down my menu and turned to focus on her.
That just caused her eyebrows to rise as her eyes widened. “Do you really not know?”
I blew out my breath. I knew what she wanted to talk about. But I didn’t want to discuss what had happened with Clementine. At least, not right now. Not when my life felt like it was falling apart no matter how hard I tried to keep it together. My control was slipping, and I didn’t like that feeling. It caused me to lash out, and the last thing I wanted to do was alienate my friends.
Or, whom I thought were my friends. It was still up for debate. I mean, they were nice to me. They allowed me to attend their book club. But would they call me their friend? I wasn’t sure. And that uncertainty didn’t sit well with me.
Maggie didn’t wait for me to respond. She pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down. Her gaze never left my face as she leaned in. “Clementine is really worried that you are upset with her. She’s about to have Jake pull down the poles.” Maggie’s expression looked desperate as she studied me. “You need to call her. Text her. Something.”
My stomach churned at her words. It made me feel uneasy. The news of Peter entering the race mixed with my relationship with the women of Magnolia had me drowning. I was swimming and swimming, and yet I couldn’t reach the top of the water to catch my breath.
Was this how I died? What would my tombstone say? Here lies Victoria. All she did was fail.
I reached out and grabbed my water glass. I downed half before I felt clear-headed enough to face what Maggie was saying.
I wiped my lips with the cloth napkin under my utensils and turned to face her. She didn’t look upset or angry, just worried. Was she worried about me or Clementine? After all, they were friends. What were we?
She reached out and rested her hand on mine. The feeling of pressure startled me. I wanted to pull away, but I didn’t know how. What was she doing?
“I’m saying something because I care. I care about you, and I care about Clementine.”
I blinked as her words settled in my mind. She cared about me?
“Don’t look so scared. I consider you a friend.” She pulled her hand back to drum her fingers on the table. “I didn’t know anyone when I came here, and now, I have a group of friends that I’m sure I could never live without. This town took me in and cared for me. The last thing I want is to see it torn apart.” Her eyes glistened as she stared out the window.
A prickling sensation scratched my throat as my own emotions boiled up inside of me. She was right. There was something about this town and these people that pulled at my heart. It made me want to be a better person. It made me want to fight for it.
If Peter wanted to be mayor, he needed to prep for battle. This was my home. This was my town. And there was no way I was going to let it go.
Not without a fight.
Magnolia was mine.
16
Shari
It felt cliché to say that I was finally happy, but I was finally happy. My mind was reeling from the evening I spent with Danny and the kiss we shared, and I never really came back down to reality. It had been a week since our date, and there was nothing I wanted more than to see him.
Feel him.
Kiss him.
I sighed as I leaned back in my chair and away from my desk. I bounced a few times as I tapped my pen on my desk while keeping my gaze trained on the office. I wanted to make up an excuse to go down to Danny’s room and see him, but this was his first official week as Bella’s teacher, and I didn’t want to embarrass him. Or make him nervous.
So I forced myself to sit in my chair, waiting.
Waiting for the bell to ring. Waiting for the school to clear. Waiting for my kids to be fed, bathed, and put to bed. Then I would text him. Maybe even call. Would he come over?
Was that the wrong thing to ask? Was it too soon? I knew in my head that I shouldn’t be so quick to let a man back into my life. Not when my