Excerpt from Chapter 1

Granny’s Diner

July 13, 1979

5:00 p.m.

Is today the day?

Will he ask?

Should I say yes?

Be cool.

Sally’s heart ticked up several beats with anticipation, while she made her selection. She was sauntering toward the counter when the first beat of the song began, and they walked in. Five men, each special, but her eyes -they were saved for only one.

“Working For A Livin?” Paula noted the song. “I expected you to choose something else.

“I thought it was a good Friday song,” Sally replied. “But which one did you think I’d pick?”

“Oh, maybe ‘You’re The One That I Want,’” Paula side-eyed her. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe, my ass,” Paula snickered. “You’ve been waiting months for him to ask you out.”

Which was true. She had. Through no fault of his, though. That had all been on her. Mainly because it had taken over a year for her to feel comfortable with the idea. Not only the idea of dating, but the idea of staying put. She’d not expected to feel anything for a place. Somehow, Swan Harbor had changed her way of thinking. Would he understand that? 

“Am I hoping for the impossible?” Sally whispered.

“Ha!”

“Ha?” Sally frowned. “Why ha?”

“Danny has been mooning over you since the moment he saw you.”

Sally glanced toward the door where the men were chatting with the diner owner, Granny. There was a familiarity between the older woman and the group of friends that made her envious. Which wasn’t a feeling she’d allowed before. However, now that she had …

Danny looked her direction, and their eyes met. The zing whenever he was near jumpstarted her heart and caused it to pound.

“Why have you held out?” Paula questioned.

I have my reasons, Sally wanted to say. Instead, she offered, “He hasn’t asked, recently anyway.”

“You could always take the initiative, you know.”

The idea caused Sally’s hands to sweat, and her stomach to feel funny.

“I don’t think I could do that.”

Paula studied her for so long, Sally had to fight to stand still. She knew her friend was curious about her past. However, any time the need arose to share her story, she squashed it back down. Lately, though, something had changed.

She’d lived in Swan Harbor for more than a year, and finally felt safe enough to let down her guard. Was the fact that the town claimed to be a ‘haven of hope for lost hearts,’ helping to heal hers? Had she finally bumped up against a place where hope was stronger than her fear?  

“Go.” Paula nudged hard enough that Sally had to take a step to avoid falling.

“Do I look okay?”

“You look beautiful. Just go!”

“But …”

“Sally Miller,” Paula scolded. “You’ve told me many times you’re a strong, independent woman. Stop making excuses and go.”

“I’m going. I’m going.” Sally took a step toward the group, and then another. The closer she drew to them, the faster her heart raced.

“Welcome to Granny’s,” she greeted. “How was work?”

“Work was work,” Sonny, the one with the biggest personality, grumbled.

“It was good.” Charlie, the bookish one, replied.

“Nothing major,” Robert, a deputy with the Sheriff’s department, responded.

“Uneventful,” Clint, the man with the easiest smile, answered.

Once again, her eyes met Danny’s. Her heart jumped in her chest, then settled into a steady thump.

Daniel Patterson was the quiet one. He never said much, but every time he said her name, the S in Sally was slightly elongated. It made her feel as if he was caressing it.

“Okay

“Just okay?” she teased. “That’s it?”

“Juh-Juh-Just okay.”

He differed from any other man who’d ever caught her eye. Tall, easily six-feet-five-inches, with sandy blond hair, a kind demeanor, and brown eyes that visited in her dreams. How was she supposed to continue to fight when all she wanted was to dive in and ask him to never let her go?

Sally slammed the brakes on those thoughts. She gave herself a mental shake, then pulled out her pad.

“Your usual?”

“Nuh-Nuh-Not for me,” Danny replied. “I have to leave soon.”

“Oh, okay.” His announcement was unexpected, and the last thing she’d wanted to hear. Sally fought to maintain her neutral expression and tossed out, “It’s not the burgers running you off, is it?”

“Not today.”

Danny’s cryptic comment had her wondering if she’d waited too long. “Well, okay then. Don’t be a stranger. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

Then, before she embarrassed herself any further, she rushed into the back room.

To be Continued …