town.
“I used to think I wanted Trinity Falls to be more like New York—the shops, the culture, the sophistication.” Ramona leaned forward, holding Peyton’s gaze. “Now I realize my hometown has its own identity, and I never want it to lose that.”
“I’ve only been here five months, but I agree with you.” Peyton ate more quiche. In the cozy neighborhood just outside the town center, she witnessed residents greeting each other on the street. “Trinity Falls is a very special place.”
“Yes, it is.” Ramona set her coffee on the table. “That’s one of the reasons I brought up the fundraiser for the community center during the meeting.”
“It sounds like a great idea. Community centers are vital for residents in need.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” Ramona rewarded Peyton with a smile. “I’d like you to cochair the fundraising committee.”
Peyton froze with a forkful of quiche in her mouth. Her gaze locked with Ramona’s as she chewed, swallowed, and tried to speak. “You want me to cochair the committee?”
“Do you have any experience with fundraisers?”
Peyton searched Ramona’s serious expression. “I’ve volunteered on fundraising committees in the past but—”
“Perfect.” Ramona spread her arms.
“But I barely know the town.”
“You’ll bring fresh ideas to the project.”
“I’ve never even seen the center much less used it.”
“You won’t have any preconceived notions of the facilities.”
Peyton sighed. “Ramona, I’m very flattered that you thought of me. But I don’t think I’m the right person for the job.”
“Yes, you are.” Ramona raised her hands to count off the reasons. “You’re new. You’re enthusiastic, and you’re falling in love with my town.”
“Your town?” Peyton gave the mayor a teasing look. “You’re moving to Philadelphia in January.”
“Trinity Falls will always be my town, and I want what’s best for it. Will you help with the fundraiser?”
“You need a chairperson who’s been here longer. Their knowledge of the community would serve the town better.” Peyton nudged aside a cantaloupe chunk with her fork.
“You wouldn’t be leading the committee alone. There are a few people I’ve got in mind to cochair with you.”
“Who?”
“I’d rather wait until I ask them.” Ramona’s smile didn’t inspire trust. “So what do you say? Will you help the town?”
When she put it like that, how could Peyton refuse? “You don’t waste any time, do you? You proposed the fundraiser Tuesday night. It’s only been five days.”
Ramona leaned into the table, propping her chin on her palm. “You strike me as a decisive woman.”
Peyton laughed her surprise. “This is a big decision.”
“But it’s for a very good cause.” Ramona pinched a grape from Peyton’s fruit bowl. “And it will be a good way for you to meet your neighbors and learn more about the community.”
Peyton enjoyed fundraising and she was good at it. She’d learned from the best—her mother. They’d worked together on several university as well as community fundraisers. Ramona was right. She had the experience. Then why was she hesitating?
Because she was afraid she wouldn’t be good enough. This would be her first fundraiser without her mother’s guidance. Could she handle the project without Irene Biery Harris’s help? There was only one way to find out.
“All right.” Peyton set aside her fruit. “I’ll cochair the fundraising committee on—”
“Wonderful.” Ramona clapped her hands together. “You won’t regret—”
“I do have one condition.” Peyton held up both hands, palms out. “The other cochair has to be willing to partner with me. I don’t want to be a part of a project with someone who isn’t willing to work as a team.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to work with you.” Ramona smiled.
“He?” Warning bells chimed in the back of Peyton’s mind.
“Darius.” Ramona looked toward the
“I used to think I wanted Trinity Falls to be more like New York—the shops, the culture, the sophistication.” Ramona leaned forward, holding Peyton’s gaze. “Now I realize my hometown has its own identity, and I never want it to lose that.”
“I’ve only been here five months, but I agree with you.” Peyton ate more quiche. In the cozy neighborhood just outside the town center, she witnessed residents greeting each other on the street. “Trinity Falls is a very special place.”
“Yes, it is.” Ramona set her coffee on the table. “That’s one of the reasons I brought up the fundraiser for the community center during the meeting.”
“It sounds like a great idea. Community centers are vital for residents in need.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” Ramona rewarded Peyton with a smile. “I’d like you to cochair the fundraising committee.”
Peyton froze with a forkful of quiche in her mouth. Her gaze locked with Ramona’s as she chewed, swallowed, and tried to speak. “You want me to cochair the committee?”
“Do you have any experience with fundraisers?”
Peyton searched Ramona’s serious expression. “I’ve volunteered on fundraising committees in the past but—”
“Perfect.” Ramona spread her arms.
“But I barely know the town.”
“You’ll bring fresh ideas to the project.”
“I’ve never even seen the center much less used it.”
“You won’t have any preconceived notions of the facilities.”
Peyton sighed. “Ramona, I’m very flattered that you thought of me. But I don’t think I’m the right person for the job.”
“Yes, you are.” Ramona raised her hands to count off the reasons. “You’re new. You’re enthusiastic, and you’re falling in love with my town.”
“Your town?” Peyton gave the mayor a teasing look. “You’re moving to Philadelphia in January.”
“Trinity Falls will always be my town, and I want what’s best for it. Will you help with the fundraiser?”
“You need a chairperson who’s been here longer. Their knowledge of the community would serve the town better.” Peyton nudged aside a cantaloupe chunk with her fork.
“You wouldn’t be leading the committee alone. There are a few people I’ve got in mind to cochair with you.”
“Who?”
“I’d rather wait until I ask them.” Ramona’s smile didn’t inspire trust. “So what do you say? Will you help the town?”
When she put it like that, how could Peyton refuse? “You don’t waste any time, do you? You proposed the fundraiser Tuesday night. It’s only been five days.”
Ramona leaned into the table, propping her chin on her palm. “You strike me as a decisive woman.”
Peyton laughed her surprise. “This is a big decision.”
“But it’s for a very good cause.” Ramona pinched a grape from Peyton’s fruit bowl. “And it will be a good way for you to meet your neighbors and learn more about the community.”
Peyton enjoyed fundraising and she was good at it. She’d learned from the best—her mother. They’d worked together on several university as well as community fundraisers. Ramona was right. She had the experience. Then why was she hesitating?
Because she was afraid she wouldn’t be good enough. This would be her first fundraiser without her mother’s guidance. Could she handle the project without Irene Biery Harris’s help? There was only one way to find out.
“All right.” Peyton set aside her fruit. “I’ll cochair the fundraising committee on—”
“Wonderful.” Ramona clapped her hands together. “You won’t regret—”
“I do have one condition.” Peyton held up both hands, palms out. “The other cochair has to be willing to partner with me. I don’t want to be a part of a project with someone who isn’t willing to work as a team.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to work with you.” Ramona smiled.
“He?” Warning bells chimed in the back of Peyton’s mind.
“Darius.” Ramona looked toward the
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