Page 84 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

I’d always thought it was cruel that Frank Powell, Andrew's grandfather, had died just when the lilacs were starting to bloom. It was Rose’s favorite time of the year, and now it would always be connected to the day she lost her husband.

“It was nothing, Rose.”

“It was lovely,” she said firmly. “And very much appreciated.” Her eyes got a little misty. “I just can’t believe it’s been a year without him.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” I said, over the sudden lump in my throat. “The time seems to fly, but when you look back, you still can’t believe they’re gone.”

She drew herself up a little bit, her features hardening, and I knew exactly what she was doing. Pushing away her grief for her husband to be strong for me because I’d alluded to my dad. It was what Rose Powell did.

“Come and have dinner with me this week, Riley,” she said, squeezing my hand. “It’s been too long since we had a chat, just the two of us.”

I nodded, the lump in my throat growing. “I would like that.”

“Can I come?” Andrew asked.

“Absolutely not,” Rose told him, tapping the side of his nose. “Girls only.”

“No fair,” he said, but he slipped an arm around her shoulder, kissing the side of her face.

“Fine,” she sighed. “You come tomorrow and I’ll make you breakfast.”

“Score!”

“Now excuse me, you two.” She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. “I’m determined to kick ass on this little scavenger hunt they’re running.”

I grinned at her while Andrew shook his head. “Language, grandma.”

“Do either of you know where I can find an immersion blender?”

“Try David’s kitchen,” I told her, and she scurried off.

“That was nice of you. Sending her flowers.”

I shrugged, finding it hard to meet his eyes for some reason. I directed my attention to the boxes on the edge of the stage instead. “No one loves flowers more than your grandmother. I thought it would cheer her up.”

He was quiet for several minutes but I could feel his gaze on my face.

“Riley,” he finally said, his voice low and filled with some kind of emotion that I didn’t really want to think about right now.

“Were there more boxes?” I asked brightly. “We should probably get a move on.” I turned to face him, careful to keep my expression bright and open.

He studied my face for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, I’ll go get them.”

Four hours later, the road rally had ended—Jerry Brooks had shocked the town by coming from behind to win the whole thing—and everyone was beginning to gather in the square for the last night of the Lilac Festival. In just a few moments we would open with the Legend of the Lilacs skit, then the mayor would give some remarks, the band would play, and everyone would eat and drink. I was feeling the way I used to feel at the beginning of finals week in college. Most of the hard work was over, and I just had to get through this last tough part.

The Lilac Festival was always a lot of work for the mayor’s office. Unlike the Fish Fry, the festival fell right in the middle of the tourism season, which meant there were thousands more people and a million more details to get coordinated. Add to that the presence of the camera crews tonight, and I was just about ready to be done.

“Few more hours,” Libby told me, passing with a crate of wine for her booth. “You got this, Riley.”

“Thanks, Libs,” I called after her. “Sell lots of stuff.”

“How are you feeling?” Andrew asked, appearing at my side with two bottles of beer. He handed one to me. “Figured we’re close enough to the end to relax a little.”

Of course he would have to jinx it like that. Because though we were close to the end, we weren’t in any way out of danger. A fact that I realized the second I saw Posey’s panic stricken face a moment later.

“We have a problem,” she said, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the changing area.

Andrew and I followed her through the curtains to find David in his costume, bent over at the waist, his face gray and sweaty.