singing of ‘We Three Kings.’ We could’ve used your baritone. Working late?”
There were never enough hours in the day. Not if he wanted to keep his practice afloat. “Yeah.”
“You young people,” Mrs. Arlo said with a shake of her head. “You work too hard. Never enjoy the simple things.”
“Ellen’s here,” his mother remarked, her nonchalance unconvincing. “Why don’t you go say hello?”
“You trying to get rid of me, Mom?”
“Never. But you need to have some fun.”
Fun? The last time he could remember fun involved Laurel Eden. Maybe he would go talk with Ellen, after all. She might have news about Laurel’s return.
In her bright blue coat and purple hat, Ellen stood out in the crowd. Her eyes lit up when he walked toward her. “Hi, Ben. I was hoping you weren’t going to miss the festivities.”
“No way.” He stood beside her, his hands thrust deep in his pockets, his ears burning in the cold. When a couple of teenagers threw the last of the trees onto the blaze, a man with a strong voice began singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and soon the crowd joined in.
Without looking at him, Ellen slipped her arm through his, her warm, rich alto blending with the others. It was uplifting to see the community come together on occasions like this, their petty squabbles left behind. But as Ben knew, things were seldom what they seemed.
Take Bess and Darren, for instance. To the casual observer they were a happy, upwardly mobile family. Yet Darren’s defensiveness when Ben had tried to talk to him about his drinking had raised all kinds of red flags. He didn’t want to think about the man driving with his kids if he was under the influence. Ben had encouraged Bess to try Al-Anon. Darren, on the other hand, hadn’t even wanted to discuss AA.
The last chorus died away and firemen began dousing the smoldering ashes. “Heading for the community center?” Ellen asked.
“Have you ever known me to turn down food?”
They followed the crowd toward the lighted building at the end of the park. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his mother’s approving smile. He could swear she’d been born part matchmaker.
Breaking the silence, he said, “Have you heard from Laurel Eden?”
He detected a momentary hesitation before Ellen answered. “Yes. She got back yesterday. Any particular reason for asking?”
“Just curious.”
“She’s up to her ears in the remodeling project, but I imagine she’s here tonight. She wouldn’t want to miss her first Twelfth Night.”
They had reached the door of the hall. She still clung to his arm. “Can I get you a piece of cake, Ben?”
He scanned the crowd, admitting to himself he was looking for a head of curly black hair. “That’s okay.” He nodded toward Megan. “My sister needs to introduce me to that teenage heartthrob she’s with. See you later.”
It wasn’t the most gracious exit line, but he didn’t want to give Ellen any false hopes. Besides, he really should meet Megan’s latest boyfriend.
Most of all, though, he wanted to find Laurel.
L AUREL HUNG at the back of the crowd gathered around the bonfire, delighted she’d arrived in time for the ceremony. Already she’d greeted the Bramwells, the florist and Janet, who had introduced her to her family. She was eager to meet some of the others, especially the Nolans.
Was Ben here? She craned her neck, but couldn’t see over the people standing in front of her. Finally, when the crowd dispersed, she spotted him. Arm in arm with… Her jaw dropped. Ellen. They stood close together, and there was no mistaking the adoring look on the woman’s face. Laurel felt sick.
She watched as the two sauntered toward the community center, still arm in arm, Ben’s head bent close to catch whatever Ellen was saying.
Laurel liked Ellen—valued their new friendship. Why hadn’t Ben said something that night on the beach? Carpe diem, indeed. She’d seized the day all right—or,
There were never enough hours in the day. Not if he wanted to keep his practice afloat. “Yeah.”
“You young people,” Mrs. Arlo said with a shake of her head. “You work too hard. Never enjoy the simple things.”
“Ellen’s here,” his mother remarked, her nonchalance unconvincing. “Why don’t you go say hello?”
“You trying to get rid of me, Mom?”
“Never. But you need to have some fun.”
Fun? The last time he could remember fun involved Laurel Eden. Maybe he would go talk with Ellen, after all. She might have news about Laurel’s return.
In her bright blue coat and purple hat, Ellen stood out in the crowd. Her eyes lit up when he walked toward her. “Hi, Ben. I was hoping you weren’t going to miss the festivities.”
“No way.” He stood beside her, his hands thrust deep in his pockets, his ears burning in the cold. When a couple of teenagers threw the last of the trees onto the blaze, a man with a strong voice began singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and soon the crowd joined in.
Without looking at him, Ellen slipped her arm through his, her warm, rich alto blending with the others. It was uplifting to see the community come together on occasions like this, their petty squabbles left behind. But as Ben knew, things were seldom what they seemed.
Take Bess and Darren, for instance. To the casual observer they were a happy, upwardly mobile family. Yet Darren’s defensiveness when Ben had tried to talk to him about his drinking had raised all kinds of red flags. He didn’t want to think about the man driving with his kids if he was under the influence. Ben had encouraged Bess to try Al-Anon. Darren, on the other hand, hadn’t even wanted to discuss AA.
The last chorus died away and firemen began dousing the smoldering ashes. “Heading for the community center?” Ellen asked.
“Have you ever known me to turn down food?”
They followed the crowd toward the lighted building at the end of the park. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his mother’s approving smile. He could swear she’d been born part matchmaker.
Breaking the silence, he said, “Have you heard from Laurel Eden?”
He detected a momentary hesitation before Ellen answered. “Yes. She got back yesterday. Any particular reason for asking?”
“Just curious.”
“She’s up to her ears in the remodeling project, but I imagine she’s here tonight. She wouldn’t want to miss her first Twelfth Night.”
They had reached the door of the hall. She still clung to his arm. “Can I get you a piece of cake, Ben?”
He scanned the crowd, admitting to himself he was looking for a head of curly black hair. “That’s okay.” He nodded toward Megan. “My sister needs to introduce me to that teenage heartthrob she’s with. See you later.”
It wasn’t the most gracious exit line, but he didn’t want to give Ellen any false hopes. Besides, he really should meet Megan’s latest boyfriend.
Most of all, though, he wanted to find Laurel.
L AUREL HUNG at the back of the crowd gathered around the bonfire, delighted she’d arrived in time for the ceremony. Already she’d greeted the Bramwells, the florist and Janet, who had introduced her to her family. She was eager to meet some of the others, especially the Nolans.
Was Ben here? She craned her neck, but couldn’t see over the people standing in front of her. Finally, when the crowd dispersed, she spotted him. Arm in arm with… Her jaw dropped. Ellen. They stood close together, and there was no mistaking the adoring look on the woman’s face. Laurel felt sick.
She watched as the two sauntered toward the community center, still arm in arm, Ben’s head bent close to catch whatever Ellen was saying.
Laurel liked Ellen—valued their new friendship. Why hadn’t Ben said something that night on the beach? Carpe diem, indeed. She’d seized the day all right—or,
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