Noelle rushed to the corner booth to visit with Ashley and Mara. “Kym is that you? Color my toenails purple.” Noelle leaned in to hug her high school friend. “And look at you. Where did you get that tan?”

“Zach and I have been working in LA the past few weeks. He just started working on movie cars for a new show, but wanted to fly in and surprise Hank for Christmas.” Kym scooted over to make room. “Luckily we got here before the big storm hit. Zach’s been working nonstop to help Hank with car repairs. Does anyone in this town have a car that runs?”

Mine’s working. It just can’t deal with the two feet of snow.

“I was wondering who the good-looking guy is that Hank was talking to. Nice catch.” Noelle gave Kym the thumbs-up. “I'll be in LA in a few weeks, and I’d love to get together. It will be nice to know someone there. Maybe I can talk you into doing my nails. I haven’t had a good mani-pedi since I left town.”

“I'd love to get together. I miss everyone.”

So do I. She’d been texting or chatting with everyone at the table for the past few days. It was like everyone just picked up where they left off. She had forgotten what it was like being around people who’d known her from the time she took her first steps. There were no secrets. Only acceptance.

Kym reached for her drink and Noelle grabbed her hand. “Wow. Look at the rock.”

The whole table froze like mannequins. Mara’s head snapped toward her best friend. “Did you get engaged?”

“I was going to tell you. Zach proposed on the way here. He stopped in front of the nail salon. He said it was where we first met. I reminded him we actually met at Lookout Point, but who cares? He’s such a romantic.” She wiggled her fingers, showing off the sparkling diamond. “It got me all choked up and ruined my mascara.”

“And you’ve waited until now to tell us?” Mara chided. “I would have run into this place screaming.”

“No you wouldn’t have. You don’t run anywhere. And it's not like I can text you.”

“Yes, you can. I have text to voice.” Mara tried putting on airs she didn’t possess, which made her haughty expression even funnier. “Joey bought me a new phone.”

“Fine. Just call me out why don’t you?”

The back-and-forth banter between Mara and Kym was just for giggles. Kym had stayed with Mara after her parents and sister were killed in a car accident. It took months of rehabilitation to get Mara back on her feet, and Kym was with her every step of the way, one of the many reasons Kym and Mara were best friends, and nothing could separate them.

Kym made a clicking sound with her fingernails and looked uncomfortable. “Don’t make me apologize.” She added a bit of attitude. “You know I’m not good at saying I’m sorry.”

“We’ve been friends since grade school. There’s no one who knows you better than I do. And don’t you pretend sorry isn’t in your vocabulary.” Mara threw her arms open. “Now wrap those scrawny arms around me, give me a hug, and promise me you will at least tell me when you get married. I bet it will be on the beach on some exotic island.”

“You’re so needy,” Kym whined, with a little snicker thrown in.

“Zach’s a wonderful guy.” Mara pulled back. “We took a vote, and we like him, so you can keep him.”

“Thank dog-farts for that. Otherwise I’d have to kick him to the curb like a piece of wet trash.”

Ashley choked on her drink, giggling. “Seriously, though, I'm so excited for you.”

Noelle studied each face at the table. Each friend was about her age, and either engaged, married, pregnant, or had kids. What was wrong with her? Was she always picking the wrong guy out of a misguided need to find the relationship she couldn’t have with her father? She looked at Ethan. There had to be a reason she always fell for ineligible guys.

Mara sat in the far corner of the booth rubbing her baby bump while Ashley breastfed her newest. Jenna kept everyone entertained, talking about her most original Sin Sugar flavors. As Noelle quickly learned, besides chocolate, cherry vanilla was fast becoming a best-seller.

Jenna nudged Noelle’s arm. “What are you doing to your yummy doctor? He looks dangerous.”

Noelle glanced past Ashley. Sure enough, Ethan looked like someone had just stolen his Christmas stocking and he was looking for the thief. Poor guy. Maybe she shouldn’t have forced him to come.

“It’s a hard time of year for him,” Noelle offered as an excuse.

Ashley adjusted her cotton nursing blanket. “Hasn’t it been three years since his family was killed?”

“Yes, but, there's no time limit on healing the heart.”

“Did you try the chocolate Sin Sugar I gave you?” Jenna winked.

“Leave poor Noelle alone,” Mara said in her defense. “She’s not responsible for fixing Ethan. Besides, Maggie mentioned you plan to leave shortly for a singing job in LA.”

A ball of frustration wadded in her gut. “It’s not a job yet. It’s just an audition.” She pulled a corner piece off the nearest napkin and rolled the paper around and around in her fingers. If only she could bundle the restlessness plaguing her for the past several days into a small ball, she’d flick the disquiet into the trash.

Ashley's eyes narrowed. “The last time we talked you were so excited about the opportunity. What’s changed your mind?”

“I am excited.”

“But?”

Noelle tore off another piece of napkin. “Living in LA is expensive. I don't even have enough money to make the trip yet, plus I’m supposed to have a couple of songs ready and haven’t had time to practice.”

“Why don't you sing at Mad Jack's on Friday?” Mara suggested.

Enthusiasm pumped her heart a bit fast, then stalled. “I was going to talk to Jack, but I’m sure the schedule is already set.”

“I know for a fact it isn’t. He asked me to sing this week, but can you imagine me trying to fit a guitar on my lap with this bulge?” Mara folded her hands on top of her swelling stomach. “Jack will be thrilled if you say yes. There’s usually a big crowd by 7:30 when I start my set. I bet Jack will give you the same deal. I get three percent of the bar tab, plus we can pass around a collection hat.”

“I’ll sing, but I couldn’t ask people to just give me money.” It seems so wrong.

“Why not?”

“Yeah, Why not?” Jenna gave her a look.

“I love to sing, and would sing for free just to get up onstage and play some of my new songs.”

“I’m thinking Noelle doesn’t remember how good she really is.” Mara placed a hand on Ashley's forearm. “She’s always been way too nice”

“I agree. Too nice.” Ashley’s accusing brows lifted. “We’re going to have to rough her up a bit.”

“Oh, I don’t need to be roughed up. I’ve whacked a few bartenders upside the head with a beer glass when they thought sex was included in the bar fee.”

“That’s more like it.” Ashley chimed.

“So, how about it?” Mara circled the conversation back around. “Will you sing for us Friday night?”

Noelle’s fingers tingled with excitement. Her mind started preparing a song list. “It would be a lot of work to get the songs ready.”

“You can do it.” Ashley’s eyes sparkled with encouragement.

“My take-home is usually somewhere between one-fifty to three hundred bucks,” Mara added.

A swirl of possibilities pumped up the excitement. “That’s a lot. I could make it to California and have a little left over.”

“So? What do you say?” Jenna prompted.

“I’ll do it.”

The hoots and hollers and whistles sent tingles of joy bouncing through her chest. God, she missed her friends. The late-night chats over a gallon of ice cream. The pajama parties. Getting ready for high school dances. She missed having their unquestioning support.

Sure, her friends in Nashville were always available for a movie, or dinner, or meeting for coffee. There was always friendly banter, but never the unconditional, unending, uncritical support.

“Sounds like you ladies are having way too much fun,” Ashley’s husband, Chase, appeared at the table. He placed a burping pad on his shoulder and held out his arms. Ashley lifted Bobby, her two-week old, from her breast.

“I was thinking the same thing.” Ethan came to stand by Chase.

The longing in his eyes when he looked at Bobby almost broke Noelle's heart.

“Noelle’s singing at Mad Jack’s Friday night.” Ashley handed Chase a blanket. “We need to get the word out.”

“I’ll help.” Joey, Mara’s husband, joined the group, holding Caitlyn, Ashley’s firstborn. “I’ll have it added to the town’s event calendar.”

“You don’t need to do that, Sheriff.” Heat crawled up Noelle’s neck.

“It’s not a problem.” Joey dismissed her misgivings.

“And I’ll post something on the community’s Next Door page,” Grant, Jenna’s husband, joined the group along with a smiling little boy she and Grant called Kyle.

Overwhelmed, Noelle began to push out the booth, but a warm, calming hand landed on her shoulder. She eased back into the booth.

“And I’ll help in any way I can.” Ethan squeezed her shoulder and sent a clear message of support.

She looked around at the smiling faces surrounding her. “I can’t thank you enough. Although you might live to regret it. Once I get started singing for a crowd, it’s hard to stop.”

“You make this mamma proud.” Maggie nudged her way into the circle. “Now get your butts over to the buffet table before the food gets cold.”

“Yes, ma’am,” several of the group said in unison.

Maggie blocked Noelle's way. She put a finger under Noelle’s chin and lifted. “I’m proud of you.”

“For?”

“Doing your thing.”

Really? Tonight was the second time this visit that her mother had said she was proud. A merry-go-round of joy circled, spinning faster and faster. “Thanks, Mom. That means a lot.”

“Don't be getting sentimental on me. Join your friends and load your plate. I don’t want to pack leftovers.”

Maggie stepped back and allowed Noelle to climb out of the booth. She wrapped her arms around her mother. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”

“Merry Christmas, and happy birthday, baby girl.” Her mom lovingly cupped her chin with her warm hand, then released her. “Now go before you turn me into a blubbering idiot.”

Noelle took a couple of steps, then stopped when Ethan cut across her path. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Just a bit overwhelmed.” She studied his face. He didn’t look so tired today.

“I can set a broken arm, but I sure can’t figure out what you need.”

Where did that come from? She searched his eyes for a clue, but didn’t find any answers. “If I could make one wish for you, it would be that you figure out a way to be happy. You’re a good man, Ethan Brennan. You have way more to give than medical advice.”

“That’s a mighty big wish.” Ethan faked a gag and cough. “I thought you might ask me to do something hard.”

“Happiness is a worthy pursuit.”

“Yes, it is.” Ethan pushed out an elbow for her to take. “Shall we?”

Noelle didn’t hesitate, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm and wrapping her fingers around his scrumptious bicep. They joined the line. In a few steps, she would have to let him go to fill her plate. The thought struck her as odd. In a few days she'd have to walk away, but for tonight she wasn't ready.

She studied his stone-hard face, once so unreadable. Now she could see the subtle changes. Ethan was a series of opposites. Serious yet gentle. Moody yet sympathetic. Hard yet soft. In the past few days, she’d begun to understand the dynamics of Ethan Brennan.

He wasn’t a jerk. He was a generous man, yet complex.

The kind of man she could spend a lifetime getting to know, and enjoying every moment of it—yet for some reason she couldn’t quite trust her heart.