way of someone used to fine dining.
"I can suggest our key lime cheesecake. It is very popular, as is our ice cream.”
Shelby nodded. "Absolutely."
"Would you like any coffee or tea?" the waitress asked.
Logan looked to Shelby, who shook her head no.
"Not right now,” he said. “Thank you."
The waitress brought the desserts with two spoons and they dug right in. The cheesecake was the perfect combination of tart and sweet. Shelby could eat this forever, lost in the comfort of its creamy texture. The thick rich chocolate and caramel sauce clung to the ice cream and melted in her mouth. After several more bites of each, she put down her spoon. "I just can't eat any more."
"Me neither,” Logan said. “We’ll have the rest of the pie packed up, and you can take it home. Maybe your grandmother would like some."
"I’m sure she would," Shelby said.
When the waitress appeared and presented them with their check, Logan asked for a box as well.
Shelby knew it had to be incredibly expensive. Logan pulled out a credit card and laid it down on the tray. "Totally my treat,” he said. “I hope you enjoyed it, Shelby."
"It was the best dinner of my life," she said honestly.
Logan reached for her hand across the table and held it in his. "I hope there will be many more in the future.”
She hardly knew what to say. She didn't think he was the type of person who would say that kind of thing lightly or make promises and not keep them. But he was still going away to college, she reminded herself.
On the way home, Logan suggested they find somewhere to talk. "We can look at the stars and discuss our dysfunctional families and see what we can figure out together."
They walked down the quiet sidewalk leading out of town toward the empty park, where they had their pick of the benches facing out to the lake. They chose the one with the best view and snuggled up together. A few early stars lit the sky, and a sliver of moon peeked from the night sky.
"You first,” Logan said. “Tell me everything about your situation with your mom.”
"Everything?" she asked.
He nodded.
Shelby found the words flowing out to him, the whole moving story. Her voice lowered, “My mother...I don't know how to put this, but my mother has never stayed with a man more than six months since I've been old enough to count. I don't know if this one will be any different. I have two years left of high school. I want to spend them in one place, here with people I love, where I feel safe and happy. I have my own business now and can help support myself.”
"I get it," Logan said, "and you should have that. You're sixteen. You're old enough to start making your own decisions. I’ll remind my father and let him know you need advice now. He knows a lot of people, and it would probably be quite easy for him to make a few calls."
"You would do that?” Shelby asked.
“For you, yes," Logan said. “I know if I request it, he'll do it. He does try to reach out to me sometimes. Usually I just push him away.”
"Why?" said Shelby. "If he's reaching out..."
"There have been so many issues between us," Logan said, "starting with the way he treats my mother.” He waved his hands in the air in frustration. “He’s disappointed with my wildlife biology major and insists I go to law school and follow in his footsteps. It is so opposite of who I am, and he can’t see that. Some of his clients have questionable values, especially about the environment, but he doesn't seem to care where the money comes from. We barely see him. It’s like he doesn’t even care about us."
"I get it," Shelby said. "It's really painful when parents aren't what we hoped they’d be and can't give us what we need." She raised her head and kissed his cheek. "It's all right to be angry and it's all right to be sad. You'll be going to college soon and start a new life there."
"I hope so," Logan said. "I don't know what's going to happen. My parents seem to be leaning toward a divorce. It's going to be really hard on Gabe. Sometimes I think maybe my dad’s got another family he’s hiding somewhere."
"Oh, no,” Shelby said. "Do you really think that?"
"Probably not," said Logan. "I don't think he has the time.” Logan