return on it too, so don’t feel too bad for me.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t willing to listen.”
“I could have handled it differently, but that’s the past. Now Porter’s has new breath bringing it back to life, and Vanessa is the new owner.”
Vanessa straightened. “But the whole town is up in arms with me. The gossip has already swept through this town like a wildfire.”
Mike turned to Vanessa. “What do you need me to do?”
“Believe in me. Help me.” Her lashes lowered. “Please?”
“Come here.”
She went into his arms, and he pulled her in close. “Together, as a team, we can make this easy work.”
“I like the sound of that,” Buck said.
“I’m so sorry, Grandpa. I probably wouldn’t have understood at the time. It was just too close to Grandma dying. It was like losing Olivia all over again.”
“I know, Mike.” He cuffed his hand on his grandson’s shoulder. “I know.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Vanessa stood in the concession building at the high school waiting as the town flooded into the seats on the evening before Christmas Eve.
Snide comments peppered the conversations as people speculated what was to come next for Fraser Hills.
Anna walked over to her and pulled Vanessa’s hands into her own. “You’re going to be fine. I’m so excited about the prospects of our future here in this town.”
“I know,” Vanessa said. “Don’t make me cry.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just so happy. For the town. For both of us. Your mother would be beside herself. You are such a remarkable young woman.” She dipped her hand in the quilted tote bag she had hung over her arm and pulled out a shiny red box. “I hope you like this. It’s not fancy, but it’s the most precious memory I have of you and your mother together. I want you to have it.”
Vanessa’s brows pulled together as she took the box in her hand. “This can wait until Christmas.”
“No. I don’t think it can. Please. For me,” she said.
Vanessa turned and set the box on the counter, and lifted the lid. “Is this…?” She pulled out the old tin. The rattling sound was like a whisper from heaven. “Mom’s button tin?”
“You would sit and sort through those buttons for hours with your mother.”
“I remember when Grandpa died and we took the buttons from his favorite sport coat and put them in here. They were leather. I thought they were the most precious things in the world.”
“I know. Those are the leather buttons I used on your scarf.”
Vanessa placed her hand on the fine details, her finger tracing the overlap of the leather pieces on the buttons. “I loved them as soon as you gave me that scarf, but I didn’t for a second…”
“I know. I should’ve given this to you a long time ago. It was just so hard for me to let go of. It was the only thing I asked your dad for. He thought I was an idiot. He had no idea how much the memories stuffed into that little tin meant.”
“Thank you, Anna.” She clutched the tin, then gave it a little shake. “I love the strength of that sound. One by one they are nothing but buttons. Light. Worthless. Together they sound like a symphony. Strong. Creative. Continually shifting to fill the space.”
“Like you. You’re doing a good thing here. You’ve changed so many ideas about your future in just a couple of weeks. The opportunities are endless.”
“It’s not entirely unselfish, you know.” Vanessa reached for Anna’s hand. “I can’t wait for us to both make our lives in this town.”
“And Mike and Misty?” Anna tilted her chin.
“Mike’s great. He’s a good man, and a wonderful father.”
Anna bobbed her head. “I always said there’s nothing sexier than a good father.”
“I think I finally understand what that means. It scares me at the same time, though. Do you think he has enough love for me too?”
“Loving a wife is different from loving a child, Vanessa. It’s not a contest. It’s not like he has to divide the love. There are adequate amounts for both. And Misty will refill your wells threefold over and over.”
“It’s terrifying. It’s like I just put my whole life on red, and the roulette wheel is spinning.”
Lilene came rushing over to Vanessa. “It’s time.”
“I’m ready,” Vanessa said.
“I’m sorry again for everything I said. I still feel horrible.”
Vanessa hugged Lilene. “Please don’t. Let’s step forward. I can’t wait to put the new Porter’s cookie on the map together.”
“I still can’t believe my cookies are going to be