Summer nights in Sugar Hollow were magical, Elle thought.  There were so many wondrous things all around her.  God had surely left his fingerprints all around this town.  The scent of honeysuckle drifted on the breeze.  Lightning bugs flitted and flashed as they flew past her.    She looked up at the sliver of moon sitting in an onyx sky.  A sky full of stars was twinkling and winking at her.  The air she breathed into her lungs was clean and fresh.  How had she forgotten all of these things?  Or the way it felt to be enjoying a hot summer night in her hometown.

It was Trina’s birthday party celebration.  In the past few weeks, she and Trina had bonded.  Elle had discovered that Trina’s attitude was a wall she’d constructed around her.  Once Elle earned Trina’s trust, she had seen a warmer side to her spirited co-worker.

Jonas had closed the diner early so they could all attend her party at Lake Regis. Elle had taken a dip in the lake a few days ago and reacquainted herself with the cool waters.  It had felt refreshing and relaxing. 

Already this evening, Elle had come face-to-face with a few high school acquaintances.  Although it was still tough to answer questions about her ballet career, it was getting easier bit by bit.  She didn’t feel like such a failure anymore. 

“This is quite the birthday party, isn’t it?”  Jonas walked up beside her, holding two red cups in his hands.  “Lemonade?” he asked, handing her one of the cups.

“Thanks,” she said.  “Trina really knows how to celebrate in style.”

Jonas chuckled.  “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the band setting up.  I didn’t realize I was paying her so much.”

Elle laughed.  “I think they’re friends of hers.  It was their birthday gift to Trina.”

“They sound good,” Jonas said, tapping his foot to the lively beat.

“Mmm hmm,” Elle said, swaying to the music.

“Care to dance?” Jonas asked, placing his cup down on a plastic table.  He held out his hand to her.  Elle smiled.  There was something so genuine and gentlemanly about his gesture.  How could she do anything but say yes?

“I’d love to dance,” Elle said, putting her cup down and reaching for Jonas’s hand.  He led her to the dance area, where a half dozen couples were dancing.  Jonas held her in his arms and led her around to the lively, upbeat tempo of the band.  Elle was impressed with Jonas.  So many men were intimidated by the fact that she was a professional dancer.  As a result, they were reluctant to dance with her. 

Clearly, Jonas was different. 

As the music slowed, Jonas pulled her against him so that her head was resting by his shoulder.  She pressed her eyes closed and leaned into him.  Elle felt so safe in Jonas’s arms.  She felt as if they were floating on air.  They stayed like this for a few songs.  When the music paused, they pulled apart, looking into each other’s eyes. 

Without saying a word, they walked back to where they’d left their drinks.

“What a perfect night,” Elle said, gazing around with awe at the lake setting.  It was so serene and beautiful.

“Did you used to come out here in high school?” Jonas asked.  “This is where I learned to swim as a kid.”

“I used to come out here with my family.  We would have such a blast swimming and then grilling afterwards.  Since there were four of us kids we used to play chicken in the water.  Jimmy always wanted to win,” she said with a chuckle.

“This town really grieved when he died, Elle.  I always wanted to tell you how sad I was about the car accident.  He was always so kind and good-hearted.”

The mention of her brother’s name caused a prickling sensation in her chest.  Grief never disappeared.  It was a constant in her life. 

“He was,” Elle said with a nod.  “In some ways I think Jimmy is the reason I wanted to leave Sugar Hollow so badly.  Nothing was ever the same after he died.  My parents were so sad, but as a family we didn’t talk about our huge loss.  We just stuffed it down and left it to fester.  Jimmy was so wonderful.  His laughter filled up our house almost to overflowing.”

Jonas squeezed her hand.  “Grief is a long journey, Elle.  Maybe now that you’re back home your family can work on healing.”

Elle blinked away tears.  “You’re right, Jonas.  For the past seven years I’ve been so focused on living out my dreams.  Now I can focus on other things.”

“So did all of your dreams come true?” Jonas asked.  He was looking at her with such intensity, as if he was truly invested in the answer to his question.

Elle didn’t share her hopes and dreams with just anybody.  Day by day, hour by hour, Jonas was becoming a huge part of her life.  She cared about him.  And she wanted him to see who she was as a person.  Inside and out.  Her true self. 

“The big dream was to be one of the principal dancers.  I made my way up to the corps de ballet.  It was a proud moment.”  She let out a sigh.  “Things ended prematurely before I could reach my big goal.  But I’m proud of what I achieved.  For so long I’ve been focused on what I lost, but I really stretched myself to become a member of the corps de ballet.”

“Sounds like you worked hard to get there,” Jonas said. 

“I did.”  Elle nodded.  “It’s a very big deal.  Not many ballerinas make the cut.  It’s years of sacrifice and dedication to the craft.”

“It sounds like you lost a lot.  I’m sorry.”  Jonas reached out and patted her lightly on her shoulder.  “You’ve been through a lot of loss, Elle.”

A huge lump had formed in her throat.  “I did lose a lot.  My entire life in New York City went up in a puff of smoke.  Losing a dream is hard. Losing Jimmy was agonizing.  It gives me some perspective to remember that a loss of a person is much worse than losing my ballet career.  They don’t even compare, although giving up ballet has been incredibly painful.”

“What got you through the loss of your career?  If you don’t mind my asking.”

“Of course I don’t mind.”  She let out a brittle sounding laugh.  “I’m not sure I’ve made it through yet.  But I definitely leaned on the Lord.  It wasn’t pretty at times. I cursed and whined and yelled and cried.  I’ve only ever been special in one way.  Ballet.  Why had He taken that away from me?  I couldn’t figure out why He hadn’t healed me.  Why had He allowed me to be broken?”

“Deep questions,” Jonas said.  “Did you get answers?”

“For some questions, yes I did.  Or at least peace.  But for others, I’m still waiting and wondering. I’m praying and trying to center myself.  For a long time now I’ve been like a tornado.  But now I’m just trying to be still.”

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him,” Jonas said, reciting the Bible Verse from Psalm 37.

“One of my favorites,” Elle said.  “It’s been running through my mind for the past few months.  It resonates with me.”

“For the record, Elle, you’re special in a hundred different ways.  I don’t mean to trivialize what happened to you because it sounds earth shattering.  But I wonder if God isn’t trying to show you that you’re not just one thing.  You’re way more than being a ballerina.  Not that ballerinas aren’t awesome,” he said with a fierce nod.  “But honestly, you were awesome back when you were five-years-old.”

She let out a groan.  “I think that might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

He took her face between his hands.  “Elle, I want to kiss you.”

“Then you should just do it,” Elle said in a light voice. “You actually could have simply surprised me with it.  Ladies love being surprised.”

He eyed her warily.  “It may not be professional considering you work for me.”

“I say we take our chances,” Elle responded, leaning up and placing a kiss on his lips.  Jonas hesitated for a second then kissed her back with equal fervor.  Jonas’s lips tasted sweet like sugar.  Her nostrils inhaled his woodsy scent.  Elle raised her arms up and placed them around Jonas’s neck.  Even though she knew people might be able to see them kissing, Elle didn’t care.  Jonas was the sort of man she would proudly claim.  As the kiss ended, Elle let out a sigh.  It had been a long time since she’d shared such a tender, romantic kiss with anyone. 

It was a connection, pure and simple.  Although she had felt the stirrings of it for a while now, Elle had pushed those feelings to the background.  But right now she was giving in to it wholeheartedly.  Her heart had been on ice for a long time.  Finally, it was beginning to thaw.

“Wow,” Jonas said in a raspy voice.  “That was…amazing.”

“No complaints here,” Elle said, her cheeks feeling flushed at Jonas’s comment.  He had this habit of giving her butterflies.  They were tumbling and soaring now in her stomach.  Hadn’t her mother always told her that a man who gave a woman butterflies was a keeper?

Go slowly.  This is all so new.  A voice inside her urged.  And Jonas was right.  They worked together at the diner.  How wise was it to mix her personal life with her work life?

Jonas reached out and touched her forehead.  “What’s with this little frown here?  I hope you’re not regretting kissing me?”

“No, of course not.”  She bit her lip and ducked her head.  “It’s just that I don’t go around kissing guys a lot.  Honestly, it’s been quite a while since I’ve kissed anyone.  The last person I kissed was my boyfriend.”  She let out the breath she’d been holding.  “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I didn’t feel something for you.”

He raised a hand over his heart.  “Well, that’s a relief, Elle, since I have feelings for you too.  Matter of fact, mine go all the way back to childhood.”  A sheepish expression crept over his face.  “Do you remember receiving a batch of flowers when you were little?  It came with a secret admirer note.”

Elle frowned.  Suddenly, a look of recognition appeared on her face.  “Yes!  Oh, my goodness.  Was that you, Jonas?  Did you send me that bouquet?  And the note?”

“Guilty as charge,” Jonas said.  “And you’re being awfully nice by using the word bouquet.  I snatched those wildflowers from my grandmother’s garden and put a little blue ribbon around them if I remember correctly.”

“They were gorgeous,” Elle gushed.  Never in a million years had she suspected Jonas had sent her the flowers.  Then again, she’d hardly thought of him back then.

“Your grandmother’s garden was the prettiest in town.  I remember her huge sunflowers.”  She giggled. “I was always tempted to pluck one, but I never did.  Your granny was kind of scary.”

“She took her flowers very seriously.  I would have been in big trouble if she’d seen me take them.”  He made a face.  “She was a tough lady, but on the inside a real marshmallow.  When she passed away she left me a nice sum of money.  That’s how I was able to buy the diner and my house.”

Elle’s jaw dropped.  “You own your own home?  That’s incredible.”

“Thanks to my grandmother and her generosity.”

“I wish I’d known her in a more meaningful way.  She sounds incredible.”   Legacies were wonderful things.  Thelma Landry had given her grandson something powerful.  Elle wondered if she would ever have a legacy to pass down, and if so, what would it be?  For so long her life had been focused on arabesques and adagios.  Pirouettes and pointe shoes.  In many ways, her world had become very narrow and small.  She hadn’t seen it at the time.  Her razor-sharp focus had been on making it as a world-class ballerina.  Sadly, nothing else had truly mattered.

Elle was just beginning to step out of her shell, armed with the realization that there were so many other things in the world that truly mattered.

Just then, they heard Trina’s boyfriend, Edson, shouting for everyone to gather around for cake.  Jonas grabbed her hand and they walked up the small incline to the area where the cake had been set up.  Once everyone had gathered around the table, Edson lit the candles and they all began to sing Happy Birthday to Trina.  Trina had tears in her eyes as she blew out the candles.

“Thank you so much everyone for coming here tonight.”  She brushed away tears.  “I’ve never been called the warm and fuzzy type, but y’all have brought me to tears.  I feel so loved and appreciated.  Some of you might find it hard to believe, but two years ago I was homeless.  Everything changed when I moved to Sugar Hollow.  My life began to take shape.  I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you who gave me the gift of friendship.”  She reached out and took Edson’s hand in her own.  “I found love with my soul mate.  And for the last two years Jonas has not only shown me friendship, but he’s given me steady employment at the diner.  I feel incredibly blessed.  God was with me every step of the way.  Leaning on Him led me here.”

Everyone began clapping and cheering.  Elle had no idea that Trina had been homeless before moving to town. And judging by some of the shocked faces during Trina’s speech, Elle suspected many other guests had also been in the dark.

“She’s really brave,” Elle said, turning toward Jonas.

A hint of a smile twitched at his lips.  “I’m surrounded by fearless women tonight,” he said.  “There’s nothing more courageous than reinventing yourself after adversity.”

She grinned at him, knowing he was talking about her as well as Trina.  Although she felt stronger these days, Elle wasn’t sure she had completely reinvented herself.  She was still a work in progress.  “I’m happy for Trina.  She’s truly walked through the fire.”

“And come out the other side,” Jonas said, shaking his head with amazement.  “You never know where life is going to take you.”

Jonas was right.  There was inspiration all around her.  If Trina could conquer homelessness, Elle had faith in her own ability to move on from the past. 

***

After Jonas dropped Elle off at home, he took a leisurely drive home.  He was happy.  Content with his life.  Ever since Elle’s return to Sugar Hollow, Jonas’s life had become happier.  Richer.  Elle made him feel joyful.  He was falling for her.  It had only been a couple of weeks and Jonas knew he was falling in love with Elle. 

Their kiss tonight had been full of chemistry and tenderness.  He’d wanted it to go on forever and ever.  It had felt so right.  So perfect.  Jonas hadn’t had a lot of perfection in his romantic life.  He’d only had two long-term girlfriends in his whole life.  Mary, his girlfriend from his college years at University of Virginia, hadn’t shared similar core values with him.  Tracie, his last relationship, had shocked him by saying she didn’t want marriage or kids.  And she wasn’t even sure she believed in God.  After two years of being in a loving relationship, Jonas had been shocked and deeply saddened by her truths.  He had believed they were working toward marriage and a lasting relationship.  Jonas had been blindsided.  And grateful they could cut their losses and move on. 

And although he was a bit gun shy, Jonas felt that he was seeing the real Elle.  She had a tight relationship with God.  And she loved her family, so much so that the loss of her brother had sent her into a tailspin.  She’d lost a lot over the past few years, but she was still fighting to create a new life for herself. 

She was the real deal.  His gut told him she was the one, although his brain reminded him not to rush into anything.  He and Elle were new.  They weren’t even an official couple.  Jonas needed to be patient.  Love was worth waiting for.

As he pulled up into the pebbled driveway of his ranch-style home, Jonas let out a sigh of appreciation.  He felt such pride in home ownership.  He didn’t need a huge mansion-style home to feel proud.  As his Mama had always told him, a house was not a home.  A person needed to fill up a house with love and faith and family and friendship. 

He yawned as he got out of his car.  A sudden movement on his front porch caused him to stop in his tracks.  A figure dressed in black sat on his porch steps. 

“Who’s there?” he called out, priming himself for action.  If this was an intruder, Jonas was ready to take him on.  With five years of Karate under his belt, Jonas wasn’t going down without a fight.

“It’s me. Hannah.”  His sister stepped forward, which set off the motion sensors and suddenly bathed her in light.  She was dressed in a black sweatshirt with dark leggings.  A bag was slung over her back. 

“Hannah!  What’s going on?” Jonas asked as he made his way toward her side.

“I had a big fight with mom and dad.  Jonas, I know you and I don’t always get along, but I really need you right now.  I want to come live with you.”