If I Loved You (Harper Falls Book 1)
Page 28
Dani could remember coming here as a little girl and impatiently feeling like it would never get dark. It was the one time during summer vacation that she wished the sun wound go down early. But eventually the time would arrive and her father would hoist her onto his shoulders so that she could be just a little bit closer to the colorful lights. Then her mother and brother would gather close so that they could enjoy the display together. She eventually grew too old to sit on her father's shoulders. And though she and her brother would spend all day running around with their friends, when it grew dark they always found their way back to their parents so they could watch the fireworks as a family.
One of the things she'd missed most when she left for college and a career away from Harper Falls was this—coming to the park with her mother and father. She'd even missed her annoying brother Caleb though she had to admit he was much easier to get along with now that they didn't have to share a bathroom.
As Dani searched the crowd, it didn't take her long to find her father. As usual he was manning one of the propane barbeques that the city set up every year. For a few dollars, anyone could buy a huge plate of food. It consisted of tender pork ribs, potato salad, and corn on the cob dripping with butter. And a piece of chocolate sheet cake personally made by Dani's mother and topped with a thick layer of her famous caramel frosting. People bought tickets weeks in advance for the dessert alone.
When she and her friends had returned home almost two years ago, Dani had wondered if the Fourth of July celebration would possibly be able to live up to her memories. She shouldn't have worried. There were minor changes but nothing worth mentioning. Familiar faces mingled happily with new comers. And her family still gathered together when it got dark. But now the family included Caleb's wife and two children. Changes, but good ones.
Changes were affecting her little circle as well. Oh, Rose and Tyler were still the best friends she could ever hope for. But Rose was now madly in love and engaged to be married. Dani was thrilled and she couldn't have picked a better man than Jack Winston. It was obvious to anyone who looked at them that he adored her. And that meant Dani and Tyler were more than happy to expand their circle to fit another member.
Deciding to give her skin a break from the afternoon sun, Dani found a relatively deserted place under one of the park's many shade trees. She leaned back and closed her eyes, concentrating on muting the noises around her. As a result, she was able to bring the din of the crowd down to a gentle roar. Then suddenly the roar of a motorcycle pulling into the nearby parking lot broke the spell. Nothing was gentle about that noise.
Dani lifted one eyelid to get a peek at the new arrival. Motorcycles weren't unheard of at the picnic, but most people tended to come in groups of friends and family. There were trucks, mini-vans, and even a few RVs. It wasn't the mode of transportation that was unusual but the fact that the driver had arrived alone.
From where she was sitting the rider looked to be tall and well built. A helmet covered his head, but as he removed his leather jacket could see that under his black t-shirt were well muscled arms and a flat stomach. Nice butt, too. His faded jean showed off long legs that Dani imagined were as muscled as the rest of him. As he unbuckled the strap under his chin, she sat up a little straighter. If his face was even a fraction as good as the rest of him, Dani was ready to be a welcoming party of one.
The man removed his helmet revealing thick, longish dark hair, slightly damp with sweat and having a tendency to curl. Better and better, she smiled. Then as he turned towards her, Dani froze, certain her eyes must be playing tricks on her. Five years later and covered in a shaggy beard, that face was still as familiar to her as if she had seen it yesterday. She felt a burst of joy overtake her body. She jumped to her feet, ready to welcome him with open arms. But before she could move someone beat her to it.
"Alex!" A curvy brunette burst from the crowd and threw herself at the man. He laughed and caught her in his arms with ease, as though he'd done it a hundred times before.
Dani felt as if her heart was being ripped from her chest. He hadn't come for her. The ridiculous fantasy that she had held onto all these years was just that—ridiculous. And as she watched Alex look down at the woman in his arms with what any fool could see was love, she felt the last bit of hope slip away forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary lives in Eastern Washington just like the characters in her books. Harper Falls is fictitious, but many of the aspects of small town life mirror her home town. If I Loved You is the culmination of a long time dream and now that it has become a reality, she plans on writing many more. Please visit Mary's website at maryjwilliams.net. If you would like to ask a question or just say hello you can contact her at mary@maryjwilliams.net.