A moment for you

Feeling homesick, Olivia agrees to attend her new neighborhood’s Fourth of July picnic, but it’s a handsome sergeant that sends her spirits soaring

“E

xcuse me, do you work here?” Olivia Williams paused atop her step stool, thinking that the Kingsley Youth Center Counselor inscription on her shirt should have made it obvious. But as she turned to find the voice asking belonged to an Army recruiter with a teasing grin, she was glad she hadn’t said so.

“Yes, I do,” she smiled, her legs turning to Jell-o as she met the handsome sergeant’s eyes. “I’m Olivia Williams, the new counselor here.”

She was new, yes, but it wasn’t the first time she’d noticed the sergeant. For weeks, they had passed in the halls, nodding and smiling without formally meeting: a fact she had been eager to remedy. Not only was he a heart-stopping sight, but, according to her co-worker Anna, he was also funny and kind. “Just what a homesick girl needs,” Anna had added with a wink. She stepped down from the stool. “Nice to finally meet you. I’m Noah Mccutcheon,” he said, his voice like honey as he flashed a sideways smile.

They shook hands, and she hoped he didn’t notice that hers was trembling.

“Is it okay to post this sign-up sheet on the bulletin board?” he asked. “It’s for the Fourth of July neighborhood party.”

“Sure!” Olivia said, almost too enthusiastically. “Do they have one every year?”

“Going back a lot longer than I’ve been here.” Noah laughed. “There’s a parade, a picnic, fireworks. It should be lots of fun.” Olivia felt shot through with longing. It was her first year living in the city, but in her hometown, the holiday had been a more intimate affair… much like this neighborhood party sounded. And Noah is going to be there, she thought. “Please come!” he urged. “Everyone from the center will be there to celebrate, and I personally promise you’ll have a wonderful time.” His dimpled smile warmed her heart almost as much as the promise, and Olivia nodded, her heart fluttering at the idea of spending the day with Noah.

“Her legs turned to Jell-o as she met the handsome sergeant’s eyes”

The festivities began with the parade on the morning of the Fourth, and Olivia walked with the procession, hoping to spot the sergeant. When she did, it took her a moment to actually recognize him: Not only was he out of uniform, but he also had a small boy perched on his shoulders.

“Wave to Mommy!” she heard him call, as a tall woman at the head of the parade turned toward them, blowing kisses.

Noah is married? Olivia thought, crushed. Why hadn’t Anna told her that?

Squaring her shoulders, Olivia headed back to the youth center, resolving not to let her disappointment ruin the day.

She mingled while also successfully avoiding Noah for the next few hours. But when it came time to make her contribution to the picnic, she discovered he was manning the grill, his dark-lashed cobalt blue eyes rendering her speechless.

“Olivia, you made it! I’ve been…well, looking for you. What’s in the cooler?”

She followed his gaze to her insulated cooler. “Oh, these—well, I couldn’t come empty-handed! No one here will know what they are, but they’re delicious.”

She opened the lid, handing him a pack of sausages.

“White hots!” His smile shone as he read the label. “You’re from New York too? We always ate these growing up.”

It turned out they’d lived in adjacent suburbs.

“Is that where you met your wife?” Olivia asked.

Noah laughed. “I haven’t met my wife yet.” Then he met her eyes, his smile shy. “But depending on how today goes… maybe I have.”

Olivia’s face flushed, confusion taking over. “But I saw you at the parade, with a little boy earlier…”

“Oh, so you were looking for me?” He flashed her a coy smile. “Sadly, that’s not my boy, he’s my friend’s son. He’s stationed overseas, so I help his family out now. I’ll introduce you to his wife a little later.”

Noah grinned, spreading the hot dogs on the grill. “I hope you brought a lot, you’re going to be the hit of the party!”

Olivia felt her heart swell. “You mean the white hots will be the hit of the party.”

“That all depends on whether you’re a kid with a big appetite or a grown man looking for a date to the fireworks later.”

Later? As far as Olivia was concerned, the fireworks had already begun.