Sweet Joymaker (Indigo Bay Christmas Romances #3) - Jean Oram Page 0,44

early as a gesture to show he was worthy of her heart, then why hadn’t he at least called?

There was still a missing piece to the whole Clint puzzle.

“I know you worry about how Clint would fit into our lives, but do you think Dad cared when he married Sophia? Maybe you need to take care of yourself for once.” Ryan stood, such certainty in his posture. “I don’t think Clint left you, Mom. I think you’re seeing what you want to see out of fear of getting hurt.”

Her son was right, but she wasn’t sure where to go from here. She’d never had to deal with anything like this with Roy. It had always been straightforward. Never charged with such emotion.

She’d said some things to Clint that had made it clear she didn’t want him in her life.

And she had been so very wrong.

“Is Clint here?” Maria stood at the back counter and scanned the Longhorn Diner, not seeing the man in question. Christmas songs played over the speakers, and in a few days the holiday would have come and gone. She still needed to sort something out with Roy regarding Christmas Day. He and the boys had all been leaning toward having their own celebration the day after, and she kept her fingers crossed it would all work out for them. “Jenny from the shop next door said she saw him come in.”

“I know who Jenny Oliver is,” Fiona said with an amused smirk. “You just missed him.”

Maria slid onto a stool, giving the room a second glance. In one of the booths, Carly Clarke was sitting with Laura, April and Jackie. They were huddled together, chatting.

But no Clint.

“Did he get the tractor fixed?” Fiona asked.

“I don’t think so,” Maria said distractedly.

Her friend leaned against the counter. “For the record, I’m still not impressed about you not fixing things with him. But you looking for him has promise. I heard he’s going to Riverbend to pick up a part. He was in here getting coffee to go.”

Maria stood.

“He’s already long gone,” Fiona warned.

It felt like she’d been chasing him for days and was always missing him. Coincidence? Likely, but she was getting paranoid that he might be avoiding her, and she wasn’t sure how much longer her courage would last when it came to trying to track him down to talk about things.

“Something’s up,” Maria said, feeling as though everyone had been a bit more guarded since she’d come home.

“Yeah?” Fiona’s eyebrows lifted. “Like what?”

“I’m not sure. Do you know?” She studied her friend, on the lookout for a hint or a tell.

Fiona picked up her coffeepot. “I’ve got to take the girls a top-up.”

Maria turned, surprised she was letting the topic drop. Was Fiona a part of whatever was making everyone slightly weird lately, or had Maria really shifted her perspective while away and now everything and everyone seemed different to her?

“Karen’ll want coffee.” Fiona pointed toward the town’s librarian, who’d joined Carly’s table.

The diner was fairly busy for a Wednesday, and Maria impatiently waited for Fiona to return. She finally slipped behind the counter to make a fresh pot of coffee, saying, “You never told me how the gala went.”

“Kit said there were some hiccups and drama, of course, but otherwise it went well, as did the adoption drive. They raised enough money to expand the animal shelter after a generous last-minute donation came in.”

“And your paintings on the bags were popular, I heard?”

“It sounds like they were a nice added touch.”

“And Clint’s scooter?”

Maria had to look away. “Kit said it brought in a lot.”

“I knew it would. And you heard Travis is wondering if you’ll paint a mural for the town?” Fiona asked, referring to the mayor, Travis Nestner.

“I think his triplets would do a better job of it. Or at least Donna. She’s got some creativity and talent.” His wife had designed the logo for Brant’s vet clinic, Call of the Wyld(er).

It was nice having a hobby again, but she definitely wasn’t ready to take on a mural.

Fiona perked up, saying, “Oh, there’s Clint! He’s talking with Levi.”

“What?” Maria turned to look, then spun back to the counter. She couldn’t talk to him. Not here.

“Oh, now they’re leaving with Brant.”

Maria forced herself not to react. “Is this all really about a tractor?” And why were her boys working with Clint so much? Were they okay with him, but only if she wasn’t dating him?

“It’s so busy right now with Christmas a few days away.