“I might know a few people.” Saying the words felt like tearing out his heart.
“You don’t have to answer me right now. But if you could give me a list of possibles before you leave for home?” Dani wrote something on her clipboard. “Oh, and if you have any more ideas for how to set things up in there so it’s ready for service, I’d appreciate that too.” She spun on her heel, but after two steps she turned back. “Notice I’m not saying anything more aboutAva? We all like her.” She grinned and spun again before he could reply.
Sure. He could help her get things ready to go. He could even suggest a few people who might be interested in a change of scenery and a life on an island in Michigan.
The harder part would be to figure out what to do about the things he was realizing about himself. Things like where was home? And what to do about these feelings for Ava that were definitely, absolutely, beyond any doubt, not a crush.
Doing something was better than doing nothing.
Ava tossed back the dregs lingering in the bottom of her coffee cup and then scooted out of the booth at Good Day Coffee. After waking early that morning, she’d come to the little shop for a breakfast sandwich and coffee and to write one of her articles. She’d been surrounded by the din of the coffee grinder and espresso machine.
The teal walls and quirky knickknacks of the coffee shop kept a smile on her face, and the atmosphere inspired her writing until articles number four and five were completed. There had been a constant stream of customers in the light and airy shop during the hour she sat with her iced caramel latte. A few, including Seb Jonathon and Cody Hart, had even stopped to say hi. Her heart felt warm and full. This was the community she was seeking, the small-town vibe she craved away from the rush of big city life. Hitting Send, she emailed Judson the finished copy.
Despite the delicious breakfast and even better company, she couldn’t ignore the constant buzz at the back of her mind.
She’d finally finished her letter to the homeowners of the house on Zinnia and had given it to Mia on Monday. It was now Tuesday. Twenty-four full hours. The burble in her stomach every time she thought about the house threatened to turn into outright anxiety. Better to combat the what-ifs with some action.
She rummaged in her sling bag for her wallet, then extracted a few bills for a tip.
“See you later,” Jill called. The bubbly, red-haired waitress had welcomed Ava and given her some local history while taking her order. As it turned out, she wasn’t just the waitress; she also owned the place. Apparently, she was part of the Kelley family who operated many of the restaurants in town. That might be a good angle for a story. Ava jotted the thought down in her notebook. She had already arranged to interview Patrick Kelley. He’d promised to text her with a day and time that worked. She’d ask him about the family connections when she talked to him about his participation in the cook-off.
“See ya, Jill!” Ava waved, then walked out into the breezy street. The jeans and University of Wisconsin sweatshirt she wore didn’t quite keep out the chill of the morning. She swiped open the weather app on her phone. Thank goodness, the afternoon would be much nicer. Maybe the wind would blow the clouds away and they could have some sunshine.
She navigated to her contact list and hit the button to call Mia. As the phone rang, she sent up a quick prayer.Lord, if it’s Your will?—
“Hello, Ava,” Mia said. In the background, Ava could hear the high voices of two kids. “Finn! Stop crawling on your sister.”
Ava laughed. “I’m catching you at a bad time.”
Mia sighed. “No, it’s always something over here.” She gave a short laugh. “The only peace I get these days is when I’m in the office. And not always then, because I bring them with mesometimes. They’re my whole heart, but they can make it hard to do my job at times.”
Ava’s heart ached at the domestic picture Mia painted. Mia was at least ten years younger than Ava, but she already had her life together. Two kids, a fiancé who loved her, and an established life in a beautiful community.
All the things Ava wanted for herself. She could start with the house.
“I’m just calling looking for an update on my house.” She winced. Calling it “my house” maybe presumed too much. She began walking down the street. On her right, the windows of an antique store bristled with goodies. She peered through the glass, giving a little wave to the woman putting a doily on top of the chest of drawers in the window.
“Finn!” A rustle from Mia’s end. High giggles sounded through the line. “That’s it, mister. If you can’t leave your sister alone, you need to go to your room. Sorry, Ava.” Mia’s voice came clearer through the line again. “I think I’ve bought a few minutes.”
“They sound adorable.” Ava put her arm over her stomach. The next storefront looked like a glassblowing workshop. The tinkle of a wind chime rang out over the street, and intricate glass bulbs hung in the window.
“They are adorable. And high energy. They’re not usually naughty, just full of mischief.”
“At least they’re separated now. Can’t get into too much trouble.”
“Oh, give it three minutes, and Maggie will be crawling all over Finn in their room. They like to be together. Anyway, you called about the house?”
“Yes.”
Mia sighed again. “I’m sorry, Ava. It’s not looking good.”
Ava stumbled on a cobblestone. Her heart sank all the way to her ankles.
“I gave your letter to the Realtor for the owners, and she said ‘Oh, thanks, I’ll add this to the others.’ I guess everyone who is interested in the house is trying the same trick.” Mia cleared her throat. “She did promise to get back to us in three days, though. Normally it would be faster, but since there are so many people making an offer, the sellers are wanting to really think it through.”
“Okay.” The next building stood empty, its dark windows looking over a dusty floor. The window boxes contained the remains of last year’s flowers. “I’ll have to leave it in God’s hands, then.” Easier said than done. She hadn’t known anyone to come through for her. God Himself often felt very far away. “Are there other properties I can look at in the meantime?”
“I took the liberty of trying to find something for you,” Mia said. “But I didn’t see anything that met your wish list. Nothing in your price range, anyway.”
