The Wild Rose parking lot was illuminated only by security lights, but there was enough light to see that the tense line of his jaw had relaxed. She lowered the window on the passenger side. The nights had warmed up since she’d arrived in Caribou Crossing, but the air still had a refreshing touch of coolness. He drove out of the parking lot. It was only four blocks to Ms. H’s house. Should she leave the poor guy alone? Usually, when she could tell that his thoughts had gone to a dark place, she tried to cheer him up. But that was like sticking a bandage on a wound that wasn’t healing. It was obvious he was stuck. She’d bet everything she owned—which wasn’t much, but did include the battered Winnie-the-Pooh that Gramps had given her when she was a toddler—that Anita would hate to see Dave like this. And so did she. She clicked off the radio. “The gossip mill thinks you’re dating Sally.” His jaw clenched again and he didn’t speak. “They think the two of you are taking it slow but likely will end up together.”
