a thousand pounds. Somehow, adding one new person to the table was a heavier problem than it should have been. How had this particular person become so important to her again, so quickly? Was she channeling her inner seventeen-year-old self? Was she desperate? Or was he hitting an emotional note—was he that elusive soul mate?
She hadn’t seen him for a couple of days. He’d taken the kids into the city for a play yesterday before they headed to their grandparents upstate this morning.
Sunday morning, after their kiss, he showed up at the bookstore right at nine while she was getting ready for the day. She had come in early to get more decorating done and check her inventory for Small Business Saturday, but he knocked on her door bearing egg sandwiches from one of the best gourmet delis around. Their cheese biscuits were to die for, and Jane had no problem taking a break to have breakfast with him.
It should have been awkward considering what had happened the night before, but it wasn’t. If anything, Jane was hyper aware. Danny was such a presence. While youth certainly had its appeal, a strong, mature, somewhat complicated man who knew his mind was all she was interested in.
Their kiss—sweet, almost chaste—set loose a cascade of feelings. Things she remembered so clearly from her youth but didn’t fully appreciate were now beginning to take shape again, and checking off so many boxes.
There was only one thing—his leaving—that left her wondering if she was making a huge mistake letting him get close again.
Jane was on tenterhooks, and as she stood by the table, she thought about all the people who would be with her. Blood relatives or not, the people coming today knew her better than she knew herself. There was a closeness that belied distance and time. Especially time.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Her mother, who had arrived home on Sunday, glided over, like a skater on the ice. Jane felt a little guilty for not telling her what had been going on with Danny, but her concern was twofold. First she liked having something just for herself. Whatever Tara thought she knew, she didn’t really know that much. Hell, Jane wasn’t sure. What would she tell people?
Second, what were Danny’s plans? That was the million dollar question.
“The table looks lovely, as always,” her mother said. It really was pretty. The deep autumn-themed table runner was a brown, burnt orange, gold, and deep red plaid, with traces of ivory. The round, deep brown placemats were set with her beautiful dimple-etched cream stoneware, autumn-colored napkins, and her good flatware. She’d finished the place settings with wine and water glasses as well as adorning the table with gourds grouped at each end.
A pretty table was something Jane took pride in. Naturally, she wanted to serve a delicious meal, but the table, where everyone gathered, had to reflect the love and affection of the season. Perhaps it was unnecessary, but a pretty table said that she cared.
“Thanks, just trying to seat everyone.”
“Hmmm. Who do we have? Tara, you, and me. Uncle Joe and Aunt Nancy. Jasper and his wife.” Her cousin and his new bride were last-minute additions. He could be a little abrasive, but he was family and there was always room at the table for family, and his new wife was lovely. Anna definitely mellowed him some, and it was lovely to see. “Tracy and Greg, no kids?”
“No, they’re all off in different directions. Tracy was willing to take one for the team and not have the kids home for Thanksgiving, so they would all come to town for Christmas.”
“Got it. Hmmm. Dan Gallo. He’s an interesting addition.”
“He’s by himself for the weekend. There’s always room at the table.” Jane didn’t like how defensive she felt, but as much as she loved her mother, she was careful not to share too much.
It was the age-old push and pull between mothers and daughters, and she expected at some point that she and Tara would experience the same thing.
“I agree. I think it’s lovely you invited him.”
“It was Tara’s idea, actually.”
“Yep. It was.”
Her daughter walked into the room like she was managing a large cast production. Ever the stage manager, she plucked the place cards from Jane’s hand and stepped to the table, eyeing the configuration and arranging the seating.
Maybe it was her creativity, her ability to think outside the box, that gave Tara an innate sense of how to fit the pieces together. She went from