Lost and Found in Lavender Bay (The Lavender Bay Chronicles #2)

51. Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Eight

A llan stood with Maureen behind the stage of the McKinley High School auditorium. They stood in the shadows, and she was glad she wasn’t visible. Her heart raced, and there was a fine sheen of perspiration around her hairline. She’d dressed casually in tailored pants and a blouse and wore a small gold necklace with the St. Anthony medal hanging from it. Everett had loaned it to her when he heard she’d be giving a talk. Touched, she kept checking to make sure it was still there.

Allan placed a hand on the small of her back. “Nervous?”

She nodded. “Uh-huh.”

He spoke softly to her. The sound of his voice, in this tone, always had a calming effect on her. Tonight was no different.

Gently, he took her hands in his. His were warm and dry. “There’s nothing to be anxious about. What you have to impart to these people is important. And some may not even realize it until after you’ve spoken.” He rolled his lips inward. “And some might not even need this information until down the road.”

His words skated across the surface of her mind, refusing to sink in, but she continued to nod.

A veteran of many dental conferences, Allan was used to speaking in front of crowds. The past few evenings, he’d helped her and coached her. She was grateful. He’d reminded her to keep her focus on the back of the auditorium. During practice runs, he’d slowed her down, reminding her not to race through her talk. And he even taught her some deep breathing exercises to help her calm down. But front and center was the idea of helping another parent or child and possibly preventing them from going through what they’d all gone through. That thought alone strengthened her resolve.

From where she stood, she heard Sylvia approach the podium and welcome the crowd. She adjusted the microphone, and a slight screech filled the air. She made mention of the full auditorium, and Maureen closed her eyes and groaned.

Allan reached over and rubbed her shoulder. “You’re going to be great.”

When Sylvia introduced her, Maureen took a deep breath, gave her husband a smile that said she was okay, and walked out onto the stage, into the glare of the floodlights. In her hand, she carried small index cards with her speech written on them. She thanked Sylvia, took her position behind the podium, and raised the microphone slightly.

Unable to resist, she scanned the auditorium and did not see one empty seat. Her heart thumped wildly.

“Good evening. Most of you know me. I’m a lifelong resident of Lavender Bay.” She paused and drew in a deep breath. “But for those of you who don’t, my name is Maureen Peterson, and I’m the mother of a drug addict.”

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