Page 43 of Finding Forever

She drove to the center with the radio off, thinking about Dave without finding any answers.

The building’s lights were already on when she pulled up. Through the front window she saw Dave, sleeves rolled to his elbows as he laid a panel across two sawhorses. A portable speaker sat on an a table, playing music she couldn’t hear from inside the truck.

Dave hadn’t seen her yet, so Beth sat for a moment, watching him.

She thought of Susan’s kitchen and the conversation they’d had weeks ago. And she thought about what she’d admitted to herself after the council meeting.

She wanted more than a careful life.

Whatever was waiting for her inside that building, she was tired of pretending she didn’t want to find out what it was.

Beth opened the truck door.

The cold hit her face, bracing and clean, and she walked toward the light before she could change her mind.

Chapter 26

The last wall panel went up just before ten. Beth stood on the floor while Dave climbed down from the stepladder.

“This is the moment of truth,” Dave said as he walked to the switch and flipped on the new track lighting.

Beth stared at the warm light spilling across the gallery wall. “That looks fantastic. It’s big enough to hold a good number of paintings, but not so big that it overpowers the room.”

Dave stood beside her. “Natalie’s paintings will look incredible on the wall when she exhibits them.”

Beth nodded, and for a while, neither of them said anything.

Music still played softly from the speaker. After months of plans and problems and unexpected repairs, the gallery looked like the place Beth had imagined when she’d first walked through the doors.

“It’s beautiful,” Beth said. “Not only the wall, but everything you’ve done.”

“It is.”

Something in Dave’s voice made her turn around.

He wasn’t looking at the wall. He was looking at her.

Beth’s heart pounded. For weeks, there had always been something between them to hide behind. A job that needed doing. Someone else in the room. A meeting to attend. A reason to leave.

Tonight, there was only the two of them.

Dave’s expression changed slightly. “Beth.”

It was just her name but she knew. And suddenly, she was tired of pretending she didn’t.

“I know,” she whispered.

Neither of them moved.

Then Dave lifted his hand. He did it slowly, giving her more than enough time to step away. His fingers brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.

Beth stayed exactly where she was. Dave’s hand lingered against the side of her face. Her breath caught.

Then he leaned toward her.

Their first kiss was gentle and careful, almost tentative. For a heartbeat, Beth didn’t move. Then her hand settled against Dave’s chest and she kissed him back.

The world didn’t fall apart. Nothing she had loved or lost was taken from her. There was only Dave. The warmth of his hand against her cheek. The quiet music. The new gallery lights glowing above them. And the astonishing realization that she wanted this.