Chapter 43

A series of old-fashioned streetlights stood watch over Main Street, holiday wreaths hanging just below the three lanterns high above. Christmas decorations were everywhere. Multi-colored lights adorned shop windows, while nearly every door bore a wreath of some kind. The toy shop across the street boasted a large wooden hanging of Rudolph with a lit-up nose.

The diner came into sight and his stomach growled. It was earlier than he usually ate, but he loved Ruby’s Diner. Good greasy food. The staff was great, too. The owner, Katie Anderson, had been a friend of his family for as long as he could remember. She and his mom were old college friends. Katie had never had kids, but she’d been an honorary aunt to Lance and his sister, Marianne.