The Inn at Cherry Blossom Lane by Jennifer Crosswhite

Author:Jennifer Crosswhite
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999535738
Publisher: Tandem Services Press

Claire handed Lizzie a wet washcloth to wipe the sticky s’more residue off her fingers and cheeks. They had gone through a whole pack of hot dogs and a good chunk of the marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate. Claire hoped nobody ended up with a stomachache.

The sun was heading toward the horizon. The fire was a perfect bed of coals with a few persistent flames.

Alex sat in the chair next to her. He had pulled on a long-sleeve T-shirt to ward off the light wind. But the thought of him shirtless still made her cheeks flame. She had seen him without a shirt plenty of times when they were kids. But the years and physical labor had definitely matured his physique.

He poked the fire with one of the skewers. “I could add another log, and we could stay and watch the stars come out. Once it gets dark enough, you can see the Milky Way.” He leaned toward Lizzie. “Your mom and I used to do that all the time.”

Heat suffused Claire’s cheeks, remembering those nights under the stars. They’d snuggled under a blanket and talked about what their future would look like. Her future certainly hadn’t turned out to be anything like she expected. Fifteen years had matured her and Alex. Maybe things could be different this time. Maybe they could make it work.

“Mom, please? Can we stay and watch the stars?”

Claire smiled at Alex. “Sure. Put another log on. Lizzie, grab your sweatshirt. It’ll get chilly soon with the wind coming off the lake.”

While Alex tended to the fire, Claire packed things up so they wouldn’t be fumbling in the dark. Searching through the tote, she looked for her sweatshirt. It wasn’t there. She must have forgotten to grab it. Oh well. She had remembered a blanket. She and Lizzie could share that.

Alex told Lizzie stories of when he was a boy and the things he liked to do: exploring in the woods, building sand castles, riding his bike. He gave her the blow-by-blow account of how his high school baseball team had won the division championships. Lizzie paid rapt attention, even as she gave a few big yawns. Soon her eyes grew heavy, just as the sun disappeared over the horizon.

Claire tucked the blanket around Lizzie where the wind had lifted it. “So much for watching the stars come out.” She shivered, grabbing the other edge of the blanket and tucking it around her legs. “Maybe we should pack up and head home.” But she didn’t move. Lassitude had settled on her like the blanket around her legs. It had been a wonderful evening, and she didn’t want it to end.

“Let her sleep for a while. Maybe she’ll wake up later. We can enjoy the stars even if she doesn’t.” He handed Claire his sweatshirt.

“What are you going to wear?”

“I brought another one.”

She tugged the sweatshirt on over her head, Alex’s scent enveloping her. It felt like home, soft and strong. And safe. Now she remembered. She never brought a sweatshirt to the beach because she always wore Alex’s.

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