“I guess we’re the new hot spot in town.”

“I ran into Charity the other day.” Lillian crossed her arms and smiled. “Chuck continues to improve.”

“Happy news,” Bryony said.

“I thought you might want to know.”

Bryony tried to brush off the comment. Only Lillian knew the endurance of Bryony Green’s special fondness for the cute—then handsome—boy she met the first day Chuck moved to town.

“Charity has no idea how instrumental you were in keeping them together,” Lillian said.

Bryony shrugged her shoulders.

She and Chuck met the day he moved into a house down the block. He asked about the local library. She gave him a tour of the town.

They became inseparable, for a time. Chuck called her his “best bud,” and Bryony dubbed him her favorite neighborhood nerd. They had fun together, and though Chuck never tried to kiss her, or even hold her hand, Bryon confided in Lillian that she was ready, waiting, and wanting him to make a move.

But then Charity moved to town, and Chuck’s interest in his neighbor shrank to times of angsty romance trouble. On those days, Bryony would walk with him and listen, always asking, “What do you want, Chuck?”

Chuck would always answer, “I want Charity.” After wise counsel from the girl who had been his “best bud,” and would never be his girlfriend, Chuck would reconcile, every time, with the girl who would someday be his wife.

“Did you know Cal knows Chuck?” Lillian asked.

“What?” Bryony dropped a bagel.

Lillian offered an empathetic grimace. “Chuck’s the reason Cal took the job at the high school,” she said.

“What are you talking about?” Bryony bent down to pick up the warm ring of dough.

“They grew up together as boys in Cleveland, before Chuck moved here. I thought you might not know since you hadn’t mentioned it.”

Bryony’s solar plexus issued a sick little pang. Cal and Charity had a connection through Chuck? She thought she had transcended those old less-than feelings conjured up by flawless, perfect Charity Henderson. And here they were, back to plague her with the same mood-killing, mind-numbing, body-shaming potency as before.

She tossed the fallen bagel into the wastebasket. Cal said he came to Fieldstone because of an old friend, but he hadn’t mentioned Chuck. The information grew around her like a prickly raspberry patch. Would dating Cal put her in the vicinity of the two people she had spent the last thirty-plus years avoiding?

“I wanted you to hear it from me”—Lillian’s expression changed from bearer-of-bad-news to eyes-on-the-prize—“because I knew you would do what you’re doing right now.”

“What am I doing?” Bryony asked.

“You’re letting yourself lose again, and this isn’t a contest. Cal seems partial to you. Charity is not a threat. What happened in high school is ancient history.” Lillian swatted Bryony’s hip as she walked to the office.

“Ancient history,” Bryony said, glancing over at the table where Cleopatra and Salome rose to put on their coats. Neither of them looked back before leaving the coffee shop.

Bryony plodded through the rest of the day, dreading the hour when high school students would rush in. She knew Cal would show up, and he did, right on schedule.

“What can I get for you today?”

He leaned on the counter, closing the distance between them. “Will you have dinner with me tonight since we can’t do the movie on Friday?”

So, no obvious blow back from her efforts on his behalf, which was a relief, but he seemed completely unaware of her mood, which made sense. How could he have known that she just found out he was tangled up with her worst memories? She wanted to be with Cal. She knew she did. With tough resolve, she decided she could not let Charity get in the way one more time.

Just as she started to accept his invitation, Cal said, “I’ve been invited for dinner at the Hendersons. Chuck and Charity. Do you know them?”

Bryony choked back the affirmative reply on her lips and stumbled over her words. “Casually, it’s a small town.”

“I’d like you to come,” Cal said. “I got some bad news at school today.”

Had Mitch given him a hard time about canceling on trivia? Cal spoke again before she could ask.

“Mitch told me the school board will probably cut funding for the work study program next year. Cut it completely!”

“That’s terrible,” she said, doing a miserable job of feigning surprise. Mitch had warned her, and she had failed to pass on the information to Cal. So much for being a bridge. Too much pressure, and she collapsed because there was no way to maintain integrity with both of them at the same time. “Todd’s been great for us.”

“Right?” Cal straightened his back, and Bryony could see the taut muscles in his neck. Trim, fit, attractive, intelligent, and right in front of her, asking her to be with him. “I need to meet with Chuck,” he continued. “Will you join us? I’d like your support.”

“Chuck and you need to discuss business,” Bryony said. No way was she going to dinner at Charity Henderson’s house. “You and I can get together when you return from Cleveland.”

“I’d really like you to come,” he repeated. “And you’re still welcome to come with me to Cleveland.”

Conflicting thoughts pushed hard against the deep confusion of not knowing what to do next. Bryony’s feelings were all over the place, riding high from the past few weeks of being with Cal, lower than low from the news of Cal’s connection to Charity through Chuck.

And Cal seemed oblivious. He just kept talking.

“Sorry. I know it’s rude to continue asking after a woman says no, but about tonight, I asked Charity if I could bring a date, and she said she would love the company.” He leaned forward again and stage-whispered, “Their house is enormous. Pool table, ping pong, theater room with a huge TV, a sauna. I’m sure you two could find something to do while Chuck and I talk.”

Spending an evening with Charity Henderson in her pretentious home topped Bryony’s list of not-going-to-do-that-ever. “I’ve been feeling a bit off today,” she said, her voice catching.

Still oblivious, Cal countered with, “Sure I can’t change your mind?” He cocked his head, wrinkles bunching the skin on his forehead.

Warmth returned to her midsection. “Did Bailey teach you how to beg with your eyes?”

“I’m not good at it, am I?” Cal asked.

On the contrary, those lovely blue eyes almost convinced her, but she stood firm. “You and I can reschedule. Do you want to order something?”

Cal looked around at the three young people waiting for their turn to order. He again faced Bryony. “No, thanks. Bailey calls. I’ll call you later tonight?”

“Please do.” The warm feelings bubbled inside again. He waved and ran, technically jogged, to the door.

When the line of teenagers dwindled, Lillian laid her hand on Bryony’s shoulder and smiled. “That’s funny,” she said.

“You heard?” Bryony asked.

“The universe conspires to help you release grudges.”

“Would you stop?”

“I have always said you won’t find your soul mate until you forgive Charity Beaman for stealing the love of your life right out from under you.”