The Saddle Creek Series 5-Book Bundle. Shelley Peterson

what does that look like?”

      “Well, pink-cheeked and radiant, for starters.”

      “I’ll let you in on a secret, Mrs. Featherstone. It’s not a real date. He just wants to talk. I think he’s going to tell me why he dumped me last year.”

      “Ahh,” said Joy with a great deal of sympathy. “Why would he do that?”

      Abby shrugged. “Who knows? But he sure hasn’t been happy to see me in the halls. I don’t know what to expect.”

      “You still like him, don’t you, Abby?” Joy noted warmly.

      “I’ll let you know later. I won’t be late.”

      Joy took Abby by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. “Whatever comes, remember, it won’t be the best thing that will ever happen to you, and it won’t be the worst. Take it in stride. Being dumped has happened to us all, and more than once to most.”

      “Even you?”

      “Even me. In fact, one man who dumped me is picking me up tonight for dinner.” She smiled slyly at the young woman. “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”

      Abby laughed. “You always know exactly what to say to make a person feel better.”

      The doorbell rang. Abby and Joy exchanged a look.

      “Do you want me to get it?” asked Joy.

      “I’ll get it,” replied Abby with assurance. “I’m ready.”

      Sam Morris stood at the door, a tall young man with a handsome smile. Abby asked him in and introduced him to Mrs. Featherstone.

      “You take care of her, now,” Joy said pointedly as Abby put on her raincoat.

      “I will, Mrs. Featherstone. It was nice to meet you.”

      “And nice to meet you, too, Sam. Have a pleasant evening.” Joy watched from the window as Sam opened his umbrella and walked Abby to his father’s car.

      Joy sighed. “Young love.”

      They drove for some time in silence. Sam’s face remained serious and he concentrated on the road. Abby watched the windshield wipers as they cleaned the raindrops rhythmically away. They reminded her of the metronome her old piano teacher had used.

      “Where are we going, Sam?” Abby asked.

      “To the Roadside Cafe. We can talk there. And their burgers are great.”

      “Sam, you’re driving me nuts, you know that?”

      “Abby, you’ll understand better when I explain.”

      “Well, can I turn on the radio? I can’t bear the silence.”

      “Sure.”

      Abby found a radio station that she liked, and they pretended to listen. Sam seemed more and more distracted.

      “Sam, stop the car and let’s talk. Let’s get it over with. I know what you’re going to say, and I can’t sit here on pins and needles waiting for you to find the appropriate place to say it.”

      Sam pulled off the road.

      “It’s not like anything you say is going to be a surprise. I’ll take it in stride. It won’t be the best thing that ever happens to me, but it sure won’t be the worst, so just blurt it out.”

      Sam looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

      “I’m not an idiot, no matter what you think. And I’m not insensitive. I figured this out weeks ago.”

      “Figured what out?”

      Abby looked down at her hands in her lap, letting her long hair cover her face. “You heard, didn’t you?”

      “Heard what?”

      “This is so embarrassing.” She took a deep breath. She figured she had nothing to lose. “Heard that I liked you again. I told my two best friends, and I can’t believe one of them told, but then Pam knew, and then you heard and now you want to talk to me about all the reasons why it wouldn’t work out and why it didn’t before, but you don’t have to tell me, I’ve already figured it out, and anyway I’m past all that and don’t even care anyway and—”

      “Abby, stop!”

      “—I know that I’ll never be your type. But that’s okay because you’re not my type either and we’re way past it anyway. I only wish you’d never heard the rumour.”

      “Abby,” said Sam slowly. “I never heard the rumour.”

      Abby stared at him. “You never heard the . . . . Then what’s this all about? This ‘date?’ You didn’t ask me out because you like me.”

      “Is that what you think?” He shook his head in disbelief.

      “What else can I think? You look sheepish when you see me, and you disappear if I enter a room.”

      Sam crossed his arms and cleared his throat. “Okay, here it goes, and it’s not going to be easy.” He breathed again. “I’ve been thinking about you again, Abby. I can’t get you out of my mind.” He held up a hand. “Let me talk. When I see you at school I wish that we were together again. When I’m at work or at home, I wish I could see you. We had a lot of fun, right?”

      “Right.” Abby didn’t move a muscle. She had no idea where this was going.

      “There’s something I have to tell you. Something crazy. Before I can even hope to ask you out again, you should know this about me. Something I didn’t even know myself until recently.”

      “What, Sam?”

      “Did you ever notice my name?”

      “Your name? What about your name?”

      “Sam. My name is Samuel. It’s a family name.”

      “So?”

      “Do you know any other Samuels?”

      “No.”

      “Think.”

      “Only Samuel Owens, but that’s ridiculous.”

      “How is it ridiculous?”

      “You couldn’t possibly be related.”

      “Why’s that?”

      “It’s a small community. I’d know if you were part of the Owens family.”

      “What if we’re related, but nobody is supposed to know?”

      “You mean . . . illegitimately?”

      “Yes.”

      “Wow.” Abby sat thinking.

      After giving it a moment to sink in, Sam continued. “The Owenses don’t exactly recognize us as family.”

      “I can hardly digest this, Sam. How are you related?”

      “Samuel Owens is my grandfather.”

      “No kidding.” Abby paused to consider. “Your father’s father?”

      “My mother’s father.”

      “But, Sam,” Abby said. “Your mother’s black.”

      “Half black. Her mother, my grandma, is black. Owens is white. Gran worked for the Owenses. She was very young. When she told him she was pregnant, he denied any responsibility and had her fired. Things were very tough for her. Then, when my mother was three, Gran met and married my grandpa and they had two sons, my uncles.”

      “Wow,” she repeated.

      “Yeah.” Sam leaned back and stared at the ceiling of the truck. “I was at our family reunion last March. I overheard two of my aunts talking