her eye and winked. What was she up to? Cole would kill her if he knew she’d thrown his name in the mix.
“I don’t see that happening,” Charlotte said.
“You don’t think he’d do it for his sister?” Lucy asked, scanning the circle with her eyes. “I know the point isn’t to fill the seats, but if we could tell people Coach Turner was going to dance, it would definitely draw a crowd.”
“Lucy’s right,” Patricia said. “State-winning football coach, big, strong man. Julianna’s brother. It’s a brilliant idea.” She glanced at Brinley. “You should write it down.”
“Coach Turner isn’t going to go for that,” Brinley said.
Lucy grinned. “Let’s have Charlotte ask him.”
“Me?” Charlotte knew her eyes showed her surprise, but did they also show the sheer panic she felt at that suggestion?
“You’re Julianna’s friend,” Lucy said. “And a dancer. You did say you’d do whatever you could to help.” Her innocent smile was anything but.
“I think you’re forgetting that Cole doesn’t actually like me,” Charlotte mumbled.
Lucy shrugged. “What’s the worst that can happen? He says no. No big deal. We should at least extend the invitation.”
She made it sound so easy.
“It’s a great idea,” Patricia said, as if it were settled. As if she were in charge. “Charlotte will talk to Coach Turner about his involvement as well as the team’s. Maybe you could also connect with Steve and Hildy? And you said you’ll talk to Connor?”
“I mentioned it to him already.”
All eyes were on her.
“I’ll follow up.”
“Perfect.” Patricia smiled, oblivious to the fireworks going off inside Charlotte’s head.
“And of course, you’ll perform too, Charlotte,” Mrs. Trembley said—less of a suggestion, more of a question.
“Of course she will,” Lucy said with a grin.
Charlotte started to respond but realized the rest of the room had moved on to a new topic—the set design.
Quinn pulled a sheet of paper from her planner. “Jules and I worked up a great plan for the recital a few months back.”
Charlotte half listened as the group carried on, bouncing from topic to topic. They covered everything from refreshments to hair and makeup to publicity. Everyone already knew their place and had their job. And now, Charlotte did too.
She’d proposed the idea of holding the recital, and she was all for it, but including community members as a way to honor Julianna could prove to be more than she’d bargained for.
After all, the thought of reaching out to the couple who ran Haven House was slightly uncomfortable.
The thought of convincing Cole Turner to be a part of this event?
That was downright terrifying.
15
The next day, after practice, Cole got a text from his high school buddy turned tech mogul, Josh Dixon.
Meet us at Hazel’s? I had to get Connor out of that house.
On my way.
Dread twisted in his belly. He didn’t want to go to the diner, where the morning crowd would consist of a mix of tourists and locals who made it their daily stop before heading off to the beach for an afternoon of carefree fun.
But Connor was more than his friend now, he was family. And he owed it to Jules to keep an eye on the people she loved, no matter how much he didn’t like thinking about the fact that his sister was gone.
Losing her so quickly, without any warning, it was working him over, like salt on an already opened wound. Cole hadn’t figured out how to manage the pain of so many disappointments, and talking to Connor only served as an unwanted reminder of what he didn’t want to face.
Still, this wasn’t about him. Josh and Connor had seen him through the dark days of his divorce—he’d be a lousy friend if he didn’t return the favor.
Cole parked in the lot behind Hazel’s, got out of the truck, and walked around the building toward the front entrance. Josh and Connor sat at a table right in the center of the busy restaurant.
Cole tried not to groan. Running into people he knew was inevitable here—that’s why he usually ordered carryout or came during the off times. He caught a glimpse of Connor’s face. Whatever grief Cole felt right now about being out in public, it was a thousand times worse for his brother-in-law.
He needed to grow up and stop being such a baby.
He opened the door and beelined to the table, not bothering to look around at the crowded space. Josh looked up and gave Cole one of those slow head-shakes that said, He’s not doing well.