Chapter 1
Maria Wylder sat in the Longhorn Diner in Sweetheart Creek, Texas, and let the hubbub swirl around her. Everyone wanted to chat about her sons Myles and Ryan, and their high school football team. Since they’d begun coaching a few years ago, they’d taken several runs at the state championship, and this year was no different. It was exciting, but the way the playoffs extended their season so close to Christmas left everyone exhausted. Or was that only her?
Christmas carols played on the local radio station, creating a seasonal backdrop to the diner’s usual sounds of clattering dishes and neighbors chatting about their cattle.
Maria’s friend Fiona Fisher hoisted a full pot of coffee from her spot behind the back counter. “Top up, hon?” She poked at her teased, bleached hair with her free hand.
“I’m good for now, thanks.”
“Muffin?”
Maria shook her head and Fiona watched her for a second before moving along. The waitress was good at picking up on her moods, the two of them having served as each other’s rock since elementary school. Maria didn’t want to count the years. She winced as her mind completed the mental math despite her wishes at avoidance. Close to a half century.
Half a century.
Could she feel any older?
“Did you hear he got a clean bill of health?” Fiona asked a few moments later as she hurried past with the empty coffeepot and a dirty plate. There was no doubt in Maria’s mind why her friend stayed so slim. She probably logged twenty thousand steps as she served tables each day.
“Who got a clean bill of health?”
“Clint.”
At the mechanic’s name, Maria’s heart picked up its pace. Clint Walker was a sweetheart. One of the few good ones. He’d gone out of his way since her somewhat recent divorce to make her feel special, beautiful and wanted. If they were younger, she’d consider dating again.
But they were well past the age where idealistic hopes and dreams for the future had a place in their lives. There were ranches and businesses to tend to, and families to care for. After Roy, her husband of thirty-seven years, had asked for a divorce a year ago, Maria had moved off the family ranch and focused on herself, like everyone said she was supposed to.
She’d been bored, and after Roy had moved into town as well, their sons had struggled with running the family ranch while keeping up with things such as meals. Her boys had needed her there, supporting, helping, guiding. And since she’d moved back a few months ago, they’d been doing better and she’d been happier, full of purpose. She didn’t have time to date.
“I didn’t realize he was having health issues,” she said to Fiona.
“Just a scare. We’re getting to that age.”
Seriously? How had she become this old without noticing? Maybe if she had grandkids it would feel okay to be staring down fifty-nine, knowing the big six-O was waiting right behind it.
“Well, I’m glad he’s okay.” Maria ran her fingers over one of her long feather earrings and shivered. She didn’t spend much time with Clint, but would have missed him had his health scare been more than that.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” said a rich, deep voice as a man took a seat two down from Maria. Garfield Goodwin smiled at her, his dentures big and white. The smile warmed, reaching his eyes, when Fiona turned to look at him.
“Hello, Garfield,” she said, fussing with her hair again as color brightened her cheeks. “The usual?”
“Yes, my dear.”
She thrust out a hip. “What have I said about using terms of endearment?”
“Come on, Fiona,” he said, his tone low and coaxing. “They make you feel young.”
The waitress rolled her eyes and set about preparing his muffin and coffee.
Every day Garfield came in, flirted with Fiona and left a tip so big she always protested. Garfield was single. Fiona was married—not quite happily—but Maria worried Garfield wasn’t entirely harmless. She often found herself wishing he would take a hint and leave her friend alone.
A man with flyaway hair sat down on Maria’s other side, and she groaned internally. It was her ex-husband’s uncle, the town grump, Henry Wylder. Why couldn’t she have lost him in the divorce?
“I’m having a Christmas party, and y’all are welcome,” Henry announced, his words coming out more like a challenge than an invitation anyone might jump to accept.
“That’s nice,” Maria said, reminding herself to be pleasant. Always be pleasant. In a small town you never knew when you might need to rely on your enemy, so it was best not to have any.
“Good for you, getting into the spirit of things,” Garfield said. “Only took you about ninety years.”
“I’m only sixty-nine,” Henry grumbled. “You’re welcome to attend,” he said to Maria, his tone still gruff.
She shifted uncomfortably on her stool. “Thank you.”
She’d heard he was planning a party, and had hoped to avoid receiving an invitation, since she was fairly certain Roy would be there. Along with his new wife, Sophia.
“It’s this Saturday.”
“Day after the semifinals game. Go Torpedoes!” Garfield said, and nearby diners let out a whoop for her boys’ football team.
“I invited Roy, too.” Henry continued as though he hadn’t been interrupted.
“That’s nice,” she said mildly. She caught Fiona’s eye and pushed her empty coffee cup away so she could collect it. “Can I get a peppermint tea, please?”
Her friend frowned, but went to fetch her hot water.
“So?” Henry asked. “Are you coming?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What aren’t you sure about?”
Maria had nothing against Sophia, but she wasn’t prepared to go to Henry’s party and pretend to be happy about it. Especially with her ex-husband and his new wife kissing in the corner. It just felt… wrong. Too soon. She’d spent far too many years being the one Roy kissed at parties, and to see him kiss someone else still took her breath away, the feeling of betrayal too far ingrained to shrug off even though he was within his rights.
It was probably time for her to get used to the idea, since the divorce had been finalized last February and Roy had remarried in June. He’d stayed on the ranch until the wedding, then moved into Sweetheart Creek, population 4,123.
As far as she was concerned, that was too small for the two of them. It felt as though Roy and Sophia had taken over every corner of town. Back when Maria was still living in an apartment a few blocks from their new home and not having sunrise chores, it had all been too much. Luckily, the boys had welcomed her back on the ranch even though it had sent Roy into a tizzy he still hadn’t quite gotten over.
“Well?” Henry demanded, waiting for her decision.
If she went to his party, she’d be alone. Awkwardly alone.
But she didn’t want someone new. It took too much energy to face men coming and going, and ultimately leaving. And Henry’s Christmas party invitation wasn’t the only one coming up in the following week. There were several. And Roy would be at all of them, since his retired butt had nothing better to do.
“I was thinking I might visit a friend,” Maria said, hoping the fib wasn’t too obvious.