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SHAYNA WAITED UNTIL the band took a break to lean across the table and speak to Charlie. “Your brother is really good. I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
Charlie smiled proudly. “Yeah, he is. He surprises me every time I hear him.” He lowered his voice. “He feels badly about what happened between Galen and your friend. He was telling me earlier.”
“That wasn’t his fault. I saw the two of them in the mall and they were having quite a discussion. I think at that point Galen was already regretting not telling Frannie about being the author, but by then it was too late. There were already people waiting to see him.”
“The thing is,” said Charlie. “Benny knows him better than anyone. They’ve been friends for a long time and he says that his behavior is out of character.” He shrugged. “He’s as confused as the rest of us.”
“You can say that again.” Benny slid into the booth beside Shayna. “But let’s not talk about them.” He looked up as an attractive young woman delivered a tall glass of water. “Thanks, Cindy.” He took a long drink and looked at Shayna. “What did you think?”
“Are you fishing for compliments?”
“Of course.” He winked at her and took another drink.
Shayna looked from Charlie to Judy. “Is he always this needy?”
They both grinned, but said nothing.
“Okay, you’re good.” Shayna paused. “Very good. I was surprised.”
“Thank you. That’s all I wanted to hear.” He turned serious. “Have you spoken to Frannie?”
Shayna glanced at her watch. “No, I thought I’d drop by her place after this. I think she was getting a headache. She doesn’t get them often, but when she does, they last for a few hours.”
“Well I guess that throws a monkey wrench in my plans.”
“Which were?”
“I thought we’d pretend we’re still in high school. You know, go out by the ferries and park and make out.”
Shayna laughed at the look on Judy’s face. “He’s just kidding,” she said, giving Benny a light punch on the arm. “You are, aren’t you?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “You’ll never know. You just lost your chance.”
“What about your fortune?” she asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “The one about creating happiness?”
His gaze met hers and for a moment no one else existed. “Touché,” he said, then leaned closer and brushed his lips lightly against hers. “To be continued.”
The group played one more set. The band members invited Benny and Shayna to have a drink, but Benny declined. “We have to check on a sick friend,” he said. “Maybe next time.”
“Thanks for that.” Shayna sighed as he adjusted the heat in the car. “I really do need to check on Frannie.”
“I know.” He shot her a sideways look. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you with that crack about making out.”
“No. I think they knew you were kidding.”
He was silent for a moment. “Maybe I wasn’t.”
She turned sideways in her seat and looked at him. “What are you saying Benny? After what we witnessed today, let’s not create any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
He spoke lightly. “I like you Shayna, and I’d like to see you again if that’s okay. Vancouver isn’t that far away.”
A spark of warmth ignited in the vicinity of her heart. “Are you going out with anyone else?”
“Is that important?”
“Yes, it’s very important.”
“Good, because I’m not. “ He reached over and squeezed her hand, then reclaimed the steering wheel. “What do you say?”
A smile softened her features. “I think I’d like that very much.”
“Me too. What was your fortune again?”
“‘Big journeys begin with a single step.’”
He nodded. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
* * *
THE DRIVING SNOW HAD eased, falling now in lazy flakes as Shayna ran out of Frannie’s building and back to Benny’s vehicle. He’d insisted on waiting for her while she checked on her friend and she was glad he had. As she grew older she’d become more independent every year, but Benny’s caring attitude touched her.
“She says she feels better,” she reported, glancing back at the building. “But I’ll stop by tomorrow just in case.”
“Let me know if I can do anything.”
“I will.”
The silence between them was comfortable as he drove her home. “Here we are,” he said, pulling to the curb in front of the duplex she rented. “Thanks for tonight.”
“When do you go back?” she asked. “Don’t go getting a swelled head, but I miss you already and you haven’t even left.”
“I know what you mean.” He touched the side of her face, his touch gentle. “I’m going back tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to spending time with you, Shayna.”
“Me too.” She leaned into him and offered her lips. Fire roared through her veins as his mouth captured hers and she heard herself sigh. When they finally broke apart and looked into each other’s eyes a new understanding had dawned.
“Wow,” she said softly.
“Double wow.” Benny’s eyes gleamed in the light from the dashboard. “Goodnight Shayna. I’ll call you tomorrow night when I get home.”
“I’ll look forward to that.” As she reached for the door handle she was tempted to invite him in, but she wanted to take this slowly. “Goodnight Benny.”
She opened the front door and then turned, secure in the knowledge that he wouldn’t leave until she was inside. She waved and closed the door.
* * *
FRANNIE SWUNG HER LEGS out of bed and glanced toward the window. A sliver of sky was visible through a crack in the curtains. Pale blue, which was a great improvement over the grey of the past few days. She stood up tentatively, relieved that the motion didn’t cause any pain. The headache seemed to have eased off and she realized that she was hungry. But a shower had to come first. Over the years, she’d learned that hot water beating on the back of her neck eased the tension that built up before the onset of the pain.
She brushed her teeth in the shower, not wanting to lean over the sink, then stepped out and shoved her arms into her terry robe.
“You need to get back to work,” she said to the reflection in the mirror. But even as she spoke, she knew she wasn’t ready. The fact was, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to illustrate one of Brad Lyons’ books again. With a snort of disgust she decided to get dressed and wander along the walkway that ran along the waterfront. It was a popular spot, especially in fair weather; maybe today her favorite bench wouldn’t be occupied.
Donning warm clothes and her sunglasses, she stepped outside. The sun was welcome after several days of snow and her step lightened as she headed for the Harborfront Walkway and her favorite coffee spot. The woman behind the counter recognized her as she came in and had her coffee ready. “Anything else?” she asked.
Frannie studied the pastries. “One of those apple fritters, please.”
She walked outside and held her face up to the sun. Coming out had been a good idea and she nibbled the fritter as she made her way along the waterfront. Thankfully her favorite bench was empty and she sat down with a sigh of relief. On the other side of the railing, pleasure boats of all sizes waited for summer weather. As she sipped her coffee, she heard the distinctive chattering call of a Kingfisher and looked up in time to see it land on a boat mast. She knew she was being fanciful, but it seemed that whenever she saw one of the striking birds, good luck followed.
“We’ll see about that,” she muttered to herself. After yesterday, she wasn’t sure about anything. She cracked open her coffee and took a sip. It tasted good and for the first time since she woke up this morning she was prepared to think about what had happened over the past few days.
Much as it pained her to admit it, Galen was right. He hadn’t actually lied to her, but that didn’t excuse him for not telling her he was the author of the books she illustrated. Had she been right to push him away when he offered to explain? Probably not, but she knew herself; she wouldn’t have been able to listen to anything he said yesterday. Plus, there had been that headache building...
They’d been getting along so well at the ski resort. She touched her cheek, surprised that the spot still tingled where he’d kissed her goodnight. Maybe she’d been trying to capture the way she felt all those years ago at the dance... the night he’d kissed her for real. She’d never forgotten that kiss and if she was honest with herself, the man he’d become still left her breathless. Was it any wonder she was conflicted?
* * *
“THERE YOU ARE!” SHAYNA sat down beside her, coffee in hand. “I had a feeling I’d find you here in our favorite spot.”
Frannie looked up for the Kingfisher, but the bird had flown off. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
Her friend shrugged. “Leona is taking care of things.”
Frannie hid a smile. Shayna was a self-proclaimed control freak and rarely gave her assistant manager the opportunity to take charge of the store. Something had changed, and she had an idea what that was.
“Since when do you let Leona earn her salary?”
Shayna sent her a sideways look. “Feeling better are we?”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
Shayna tossed her hair. “It just so happens I might be traveling back and forth to Vancouver a little more. She needs to get a feel for running the place in my absence.”
“I see. Book Fairs, buying trips, things like that?”
Shayna ignored the jab. “I like him, Frannie. I’m as surprised about it as you are.”
She relented. “He’s a nice guy, in spite of his choice of friends.”
Shayna rolled her eyes. “Still mad?”
“I don’t know, Shay. Confused is more like it.”
“That’s a step in the right direction. For what it’s worth, Benny says Galen feels miserable.”
Frannie took a sip of coffee and turned to her friend. “He’s not the only one.” Her thoughts turned inward. “The thing is, neither Galen nor I have been acting normally. I think he cares for me, and I care about him, but it’s as though we’re keeping each other at arm’s length.” She frowned. “Does that make sense?”
“I hear what you’re saying but maybe deep down it’s as simple as both of you being afraid to admit you’re attracted to each other. But hey, I’m no expert when it comes to men.”
“Things seem to be going well between you and Benny.”
“That’s true, but we’re talking about you and Galen. What are you going to do about it?”
The Kingfisher came back and Frannie watched it hover over the water. “I’m going to go back to work.” The bird dove into the water and came out with a small silver fish. “At least when I’m working, I know who I am.”
Shayna nodded slowly. “Sounds like a plan.” She rose, put out a hand and pulled Frannie to her feet. They walked side by side along the familiar route and when they came to the cut-off for the parking lot, Frannie surprised her friend by pulling her into a hug. “Thanks for checking on me. And thanks for listening.”
Shayna hugged her back. “That’s what friends are for. Now get to work!”
