She must be so disappointed. A planner never did well when their plans were all blown to heck. “I am sorry about Nashville.” He reached over and touched her hand.
Missy straightened her shoulders and turned back to look at him. “I am, too. But it’s time to move on.”
He left his hand resting on hers when she turned and looked out the window. He squeezed her hand once in a show of silent support.
~ * ~
“May I walk you home?” Dylan flashed a lazy grin at her.
“Yet again?” She smiled back at him.
“Wouldn’t want you to get lost.”
“In a town I grew up in and could probably find my way around it blindfolded?”
“Yes, that town.” He winked at her.
“Well, I hate getting lost, so I’ll accept your offer.” Missy tugged on her jacket and they left the Magnolia Cafe.
The night had turned cool and a light breeze had picked up. The strings of Christmas lights strung across the street swayed in the wind. Missy fastened her jacket and made a mental note to borrow some warmer clothes from Becky Lee. She was going to have to go back to Nashville soon and get the rest of her things, including some warmer sweaters.
Dylan draped his arm around her shoulder as they walked. “I think I’m going to go out and buy you some warmer clothes.”
“I was just thinking of raiding Becky Lee’s closet. I’ll have to head back to Nashville and get the rest of my things. Guess I’ll do that after the holidays.”
“So, you really are planning on staying here?”
“I guess so. I’ll need to find a job, and not sure what I’ll do. Not much call for an unemployed singer-songwriter here in town.”
“You can at least get some gigs at Frankie’s. Doesn’t pay much, but it’s fun to get in front of a crowd.”
“I’ll definitely talk to her about that, but I need something steady to pay the bills.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something.”
Missy wasn’t so sure. Her experience in the last few years had been multiple receptionist positions, from a hair styling salon to a small travel company. Oh, and then various waitressing jobs at a busy diner, and then onto a wannabe country bar that didn’t even fill all their seats on the weekends. Missy let a deep sigh slip out before she could stop it.
“What would you like to do? You have to have some other interests besides singing.”
“I never really thought of what else I could do with my life. I know I seem a bit old to be thinking about what I want to do when I grow up.”
“Not at all. People readjust their thinking all through their lives. Plans change. Life sometimes throws you an unexpected curve.”
“If I can find something to tide me over for a bit, I’ll try to figure out a long term solution after that…”
“And there you have it. A plan.” Dylan flashed her a self-satisfied smile like he’d solved all her problems.
Maybe it solved some short-term problem, but it didn’t help with the long term what-to-do-with-her-life problem. She was used to having a carefully laid out life map. She held back another sigh, unwilling to have a pity party.
She was a planner, she’d figure it all out again.
~ * ~
Dylan stood with Missy on Becky Lee’s front porch and for the life of him, couldn’t figure out why he wanted to kiss the woman standing next to him. They’d been friends forever. Oh, he might have had a high-school crush on Missy that was quickly squashed when she started dating his best friend, Shawn. Might have. But this desire to pull her into his arms was nuts. She’d only been back a handful of days.
He carefully took a step back, putting some distance between them.
“Well, I better go in. Going over to Mom’s in the morning to help wrap up some presents for the nursing home residents. Mom got her knitting friends to knit and crochet up some lap blankets and a handful of other fun presents for residents who don’t get many visitors. Evidently she’s been doing this for a few years, ever since our old neighbor, Mrs. Greene, moved there. She doesn’t have any family left and Mom took to visiting her and now has a bunch of residents she’s made friends with.”
“Your mother is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”
“You’re right there. She always has time for everyone, always helping. I hope I have one-tenth of her energy when I get to her age.” Missy laughed. “Heck, I’d take that energy now.”
“You seem to be following in her footsteps.”
Missy looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Helping out with the Christmas play. Setting up for the tree lighting ceremony. Helping your mom wrap presents for the nursing home…”