Sweetly Smitten by Denise Hunter

Author:Denise Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2014-05-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Clare forced down her last bite of birthday cake and settled back on the patio chair. The party had flowed outside the coffee shop, her friends and family enjoying the mild July night. Music flowed from the speakers, laughter from nearby tables. Her favorite flowers, Coral Fay peonies, were clustered in iridescent vases at the center of each table, sweetening the night air.

The party was finally winding down. Across the table William wiped a crumb from Zoe’s lip, then bent down for a playful nip. She never would’ve put those two together in a million years, but look at them. So in love.

Next to them, Ryan curled his arm around Tess’s shoulders and whispered something in her ear that solicited a secret little smile. At least something good had come from the dog tag mystery. Their search for the truth had led Tess to Ryan’s attic and straight into his arms, and Clare couldn’t deny the couple was meant to be.

Across the room Anna and Michael served the last slices of cake. It was nice seeing her mom learn to trust again with someone patient enough to earn it. She couldn’t think of anyone who deserved a happily-ever-after more than her mom.

Clare looked away, their shared smiles rewarding and painful at the same time. Griffen and Reese huddled at the next table, Natalie and Carson served coffee together, Shelby and Nick Majors laughed at something his daughter, Willow, said.

Was she the only one alone? No, she thought, spying Grandma cleaning up the wrapping paper over in the corner. Not the only one. Clare watched her, working diligently, holding her back as she bent over to retrieve a bow. She wondered how hard it had been for Grandma since Grandpa had passed, how lonely. Surely being single would feel even lonelier after being married so many years. Rose had found love twice and had lost it both times.

Her eyes continued to sweep the room and found Aunt Petunia chatting with little Sophia. Aunt Violet had left town on some kind of bicentennial business. She’d hoped to return in time for the party but had called to say she’d been delayed. Between Aunt Violet’s and Ethan’s departures, the nursery had been a madhouse the past three days. Clare had dropped into bed exhausted each night, glad for the oblivion of sleep.

Ethan. She sucked in a quiet breath. She’d been trying so hard not to think of him. Especially today. It only made her feel hollow inside. She’d told him to leave, and he had. Why wouldn’t he, when she’d given him no reason to stay?

The backs of her eyes burned.

She stood quickly, making Zoe jump.

Clare grabbed her mug. “I’m going inside for a refill.”

“I’ll get it,” Tess said, already halfway out of her chair.

“That’s okay. I need to use the ladies’ room anyway.”

The inside of Mountain Perks was blessedly quiet. Only the trickle of music and chatter coming through the walls broke the silence. She just needed a few minutes alone, then she’d go back outside and face her thirtieth birthday again.

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