Our Now and Forever(63)

“Wes lives outside of town. He’s married to a local disc jockey and holds little jam sessions over at the Second Chance Saloon.” Dust danced in the beam from the flashlight. “If you’re a fan, I think he’s got a show coming up on Wednesday.”

Snow said she didn’t sing anymore, but the train that had derailed her dream was their marriage. If they were going to work, he didn’t want her hating him in ten years for taking that away from her. A star like Wes Tillman would have connections. Connections that could put Snow’s singing dreams back on track. And if he heard Snow’s voice, Caleb had no doubt Wes would be a willing benefactor.

Making a mental note to put in some calls, Caleb said, “Thanks. I’ll look into it.”

As the tour continued, Caleb grew to understand the magnitude of this project. The screen, seats, and scarlet curtains draped along the walls were all a total loss.

“How does the balcony look?” he asked, tucking a piece of foam back inside a ripped seat.

“Better than this, actually. But you can see now the extent of the project.” Spencer pointed the flashlight at the ceiling. “You still want to get involved?”

Following the beam of light, Caleb nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

Spencer must not have been expecting that answer. “Really?”

“Really,” he said, meeting his friend’s eye. “Did you think I’d see this and walk away?”

“I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest,” Spencer replied. “I don’t mean to butt into your business, but are you planning to stick around here in Ardent Springs? I got the impression from Snow when you first showed up that your visit was temporary. This project isn’t going to be done in a couple of months.”

Was Caleb’s stay temporary? Or would he be living in Ardent Springs come this time next year? The questions kept coming up, and the more he ruminated on the subject, the more he landed on the same answer.

There would be no leaving Snow, that was a given, but the original plan had always been to move his wife back to Louisiana with him. At some point in the last couple of weeks, without Caleb realizing, his plans had changed.

“I can’t give any guarantees, but as of right now, I don’t see us leaving anytime soon.”

A friendly grin split Spencer’s face. “Our little burb is growing on you, huh?”

Caleb shared a smile of his own. “I admit, the place has a certain charm about it.”

“We do our best,” Spencer said, heading back toward the lobby.

“By the way, where did you guys have this big festival?” Recalling his conversation with Cooper about space in town, Caleb added, “The fairgrounds?”

“Nope,” Spencer answered, stepping into the November chill. “Right here in the parking lot.”

Glancing left and right as he stepped through the door, Caleb saw nothing but Margin Street, lined with brick buildings and no parking lots. “There’s a parking lot?”

Spencer nodded to his left. “Around the side and behind the building. Come on, I’ll show you.”

With hunched shoulders, the men rounded the corner and Caleb was shocked to see a wide alley that led down the length of the building and into a sizable parking lot. An idea instantly came to mind.

“This is perfect,” he said aloud.

Spencer shrugged. “It’s okay. As far as parking lots go.”

“No,” Caleb said. “It’s exactly what we need.”



Snow spent her Friday morning searching the Internet for ideas on what to get Caleb for his birthday coming up at the end of the month. The present carried more weight as possibly the last thing she would ever give him.

Other than a divorce. They’d made progress in the happiness department, but Vivien’s threat was never far from Snow’s thoughts.

Her husband wasn’t the new gadget type, didn’t care about clothes, and it wasn’t as if they had much room in the apartment for something like a big-screen TV or an extra dresser.

Not that she’d buy him a dresser. That would be weird. Still, she almost wished they had a bigger place so Caleb could stop living out of the box his mother had shipped his clothes in. The thought brought her up short. When had she forgotten that Caleb would be leaving in little over two weeks? Their one-month trial period would end, and she’d send him packing. Or would she?

Imagining her life the way it had been before Caleb found her, Snow tried to find relief in a return to normal. In the thought of getting her life back. But seeing herself alone again only made her feel empty.

“Whatcha doin’?” Lorelei asked as she placed a plastic container on the counter. Without answering, Snow pointed to the bowl with a questioning look. “Granny made dumplings last night,” her friend answered, setting a fork and napkin next to the bowl. “This is my way of apologizing for Wednesday. Your love life is your business, and I need to butt out.” Crossing her arms, she added, “I’m sorry.”