Here’s to New Friendships
Noah
I tried to focus on what Lou Williams was saying, but I had to be honest—my attention was grabbed by the gorgeous stranger sitting at the table. I knew most of the women in town, of course, because Ivy knew no stranger and constantly introduced me to her ever-growing group of friends. But the woman sitting between Maggie and Maeve, looking at Lou with an expression of ever-growing horror—I was certain I hadn’t seen her before. I tuned back in to Lou.
“…who does your tax preparation?” Lou gave me a raised brow and then nodded her head toward the dark-haired beauty. I’m not sure how tall Lou was, a hair over five feet maybe, with silver hair and an expression that said she knew what you were thinking, so watch your step. I noticed the woman Lou was indicating had lowered her head to the table while Maeve patted her back and whispered something in her ear. Maggie just grinned at me. What had I gotten myself into?
Um, tax prep? Odd Monday-evening conversation even for Lou. “Uh, I typically do it myself.”
Lou shook her head, giving me a tsk-tsk-tsk sound of disappointment. “Don’t you think you could benefit from a quality accountant? Perhaps one who is new to the area?”
I studied Lou as her eyes darted from me to the woman. She wagged her gray brows at me like I should be getting on board a lot faster than I was. I considered Lou and all the nonverbal communication she was sending. I honestly wasn’t sure where this was going, but what the hell. It couldn’t hurt and would likely be entertaining at the least. I’d learned the fastest way to deal with Lou was to just go along with her.
“Sure, who doesn’t need an accountant at tax time?” I said, noting that Maggie’s and Maeve’s smiles became roughly two times larger than they had been. That alone indicated trouble because those two, from what I could tell, were kindred spirits with Lou, which meant we should all be on alert.
Still, being friendly to someone new to town was always good. And if it had something to do with the dark-haired woman, I was game. I wasn’t looking to date anyone, but nothing said I couldn’t help out when she’d been put on the spot by Lou. Might as well let Lou do her thing and make a new friend in the process. A drop-dead gorgeous one, but that was neither here nor there.
“Lou,” the dark-haired woman groaned as she picked her head up and looked at her nemesis in this situation, also known as the town gossip. Lou was usually flanked by her two cohorts, Jeanie and Hattie, or her calming presence of a husband, Verdell. I scanned the restaurant and didn’t see Verdell—the man was several inches over six feet and a tall, bald Black man at that, so he wasn’t someone you would miss. However, I did see Jeanie’s and Hattie’s gray heads bent together, eyes on us. So there was no one to reel her in tonight, only to encourage her brand of whatever. Good to know.
“What?” Lou asked, trying for an innocent appearance it seemed. Of course, that looked completely wrong on her face.
“Please don’t force me on anyone,” the mystery woman murmured, her cheeks heating up with clear embarrassment.
“Noah, am I forcing Jules on you?” Lou sounded indignant.
I noted that Maggie coughed as Emma laughed. Maeve gave a sound that was akin to a cackle, which made Allyson snort. The rest of the ladies looked on like they were wishing they had popcorn to make a night of it. I was floored Ivy hadn’t butted in to have a front-row seat but knew I’d be grilled about all this when I got back to our table.
Also noted, the mystery woman’s name was Jules. That fit her somehow, which was crazy since I knew next to nothing about her. I reached across the table and held out my hand, deciding to put her out of her misery. “Hello, Jules. I’m Noah. How do you know this troublemaker?” I nodded toward Lou.
Jules’s small hand slid into my grip, and there was… something. My stomach was suddenly unstable. The excitement I felt before a big game in high school was present, but that was a new one to come from a handshake. Something to think more about later.
Jules’s voice was a whisper, so I stepped closer to the table even as I dropped her palm, the rest of the brewery fading from my attention.
“Lou is my aunt,” she said.
Oh man. I mean, I had no family beyond Addie and our crew here in Highland to speak of because life was better for me when I didn’t try to insert myself into the lives of my parents. I’d written them off after college, and they didn’t seem to be too broken up about it. Probably because they’d turned their backs first. What would it be like to have an aunt like Lou? I guessed she’d be supportive but also a whole lot to deal with. Likely a riot at family gatherings. And Jules seemed to be someone whowould prefer being able to fly under the radar if I was reading her right. Unfortunately for her, I don’t think Lou knew the concept of living her life in the shadows.
I tried to lighten the mood. “Well, welcome to Highland Falls, Jules. Are you here visiting your aunt so she can get you clients for your accounting business? That’s a new marketing strategy, I suppose.” I gave her a small smile, trying to indicate that I knew what a cluster this was and didn’t hold her responsible for one bit of it.
Jules’s own expression appeared a little strained, but she shook her head like she was trying to clear her mind and take back control. Good luck with that. “I just moved to town two weeks ago and started working at Sue’s firm. Do you know it?”
I wanted to high-five the woman for the backbone I could see growing before my very eyes. Go, Jules. “I do and, in a strange way here, Lou might have done us a favor. I’m sure I could use an accountant this year, though the big deadline is approaching and I don’t want to cause you a headache.”
“It’s totally fine,” she murmured.
“Okay. In that case, do you have a card or just want me to call the office tomorrow?”
I watched her fair skin flush again, the freckles across her nose and over her cheeks standing out in stark relief. She was wearing a white hoodie, which only made the flush more evident. And her long brown hair was swept on top of her head in some type of messy bun, allowing me to see the blazing trail of red up her neck. A foreign instinct rose inside me, wanting to reassure her, to take her out of the spotlight, but I held myself back. Jules didn’t need me fighting her fights for her. If I even tried, Ivy would come over here and lose her mind. So there was that.
Jules bit her lower lip, worrying it between her teeth before speaking. “Um, since I just started down here a couple of weeksago, I don’t have any cards yet, but you can call the office.” She hesitated before proceeding. “Or not. I mean, please don’t feel like you have to.”
I could see how uncomfortable she was, and I badly wanted to excuse myself so I wouldn’t stress her anymore. I locked eyes with her, trying to convey the truth behind my words. “I absolutely don’t feel like I have to, Jules. You’re doing me a favor, so expect a call tomorrow.” Her eyes widened, but she didn’t look away, so I considered that a success. I glanced at the other women at the table and nodded at them all. “Ladies.” I started to walk away but then thought better of it and turned to Lou. With a squeeze to her hand, I whispered, “Behave, Ms. Lou.”
She squeezed back, and I noted that while her hands betrayed her seventy plus years on this earth, she was stronger than she appeared. Her eyes twinkled at me as she said, “Now Noah, where would the fun be in that?”
I shook my head at her and waved to the table so I could head back over to my own group. As I walked to where Jake, Ivy, and Addie sat—which was only twenty or so steps—I fought the urge to turn around and see if Jules was watching me. It felt like she was, but surely my mind was messing with me. Finally I reached our group and a leather armchair, my mind a mess.
Sliding into my chair, I looked to see Addie happily spinning in the corner, lost in the music that was pumping out the speakers, having a dance party of one. Her coloring supplies decorated the low table already, so she had made herself at home. Considering Jake was a part owner, she did spend a fair amount of time here, so that wasn’t shocking. This was our normal table because it easily contained her free spirit with room to dance and color, but there was no concern about her wandering off. Tonight her blond hair had escaped her ponytail, and her tutu was flaring out as she spun. I loved that she was socomfortable in her own skin. Ivy had done so much right with our daughter. I hoped one day to see my impact on her too and prayed it was as positive.
