Foster sliced into his chicken. “Speaking of Doreen and Alonzo’s wedding, I assume Quincy and Ramona are planning to attend?”
“They’ll be here next Monday.” Darius scooped a forkful of rice. “They’re staying at Harmony Cabins.”
Foster nodded as he chewed his food. “His contract with the University of Pennsylvania is up in June. I was hoping to lure him back to TFU.”
“I can understand the appeal of a larger university.” Lana sipped her iced water. “But Trinity Falls is a special place. And the university offers faculty a lot more flexibility than a larger institution would.”
“I left Trinity Falls.” Benita turned to Vaughn. “And both of Vaughn’s brothers left Trinity Falls.”
He understood what she was doing. Benita was staging a public protest with her subtle digs. Vaughn remained calm and returned fire. “Ben and Zach are returning to Trinity Falls later this year.”
Benita blinked at him. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I just did.” Vaughn returned to his dinner.
“I’m from New York.” Peyton broke the short silence. “Moving to Trinity Falls is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Audra Lane, who moved here from Los Angeles, feels the same way.”
Darius caught Peyton’s gaze. “I’m glad you made the decision.”
Envy pricked Vaughn as he watched the other couple exchange a loving look. He glanced at Benita from the corner of his eye. Audra was one of Benita’s celebrity clients. Born and raised in Los Angeles, the songwriter said she’d moved to Trinity Falls because it felt more like home. How could he convince Benita that Trinity Falls was home for both of them?
CHAPTER 19
Early Saturday morning, Benita curled up on the love seat in Ms. Helen’s foyer and sipped her chai tea. She contemplated her great-aunt as the older lady sat on a straight-back oak chair positioned before her front windows, providing Ms. Helen a comfortable spot from which to survey her neighborhood.
No matter how early Benita woke up, she found Ms. Helen awake and dressed before her. This morning, her great-aunt wore the fashionable cherry red cotton lounge suit Benita had bought her for Christmas.
“What’s on your mind, Benita?” Ms. Helen’s quiet question brought their companionable silence to an end.
“My vacation’s halfway over.” She was stalling for time. “I’m driving back to L.A. June twenty-first, the Sunday after Doreen and Alonzo’s wedding.”
“I still don’t understand why you chose to drive all that way.” Ms. Helen sipped her tea.
“I wanted my car with me. But I appreciate your worrying about me and it was more convenient to pack it up. I worry about you, too.” That was a smooth transition to the conversation she had in mind.
“You want to talk about that old-age home again, don’t you?” Apparently, Ms. Helen saw through her.
“It’s not an old-age home, Aunt Helen.”
Her great-aunt shifted on her seat to face Benita. “One of the reasons I love living in Trinity Falls is that everyone counts. Everyone contributes.”
“I suppose you’re right.” What was behind the abrupt change of subject?
“When Megan McCloud took a leap of faith and diversified her family’s bookstore, she created new jobs for the community.”
“That’s true.” Benita liked the new Books & Bakery even more than the old bookstore, but she’d never considered the impact the store’s changes had on the community.
“When Ramona McCloud returned from New York and ran for mayor, she repaired the damage the previous mayor’s mismanagement had caused the community. Now we’re starting to thrive again.”
“I remember that.” It had taken a lot of courage and strength of character to stand up to the establishment and turn the town in a new direction.
“Darius Knight convinced Stan Crockett to enter an Alcoholics Anonymous program. Now Stan’s a healthy, contributing member of the community. He even volunteered on the fund-raising committee for the community center.”
“That’s wonderful.” What was her great-aunt’s point?
“As you heard last night, I’m also a contributing member of this community.” Ms. Helen’s voice cooled. “And I won’t be driven from my home until I’m no longer able to contribute.”
Benita swallowed a sigh. “Aunt Helen, you live alone. There’s no one here to go to for help if, God forbid, something happened to you.”