“Of course.” Peyton could still hear their accusations. “They’re used to getting their own way.”
“Will they change your mind?”
Peyton held Darius’s watchful gaze. “No, they won’t.”
“If they’re used to having their own way—and you’re used to giving it to them—what makes this time different?”
“I’m different.” A whisper of a smile curved her lips. “I’m more confident. And that’s because of this town and the people. Here, I feel accepted for who I am and who I want to be.”
Darius studied her for a long, silent moment. What was he looking for? What was he thinking?
He lifted his glass of iced tea. “A toast to your new home and to your always being happy here.”
Peyton touched her glass to his. “I’m sure I will be.”
A great job in a terrific town and wonderful new friends. What more could she hope for?
The next evening, Darius sat on Peyton’s right at the large conference table in one of the Trinity Falls Town Hall meeting rooms. Since she was the one with the fundraising experience, he’d left the seat at the head of the table for her. He didn’t want anyone to think he could answer the critical questions. He couldn’t.
The meeting would start in a few minutes, at 8:00 p.m. on this Thursday night. Most of the committee members already had arrived. Darius looked at the six other people seated around the table, which could comfortably fit ten. Vaughn and Dr. Olivia Stark had walked in with Peyton. They sat across the table from him. The three professors must have left the university together. Stan, CeCe, and Ethel had shown up just a few minutes apart. They’d chosen to sit beside him. The only volunteer not yet accounted for was his father. Why am I not surprised?
He touched the back of Peyton’s hand to get her attention. “Let’s get started.”
She glanced at her watch. “We can wait a few minutes for your father.”
“No, we can’t.” Darius’s voice was low but firm.
“All right.” Peyton tugged a sheet of paper from the manila folder in front of her and grasped her pen. Facing the group, she raised her voice to gain their attention. “Thank you all for coming. We appreciate your willingness to help make this fundraiser for the Guiding Light Community Center a great success. As Darius and I explained—”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to interrupt.” CeCe looked around the table. “But shouldn’t we all introduce ourselves first?”
Darius winced. Round-robin introductions? No way. “That’s not necessary. We all know each other.”
“You may think so but . . . well, I’ll just introduce myself.” She shifted in her seat, extending her right hand to Stan, who sat between her and Darius. “I’m CeCe Roben. I’m a member of the Trinity Falls Town Council.”
Stan’s eyes widened in surprise. He took CeCe’s proffered hand. “We’ve met, CeCe. I’m Stan Crockett, formerly Trinity Falls’ town drunk.”
CeCe’s whole body shook with shock. “Stan? Oh my gosh! You look so different.”
The recovering alcoholic grinned, releasing CeCe’s hand. “I guess I must for you not to recognize me after all these years.”
Darius resisted the urge to check his watch. He waited for CeCe and Stan to finish. “Does anyone else want introductions?”
Murmurings in the negative circled the room. Across the rectangular table, Vaughn’s dark eyes gleamed as though he found Darius’s impatience amusing. Darius opened his mouth to ask Peyton to continue the meeting. A booming voice forestalled his request.
“Evening, everyone.” Simon surveyed the meeting room. “What have I missed?”
Darius took a calming breath, drawing in the room’s chilly, moldy air. “Take a seat.”
Ethel shifted on her chair beside CeCe. “Is that supposed to be your grand entrance?” She snorted. “You know you can’t come into a meeting late, then ask what you missed.”
Simon appeared to be feeding off her negative attention. He lowered himself onto the chair at the foot of the table. “I’m sorry I kept everyone waiting. I was delayed by some important business.”
Ethel snorted. “This is important business. If you were serious about volunteering, you would have shown up on time.”
Peyton raised her hands, palms out. “Let’s stay on topic.” She lowered her hands and glanced at her sheet of notes. “Thank you for coming. As I’d started to explain, we have a very aggressive schedule. Darius and I have decided to use the fundraiser to celebrate the center’s fortieth anniversary with a dance.”
“That’s a clever idea.” Olivia’s dark eyes sparkled in her brown face.