I intercepted him quickly, my face heating.
“Sorry,” I said to the Etienne and Basil.
Etienne only smiled. “You’ve got great mom reflexes.”
I helped Julian choose a piece of cheese and several cherry tomatoes, his favorite, and then turned back to properly greet these new faces.
“It’s great to see you again,” Basil said.
“I never thanked you,” I said, keeping one eye on Julian to ensure he didn’t touch every piece of food on the table. “For sending cheese when I first moved in.”
He broke into a big smile. “Yes.”
“Thank you. I ate all of it. The bread you sent with it was the best I’ve ever eaten,” I admitted. “I had to hide it so my kids couldn’t find it. There was no way Iwas sharing.”
Pink dots appeared on his full cheeks. “I’ll deliver more.”
Etienne smiled warmly. “You just made his year. He is deeply devoted to his sourdough craft.”
“How do you feel about Brie?” my new best friend Basil asked.
“You’re welcome for the cheese hookup,” Evie said, nudging me. “Just make sure to remain loyal, No defecting to Lola.”
“Even though her cheddar is better,” Ruby whispered. “I didn’t say that. You heard wrong.”
They’d lost me, but I smiled anyway and scanned the area, needing to lay eyes on my kids.
Thankfully, I found them easily. Julian was captivated by the bonfire that Josh and Jasper were building and Maggie and Ellie were helping pour lemonade for the other kids that had shown up.
By the time Callie arrived with her twins I’d been introduced to everyone at least once—some that I’d already met at No Book Club, but many I hadn’t—not that I remembered many of their names.
“Having fun?” Josh appeared beside me. He was dirty from a long day’s work and the knit hat he’d traded his ball cap for made him look even more like a lumberjack.
I nodded. “This turned into quite a day.”
“Yeah. Sometimes this town annoys the ever-loving shit out of me, but on days like this, I can’t help but appreciate the place.” He sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “My parents started this tradition a long time ago. Feels good to keep it going even if they’re not here to take part.”
He looked tired in the firelight, his face sagging, his shouldersdrooping.
The strangest urge to hug him took over, but I held strong. I wasn’t one for spontaneous touching. But I felt for him. I didn’t know what had happened to his parents, but I did understand how it felt to walk around every day feeling the weight of a loved one’s absence.
“I lost my mom when I was thirteen,” I said softly, staring at the fire.
My kids now sat on a hay bale, roasting marshmallows on sticks. Julian was wrapped up in a blanket and his hands were coated with sticky mess, but he was beaming. Even Ellie and Maggie had gotten into the fun. And they were safe. I was safe.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I remained facing forward, relishing the way the fire’s warmth spread through my body.
It was more than warmth, really. Even surrounded by so many people, most of whom I had only just met, I felt safe.
Closing my eyes, I let out a breath.
One I’d been holding for a very long time.
He belonged here.
We belonged here.