to keep the door open if and when she did want to talk more.
Miranda was caught up in a conversation with her seatmate when he returned to the table, so he took a minute to check on the hushpuppy post. Five hundred comments and counting.
Is it just me, or am I missing the hushpuppies?
Oh, hey, hushpuppy, uh, where you at, babes?
Is this a hush job? Not seeing any puppies but do love me some.
Hush, hush, you sneaky little puppies.
Are the hushpuppies at dinner with us?
Jim chuckled to himself as he replied to several comments and shared several of the funniest stories with Miranda. The table fell quiet as servers delivered dinner. Everyone oohed and aahed and applauded.
Miranda’s face lit up when she turned her attention back to Jim. “Isn’t this gorgeous? Every bite gets better and better. Although I don’t know how I’m possibly going to save room for dessert.” She patted her belly.
“We’ll make room,” Jim said with a wry smile. “That’s the gift of a dinner like this that stretches out for a few hours. We’ll take a break and perhaps a spin on the dance floor, or grass floor, after this. What do you say?”
Was it his imagination, or did he see a faint blush on her cheeks?
“That would be nice.” She unfolded her napkin and placed it on her lap. “Is everything okay with Shelby? I wasn’t trying to spy, but it looked like she was upset.”
Jim nodded. “I think she has some personal things that she’s dealing with.”
“Ah, I see,” Miranda said with a nod. “She’s lucky to have a friend and colleague like you.”
“I hope so. This is the first time she’s even slightly opened up to me.” Jim didn’t want to reveal any personal details about whatever it was Shelby was dealing with, but he trusted Miranda to keep this between them. “I’ve been worried about her for a while. Please don’t say this to anyone else.”
“I would never.” Miranda shook her head.
She hesitated for a moment and then dropped her voice so only he could hear.
“To be honest with you, I’m worried about Pete.
He hasn’t been himself lately. I’ve asked him at least a dozen times if he’s okay, and he keeps blowing me off.
He’s an adult, so I can’t force him to open up.
I just always want to be a soft place for him to land, and I suppose I na?vely believed that once he was an adult, I wouldn’t worry anymore.
In some ways, I worry more. The worries are just different now. ”
“I know.” Jim cut into the flaky salmon with his fork. “You remember what it’s like at that age. You’re still figuring out who you are and ready to take on the world, but also terrified to be an adult.”
“Pete hates this, but I often call him and Elise emerging adults.” Miranda lifted her fork and then set it down again, gazing over in their direction.
“That’s the perfect term. Emerging, yes. It’s such an exciting time, but I forget how much angst I had in my twenties. You and I might have a few gray hairs and fine smile lines, but I wouldn’t trade this stage for anything.”
“Oh, me too.” Miranda sounded wistful. “I made so many mistakes back then. I appreciate the wisdom that comes with this age. And knowing who I am, without any shadow of a doubt.”
“Yep, it’s nice to feel settled, isn’t it?
” Jim savored a bite of the salmon, which was crusted with a spicy horseradish sauce and crunchy pistachios.
“Anyway, I suspect there is much more that Shelby hasn’t felt ready to share, but I’m glad we had that moment, and I’ve made it clear I’m here to listen if she ever needs a friend. ”
“I have a feeling she will.” Miranda took a bite of her mushroom ravioli.
The conversation steered away from Shelby as the head chef took the stage again to talk through each dish.
Jim filmed Miranda enjoying the meal and happily chatting with everyone around them.
Whenever she tossed her head back and laughed, his heart skittered like it couldn’t find the right rhythm.
He wanted to ask more about her love life and whether she was closed off to the mere thought of dating again, but he couldn’t find a natural way to bring it up.
By the time the servers returned to clear plates, people stood to stretch, take in the sunset, and fill the dance floor. Jim excused himself momentarily to put in a special request. “Would you care to dance?” he asked Miranda, offering his hand hopefully.
“I’d love to.” She beamed at him.
God, she was lovely.
Was it his imagination, or were her eyes flecked with gold? Yes, it was almost like they’d been dusted with the shimmery glitter his nieces used to give him makeovers when they were little.
He laced his fingers through hers as they drifted to the makeshift dance floor, which had been constructed with sheets of plywood.
Tall posts at each corner held Edison-style string lights in a crisscross pattern above them.
The sun had nearly sunk into the Pacific Ocean, casting a soft purple glow over the fields.
They swayed to the music, not speaking, content with simply being in each other’s company. At least that was true for him. Miranda rested her head on his shoulder. He held her on the small of her back, breathing in the scent of her shampoo and soft skin.
When the band played his request, she pulled away and gazed up at him. “Is this ‘It Had to Be You’?”
“The moment calls for some Harry Connick Jr., doesn’t it?”
What happened next took Jim entirely by surprise and almost knocked him off his feet—literally. Miranda stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, right there in the middle of the dance floor in front of everyone.