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“You’re right,” I said, drawing out the words. “I’ll do it now before I head over to the Mason Jar. I’ve got some stuff for them to see that I think will really improve their operation.”
Riley glanced at Aubree, who pursed her lips, and the people at the nearby tables seemed to slump a little. Just like the strange encounter I’d had with Mr. and Mrs. Granger on the way in here, I got the sense I was falling out of favor with the people in this town.
“Sounds good,” Riley said. “Can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
I nodded, then found a quiet corner table, spreading out my work with a sigh.Vacation plans.I used to juggle world tours for Laney and Riley, each day packed with a million tasks. Now,here I was, masquerading as a travel agent or applying my world-tour-worthy skills to streamline local checkout lines.
Was this really it for me now? Swapping concert arenas for coffee shop corners and music charts for meal trains? The shift was jarring, a far cry from the adrenaline-pumped life I’d thrived in.
But what else could I do? If I didn’t keep myself busy with projects around town, was I supposed to get a job? Where?
Well, I liked arranging things. Maybe I could be a florist.
Why not leave?
I bit my lip at the sound of my own voice in my head. There it was again, asking me what I was still doing in this town... and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out an answer for her.
Riley and Aubree finished their coffees and left somewhere around the halfway mark in my research, and just as I was about to hit send on the document full of adorable destinations for their impromptu trip, my phone rang. A familiar shot of adrenaline coursed through me as I multitasked, answering the call before even checking to see who it was.
“This is Paisley,” I said into the phone.
“Well, good, ‘cause that’s who I’m callin’,” a familiar voice drawled.
My back straightened, and I took a shaky breath. “Tyler?”
“The one and only.”
There hadn’t been the familiar monotone voice that announced a call from prison, and I yanked the phone away from my ear to confirm that it was indeed a cell phone number on my screen and not the penitentiary my brother had been unwillingly residing in for the last three years.
“You’re out,” I breathed, tears filling my eyes and blurring the bustling cafe before I blinked them away.
“I sure am. And you’re my first call on my new phone. How ya been, big sis?”
I grinned. I couldn’t help it. Sure, Tyler was trouble with a capital T. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. But I was and always would be his big sister, and he would always be the baby brother that I would love and protect until the day I died. Hearing that he was finally out of prison and once again getting a shot at a new lease on life had my heart swelling in my chest.
“I’m in Tennessee,” I said without hesitation, gathering my supplies as if I planned to leave the cafe and meet up with him right then and there. “It’s a small town called Charlotte Oaks. If I send the tickets to your phone, can you get yourself to the Greyhound station?”
Tyler laughed, and the sound nearly had my vision blurring again. “Sure can. Send ‘em.”
“You got it. I love you, Ty. I’m so happy you’re out of that place.”
“Love you too. See you soon. And thanks.”
I disconnected, hustling out of the cafe and into the bright sunlight on Main Street. Everything seemed brighter as I navigated to the Greyhound website on my phone while I walked, eager to give Gilly, the owner of the Mason Jar, my proposal.
And I had to make it fast, too, since now I had yet another item on my always full to-do list: prepping for Tyler’s arrival.
Efficient as ever, I hit send on the bus tickets the second I walked through the door, my stomach grumbling as the scent of sizzling bacon entered my nose. Did I have time to eat?
Nah, probably not. Better to get this show on the road so I could continue with my list for the day. But there was onetinything I needed to eat, and I smiled as I pulled my antique pill case out of my purse.
Opening the section holding the green Skittles—green for good luck, of course—I popped one into my mouth and straightened my shoulders as I approached Gilly at the counter.
2/
adam
“Stop!”
