Page 34 of Sterling Clay

Dutton and Mavis fit the flavor. They’re surprising me.

Chapter 12

[Mavis]

“Clay?” His name comes out as a breathless surprise as I’d been in a rush to pick up Dutton. Running late from the hospital sounds silly considering I work a shift schedule but getting back into the groove of working is taking a toll.

My part-time gig at the hospital includes three days on for eight hours, followed by four days off. I was fortunate my former director of nurses had an immediate opening. The hospital has been desperate for nursing staff.

My next steps toward a better future are to sell the property and put Dutton in school, but I can only address one thing at a time.

Day one was done.

Entering The She Shed with a flourish, Clay’s presence in front of the customer counter shocks me. Not only am I attracted to his appearance, but his sweetness has taken my libido from zero to sixty-nine.

“Do you have a lunch?” Earlier this morning, the question surprised me.

Clay then stood from the table and opened his fridge. Quickly scanning the contents, he pulled out a jar of jelly and set it on the countertop. “How do you feel about peanut butter and jelly?”

“Who isn’t a fan?” I’d countered, although it wasn’t my first choice for a midday meal.

But who can deny a man offering to make you a sandwich for your first day of work?

Peanut butter and jelly it was.

And when my lunch break rolled around, nothing had ever tasted so good.

“Hi, butterfly.” His slow smile unfurls like a flower, and I can’t help my own lips from mirroring his.

“What are you doing here?” I’m doubtful he’s shopping for specialty yarn. Hopefully, he isn’t here for a novelty toy from Meredith’s other business.

My gracious childcare provider is standing behind the counter watching the interaction between a town favorite and me.

“Thought I’d get off work early and take you and Dutton somewhere.” Clay glances down at Dutton and I notice how close they stand to one another.

“Where?” The question comes out quick and terse, almost accusatory instead of gracious. My hackles rise despite knowing Clay is not my enemy. He isn’t trying to hide Dutton and I away somewhere, and he proves it by what he says next.

“Sylver Seed & Soil sponsors the Harvest Fest each year. The entire town is invited out to the property where farmers sell their final stock and winter wares, and artisans share their crafts. We have pumpkin decorating contests, pumpkins for sale, Halloween-themed games and prizes for kids. Children are encouraged to dress in their costumes to get more than one use out of them. It’s a real family affair.”

Clay glances down at Dutton and winks, like they’ve already discussed this tradition. I’d taken Dutton to the fest when he was younger as a way to pass a beautiful autumn day, but I’d stopped going when Wesley attended once and accused me of having an affair with Clay Sylver because we innocently smiled at one another.

I didn’t want to bring unwarranted attention to Clay because of Wesley’s nonsense.

“Also, my sister-in-law, Halle and brother Knox host a Halloween party at their house. It’s a new tradition for them.”

My lips firmly press together as I recall who Knox and Halle are. Halle Reynolds inherited the house across the street from mine when I lived here before, and while we’d never officially met, she was always polite, waving at me from across the boulevard. Her mother, who’d died last summer, had been friendly enough, but a bit nosy as a neighbor. Knox had been the firefighter who rescued Dutton and me from the flames that eventually engulfed my home and burned the house and my relationship beyond repair.

“I’d like to invite you and Dutton to come to the Fest as my special guests, and the party.”

“Like a date?” Dutton asks, his question innocent enough. However, it wouldn’t be a date with the three of us. Just a generous offer.

“I don’t know,” I admit, as my gaze drifts to Meredith a second. The seventy-year-old woman’s solid white hair is cut in a short, sharp bob, and a teasing gleam exists in her eyes as she glances back at me. An unmistakable curiosity about Clay’s connection to me glitters in her gaze.

However, other than Meredith, I’m skittish about seeing people who might recall my story. Returning to the hospital had been difficult enough. The nurses who remembered me had questions.

Where had I been? Was I okay? What happened to Wesley?

I’d had to plaster on a smile and pretend I was doing well, which wasn’t much of a stretch, but explaining Wesley had been the harder part. To keep things simple, I told people we’d divorced, and I’d gone to stay with my parents for a while. Too often people praised my mother and father for their generosity because they didn’t know the whole story. So many lies I told, and half the time, I believed them myself.