This buoyant mood was not hard to trace back to the dark-haired woman and that cheek of hers on my chest as we watched the movie. There was something just so easy between us. The more time we spent together, the more I felt the undeniable connection. Could this be it? Had I found my love at last? Or was I getting ahead of myself? Regardless, I was too high to question myself for long. Just enjoy the feeling, I told myself. Be grateful for the time with her, even if it ends.
The thought of that made it hard to breathe. Because, somehow, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when, I’d fallen for the mysterious woman with sad eyes and guarded heart.
Annie arrived five minutes before opening, practically skipping in through the back door.
“Morning,” she called out as she stuck her backpack in the cubby I’d labeled for her.
“Morning.”
She pulled on her apron. “How’s it going?”
“I’m fantastic. You?”
She grinned, tying her apron strings. “Mom was in a good mood this morning. Looks like it’s going around.”
“That right?”
“Some kind of virus, maybe?”
“I do seem to have come down with something,” I said. “I’ve been singing.”
That made her howl with laughter. Making her and her mother laugh could be my full time job if they’d let me.
The moment I opened the front doors, tourists spilled in, mulling about, reading back covers. We were busy for the next few hours. It slowed a little as people left for lunch, giving me time to restock shelves. I had just finished when Nate’s widow, Becca, showed up at the store. I hadn’t talked with her since our awkward conversation about her new relationship.
“Hey, Becca.” I gave her a quick hug. “You okay?” I stood back to take her in, noting how good she looked. She’d gained some weight in the right places. Her cheeks were full again. Shine had returned to her blonde hair. She’d gotten so thin after Nate’s death that I’d worried about her health.
“I’m fine. I should have called first, but I was in the neighborhood.”
“I’m always glad to see you,” I said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Annie watching us. I motioned for her to come over so I could introduce them.
“Becca, this is Annie. My new summer employee. And Annie, this is Becca.”
“I was married to Nate, Dorian’s best friend,” Becca said as if anyone had asked.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Annie said, a glimmer of relief in her eyes. Had she wondered who this pretty blonde woman was to me? “I’m sorry about Nate. I lost my dad. Same way.”
“Ah, honey, I’m sorry to hear that,” Becca said. “Sadly, I’m sure you and my girls would have a lot to talk about.”
Another customer came in and Annie excused herself to offer assistance.
I gestured toward the office. “Come on back to my office.”
Once there, I closed the door so we could speak in private. “Have a seat,” I said, sitting behind the desk. “How are you? I’ve been meaning to call.”
“I know it was kind of weird last time we talked,” Becca said.
“It was my fault.”
“I took you by surprise.”
“You did, yeah. But I should have been more encouraging,” I said.
“You loved Nate. I imagine it’s hard to see me moving on.”
I nodded, unable to speak for a moment. “I remember when you two met. And when the girls were born. It’s hard to think of you with anyone else.”
