“Same.” She managed a small smile. “How long do we have to stay before it’s polite to leave?”
“I was thinking twenty minutes. Maybe thirty if Winnie corners us.” Melissa’s mouth twitched. “She has this way of making you want to please her. It’s annoying.”
“I’ve noticed.” She glanced toward Winnie, who was laughing with a group near the fire pit. “She invited me with this look that said she knew I’d say no, but she was asking anyway.”
“And here you are.”
“Here I am.”
They positioned themselves strategically near the food table, close enough to appear engaged but far enough from the fire pit to avoid being pulled into conversations. Emily picked up a plate she didn’t want and studied the offerings with unnecessary concentration.
“Emily Shaw!” A cheerful voice cut through the ambient conversations. “I was hoping you’d be here.”
Emily turned to find Sally Morris from the general store weaving through the crowd, carrying a covered dish. Her warm smile was genuine and unguarded. She reached the food table and set down her contribution before pulling Winnie into an easy embrace.
“Sally, you didn’t have to bring anything.” Winnie squeezed her friend’s shoulders. “You know that.”
“And miss showing off my new recipe? Not a chance. Besides, I’ve been coming to these gatherings for years. I know the rules.” Sally’s laugh was infectious.
This was what community looked like. What belonging felt like. She’d had that once in Chicago, before everything fell apart.
Sally turned her attention to Emily, her expression softening. “How are you settling in? Finding everything you need?”
“Yes, thank you. The cottage is perfect.” She managed what she hoped was a convincing smile.
“Starfish was always my favorite.” Sally uncovered her dish, revealing what looked like a layered dip. “The last tenant stayed for nearly two years. Sweet woman, not a painter, but she loved that studio. Made it into a nice little sitting room.” She turned to Melissa. “And how are you, dear?”
Melissa gave a noncommittal nod and a brief smile.
Winnie touched Sally’s arm. “Come help me grab some more food from my cottage?”
Sally followed Winnie across the courtyard, leaving Emily and Melissa in their strategic corner once more. Emily picked up a cracker she didn’t want and studied the crowd with renewed determination to appear engaged.
The door to Driftwood Cottage opened, and Clint emerged into the courtyard. He paused on his porch for a moment, surveying the gathering with the same expression Emily imagined she’d worn earlier. Reluctance radiated from every line of his posture.
He descended the steps and crossed to the food table as though he had a specific mission to complete before he could retreat. His gaze swept past Emily and Melissa with a brief nod that somehow managed to be both polite and dismissive.
Melissa stiffened beside her.
Clint grabbed a beer from the cooler and twisted off the cap. The movement was practiced and automatic. He took a long drink and swept his gaze across the courtyard, but he deliberately avoided looking at Melissa.
Sally returned with Winnie, both carrying additional trays. Clint positioned himself near Winnie.
Emily watched the way he angled his body slightly toward his aunt. Protective. Vigilant. Like he was standing guard rather than attending a social gathering. Winnie seemed oblivious to his hovering, or perhaps she’d simply grown accustomed to it over the years.
Sally pulled Clint into their conversation with the ease of someone who’d known him since childhood. She said something that made Winnie laugh, then touched Clint’s arm with casual affection.
His shoulders dropped slightly. Not much, but enough that Emily noticed. He managed a small smile at whatever Sally had said, though his expression remained guarded.
Emily recognized that careful relaxation. The way you could appear engaged while maintaining emotional distance. The art of being present without actually being vulnerable. She’d perfected that skill herself over the past year.
Clint’s gaze drifted toward their corner of the courtyard. Melissa studied her plate with sudden intensity. The tension between them was evident even from across the space.
Winnie clapped her hands together, the sound cutting through the various conversations scattered around the courtyard. “Everyone, gather around the fire pit for a moment.”
The crowd shifted, forming a loose circle around the flames. Emily found herself pulled along with the movement, glad to feel Melissa beside her. She positioned herself slightly behind a taller man, hoping to maintain some anonymity in the group.
“I wanted to take a moment to welcome our newest resident.” Winnie’s warm gaze swept across the gathering before landing on Emily. “This is Emily, who’s staying in Starfish Cottage.”
