Free Coming Home by Mariah Stewart

committing a crime in St. Dennis over the weekend.”
    “God forbid,” the woman agreed as Vanessa came back out to the shop floor. “Well, thank you for letting me try on the dress.”
    “Of course. Come back anytime.” Vanessa walked her to the door and held it open for Candice to pass through. She waved good-bye from the door and closed it behind her.
    “What a slow day,” Vanessa complained to Steffie. “That was it as far as customers go.”
    Steffie glanced at her watch. “It’s early yet. It’s a nice, warm sunny morning. By two this afternoon, the sidewalks will be packed.”
    “So what’s put that shit-eating grin on your face this morning?”
    “Guess who I had coffee with while you were trying to make your first sale of the day?”
    “I couldn’t even begin to guess.”
    “Mountain Man.”
    “Oh, Grady?” Vanessa tried to appear disinterested. “Where’d you run into him?”
    “Across the street at Cuppachino. He was there with Beck and the other brother who’s going to be in the wedding and his wife.”
    “Andy. Dorsey is his wife.”
    “Right. And I’m here to tell you, the man is not all that dull.”
    “Really? Couldn’t prove it by me.” Vanessa refolded a stack of T-shirts. “I met him at Hal’s party the other night. I wasn’t impressed.”
    “You lie.”
    “No, seriously. I wasn’t at all …”
    Steffie started to laugh.
    “What’s so funny?” Vanessa raised an indignant eyebrow.
    “Did you know that when you try to tell a lie, your eyes shift to one side?”
    “You’ve been watching too much TV,” Vanessa grumbled.
    “Seriously, Ness.” Still grinning, Steffie rested her el bows on the counter. “How could you not be impressed? He’s good-looking, articulate, smart, interesting—”
    “You got all that over one cup of coffee?”
    “And a cheese Danish.”
    “A Danish?” Vanessa raised an eyebrow. “What happened to the water diet you were on a few days ago?”
    “This was a special occasion.”
    “Well, since you so obviously think this guy’s got it all, I say go for it.”
    “Thanks, but he’s not my type.”
    “Stef, you just finished telling me that he’s—”
    “He’s all those things I said. He’s a really nice guy. But …” Steffie shrugged. “No spark. Know what I mean?”
    Vanessa stared at Steffie. “I’m … speechless.”
    “I know.” Steffie grinned. “I could hardly believe it myself. But you know how I always know the minute I meet a guy if there’s ever going to be something there or not?”
    Intrigued, Vanessa nodded.
    “Well … nothing.” Steffie held up both hands. “Nada. Zilch.”
    “Wow. Who’d have guessed it?” Vanessa’s eyes began to twinkle. “The first really hot single guy to hit St. Dennis since I moved here, and Steffie isn’t feeling the love. I guess stranger things have happened. Perhaps not in my lifetime, but still …”
    “There is an explanation.”
    “Do tell.”
    Steffie leaned over the counter. “I heard that Beck invited Wade MacGregor to the wedding and that he’s coming in on Friday. And that he isn’t bringing a date.”
    “I saw the name on the guest list, but I don’t know who he is.”
    “He’s a guy who used to pal around with my brother. He and Beck used to sail together.”
    “Just a guy?”
    “Just the guy. As in, the guy I wrote about in my diary. The guy I walked three blocks out of my way every day just to go by his house. The guy who broke my heart when he took Krista Blackwell to the prom junior year.”
    “How about senior year?”
    “I don’t remember who he took his senior year, but my senior year, I wanted to ask him but my mom wouldn’t let me.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because she thought he was too old for me.”
    “How much older?”
    “Like, four years.”
    “That’s a lot when you’re in high school, Stef. He’d have been in college already.”
    “He was. I invited him to my graduation party, and he came and brought me flowers.”