Chapter twelve Willow
Chapter twelve
Willow
“Are you sure I don’t look overdressed?” I slide my palms down over my navy blue dress again, nerves running all through my body.
“You look amazing, Willow. Seriously. Stop questioning it. In fact, I think this is the first time I’ve seen you with your hair down and it looks fantastic,” Astrid assures me as she sizes me up once more with her eyes in approval.
It’s the night of the veterans’ dinner in Carrington Cove, and I’m definitely regretting the decision to attend right now.
Dressed in a body-hugging navy dress with a lace overlay that offers just the right amount of cleavage, I’m standing in Astrid’s living room, trying to come up with an excuse to get me out of this.
It’s been a few weeks since our beach day, but we’ve hung out several times since then and she still loves teasing me about Dallas. She’s honestly the closest friend I’ve made in ages, comparable to Shauna only, or Katrina, my assistant.
I smooth my hand down the half of my hair I left down, feeling even more self-conscience about it now. My bun is a piece of the armor that helps me play the part of a successful businesswoman, a fact that it took me a long time not to be ashamed of.
But tonight isn’t about business.
Tonight is about community and friendship, which is something I have very little experience with and I feel is pressing down on me with each passing second as we wait to leave.
And tonight, I’ll see Dallas for the first time since our little tryst at his bar last week.
And he likes it when my hair is down.
The doorbell ringing behind me pulls me from my thoughts.
“That must be my mom.” Astrid steps around me, her short red dress sparkling as she moves.
Her dark brown hair is down as well in soft curls, falling just below her shoulders.
I’ve never seen her this dressed up and she looks stunning, not that she isn’t beautiful any other day.
I overheard a young man in the grocery store the other day describe her as a MILF, and I definitely agree—Astrid is a knockout in that girl-next-door kind of way.
“Hi, baby.” Her mother enters the room, kissing Astrid on the cheek and then turns to me with wide eyes. “Oh, you must be Willow.”
“Yes. It’s nice to meet you…”
“Melissa,” she finishes for me, reaching out to shake my hand. “Astrid has told me a lot about you, but it’s great to finally meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“She also told me that you own the Bayshore house now, huh?”
“Yes, the house is mine, although it’s proving to be a lot of work and I’m not sure what I was thinking taking that on.”
Melissa smiles at me. “I think it’s great that you’re choosing to bring some life back into that place. It’s been vacant for such a long time.”
“Well, Willow has faced a few challenges since she got here, but it’s nothing she can’t handle,” Astrid adds, forcing me to smile at her sentiment.
“I’m not going to let a few geese stand in my way,” I add, which makes them both laugh.
“That’s fantastic.” Melissa rubs her palms together. “So where are my grandkids?”
“Lilly is playing in her room, and Bentley is playing video games in the living room. I told him he only gets one hour and he’s already been on there for about fifteen minutes,” Astrid answers.
“Sounds good.”
“There’s pizza in the freezer that you can pop in the oven when you guys get hungry, and ice cream sandwiches for dessert.”
Astrid’s mom waves her hand at her daughter as if she’s a pest. “In case you’ve forgotten, I raised you and your brother.
I’ve got it handled, and if not, we’ll figure it out.
You two go have fun. Enjoy talking with other adults and have a few drinks.
And if you have too much, catch a ride home and I can take you back in the morning to get your car. ”
“I’m sure we won’t get too crazy,” Astrid assures her. “It’s just the veterans’ dinner, Mom.”
“I know,” she says softly, walking up to Astrid, framing her face with her hands. “But I also know that the night can be depressing if you let it. Try not to focus on the bad, okay? Remember your husband, but also remember that you still have a beautiful life even though he’s not here.”
The light catches on the moisture building in Astrid’s eyes. “Mom, you’re going to make me ruin my makeup.”
“You look beautiful.” Her mother releases her and then turns to me. “Make sure she has a good time all right, Willow?”
I give her a small smile. “I’ll try.”
Great, more added pressure for the evening.
We say our goodbyes to the kids and then walk out to my car. I offered to drive since Astrid has been so gracious to me with… everything.
“So what exactly can I expect tonight?” I ask as we cruise along a few of the main roads in town to get to the center, streetlights streaking through the windows as we pass by.
“Well, the first hour is mostly a cocktail hour. People mingle, catch up, and have a few drinks. Then they’ll serve dinner and Mr. Hansen, the head of the center, will make his speech and introduce the officer who will recognize the veterans of the evening, including the men and women we’ve lost this year.
That part can get pretty emotional.” I swallow down the lump in my throat and hear her clear hers.
“And then they’ll present a slideshow, showcasing all of the events from the past year, highlighting those that helped raise money for the center and what they have planned for the year ahead. ”
I take a deep breath, feeling a little more at ease now knowing what to expect. “Okay. That sounds manageable.”
“Are you really that nervous?”
“I am, Astrid. This is…” I struggle with how to explain this to her in a way she’ll understand and instead chuckle through my nerves. “It’s a lot for someone like me.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I’m nervous too, but knowing you’ll be there with me makes me feel better.
” She reaches across the center console and grasps my hand.
“I’m grateful for our friendship. It’s hard to make friends the older you get, especially in a small town, and part of me feels like you were meant to be here.
” I see her shrug from the corner of my eye.
“I know that may sound corny, but I’ve learned not to let things go unsaid and I want you to know that’s how I feel. ”
And that human contact, that simple gesture along with her words—they weave a path around my heart and settle right in the center.
I have a friend.
And for the first time in a long time, I actually want to be there for someone else just like she’s been there for me.
I cast my eyes over at her for a second. “It means a lot to me too, Astrid.”
Her smile puts me at ease. “Plus, Dallas will be there tonight, so you’ll know at least one other person,” she teases, and suddenly the nerves are back.
“Uh…that’s not helping, Astrid,” I deadpan.
“On the contrary, Willow.” She bounces her eyebrows at me. “I think Dallas could help you in more ways than one.”
***
Walking into the room steals the oxygen from my lungs as I take in my surroundings.
Round tables are stationed throughout the room covered in white tablecloths with centerpieces full of white and red roses.
Navy blue lights shine up from the floor, making the walls appear blue, highlighting the patriotic theme of the night.
Soft music plays from the sound system and more people than I can count are standing around in small groups, chatting with drinks in their hands.
“Here we are,” Astrid says to me, weaving her arm through the crook of mine. “Just breathe and stay around here. I’m going to go get us two glasses of champagne.”
“Yeah. Champagne sounds nice.” I watch her walk away and then survey the room, attempting to see if I know anyone while I listen to my heartbeat in my ears.
It almost feels like the entire town is here tonight. But based off what Astrid has told me about the camaraderie here, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true.
Large poster boards displaying pictures are set up around the edge of the room on gold easels, so I walk toward one to admire the faces staring back at me.
Groups of Marines and local veterans stand proudly shoulder to shoulder, dressed in their respective uniforms, or gathered together at local events with stoic expressions on their faces.
“Here you go.” Astrid comes up behind me and hands me a glass of champagne, pulling my attention from the photos.
“Thank you. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this is quite the event.”
“They seem to have upped their game this year.” She looks around the room. “It gets better every year, but they definitely put in extra effort tonight. Probably to honor Mr. Sheppard.”
Sheppard?
It can’t be.
But before I can give this revelation more thought, I’m pulled back to the room full of people around us.
“Astrid Cooper, dear. You look lovely.” A woman approaches us, and I immediately recognize her from the chair fiasco at the hardware store. She pulls Astrid in for a hug while my heart continues to hammer.
“Hello, Mrs. Hansen. How are you?”
“Doing well, dear. How are you?”
“Oh, just grateful to have a night away from the kids.” They share a laugh.
“I remember those days well. Enjoy the time for yourself.” She looks around Astrid and finds me, her eyes going wide. “Willow? Is that you?” Her eyes bounce up and down my body as she assesses me, but the same kindness in her voice she had speaking with Astrid is now laced with curiosity.
“Yes. Hello, Mrs. Hansen. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Likewise, Willow. I must say, it’s a surprise to see you here.”
Great. Even other people are picking up on my hermit tendencies. “Yes, well, I thought this event was worth venturing out of the house for.”
“Hmm. And how is that chair working out for you?” she asks, referring to our encounter from almost a month ago now.
Reigning in my desire to be snarky, I reply as sweetly as possible, “Perfectly. Thank you. Well, thanks to Dallas, really.”