“The day after tomorrow. I have responsibilities that I can’t get out of. I wish I could blow them off, but I’m not made that way.”
“We knew you’d be leaving,” he said, his dark eyes fascinating her.
She wished he’d ask her to stay, or at least say he didn’t want her to leave like Sam had.
“Do you ever go to New York?” she asked, desperately longing for something to hold on to.
He hesitated a moment as if in thought, then slowly shook his head.
“This is my place,” he said.
She knew that. Here he was needed. Here he could do what he did best, helping his neighbors, making amazing wood sculptures. This was his place.
But it wasn’t hers.
“Webb Francis called today, his sister is bringing him early to the festival. He’s determined to get a front row seat,” she said, deliberately changing the subject before she burst into tears.
“I heard from him, too. We’ll probably sit together. I’ll be bringing my grandfather. Do you need a ride?”
She shook her head.
“I’m going with Sam and his parents. And Teresa Ann.”
When the dishes were done the rain began.
“I’m going to dash home now before it gets worse,” she said, watching the first of the drops splash against the kitchen window. The breeze blew it almost sideways.
“You’ll get soaked.”
“No telling how long it’ll last. I can dry off before bed this way.”
He walked her to her door, despite her protest he’d get twice as wet. The porch was sheltered from the rain, the sound loud against its roof.
Kirk cradled her head in his hands, his thumbs rubbing lightly against her cheeks as he stared down into her eyes. She could hardly see him in the darkness, only the light from the back of the cottage shone through the windows giving faint illumination.
“You’re very special, Angel. I wish for you the best life has to offer.”
He kissed her, softly, sweetly. Then dropped his hands.
“See you tomorrow.”
She watched as he ran across the lawn and disappeared into the night. His figure was blurred—from the rain or the tears that now fell she wasn’t sure.
“I love you,” she whispered into the night.
Chapter Eleven
The air was festive, the crowd good-natured and ready for fun. When Angelica and Sam and the Tanner family arrived at the fairgrounds, the parking lot was already half full and the performance wasn’t scheduled to start for another hour. They’d arrived early and Angelica was surprised to see so many others had also arrived early. They hurried to the amphitheater and found Gina who was marshaling everyone into places in the lineup.
Sam hugged Webb Francis’s violin and stayed so close to Angelica she almost stumbled over him when she turned once.
She looked at him. His eyes were big, watching everything around him, and darting from time to time to the stage. The crowd couldn’t be seen from their location, but she could hear the people.
She stooped down and faced him.
“Sam, look at me.”
He complied, looking as if he was going to cry.
