Her face melted as she spoke, like she understood in real time what a nuisance she’d been. Weirdly, as she listed things out, I found myself recalling the memories with dewy sentimentality.
Huh.
“You went in the cabin?” Pace asked me happily, eyebrows high with hope, obviously not hearing any of the other details.
I blinked at him once. “Yes.”
“Yeah.” Claire chuckled nervously. “He had to get me out of my clothes when I hurt my knee when I was all wet.” She stopped and put out a hand. “Saying that out loud, I hear how that sounds, but it wasn’t like that.”
“We’re going now,” I said and began to steer her away. Pace all but vibrated with the need to ask more questions.
“I’ll see you for poker night,” he called after us.
“No, thank you,” I said.
“Oh, that’s not nice,” Claire whispered.
“Wednesday it is,” Pace yelled. “See you then!”
I gave him a sort of salute, much more PG than I wanted to give him, but was conscious of all the families around.
“Aw, that’s nice.” Claire waved goodbye one more time. “You guys are cute together.”
My social batteries were running low, and I needed the safety of my workspace. Claire, too, seemed to be wearing out. The sun was almost down, and the town glowed orangy-pink. I was about to suggest leaving when the next obstacle popped up.
Kathy Wilson spotted me and was making a beeline right for me. I froze in my tracks.
“Oh, my sweet Levi. I am so glad to see you out and about.” Mrs. Wilson was the Cozy Creek County clerk and would never relinquish that role because of the firsthand access to gossip.
“Hello, Mrs. Wilson. Nice to see you as well.” Not really. If ever there was a person who loved to watch people squirm, it was her.
“You know, I was just thinking about sweet Lily this morning. Gosh, I still can’t believe it’s been over a year already. I swear I can still smell her gardenia perfume sometimes in the street, and I’ll think oh, I just missed her, and then I’ll remember.”
My Adam’s apple lodged in my throat. I felt like I was drowning and having a heart attack at the same time. I couldn’t—what was I supposed to—What was anybody?—
Claire’s hand found my own, warm and stable, as her fingers linked through mine. She gently squeezed my hand, and the tension melted from me as I squeezed her once in return. An arm looped through mine. Only after being held by Claire did I realize my body had been trembling. I couldn’t admit how much strength I took from that simple action. Her other hand extended out.
“Hi. I’m Claire Wells.”
The older woman took us both in. She stared pointedly at Claire’s arm through mine. Claire’s thumb brushed over the back of my hand, soothing with our palms pressed tight. I had been there for Claire in her most vulnerable state, and now she instinctually knew how to show up for mine.
“I’m renting out Levi’s cabin, and so far, making a total nuisance of myself,” she said before Kathy could ask the question on the tip of her nosy tongue.
“Is that right?” They shook hands. “And what are you doing up here in Cozy Creek?”
“I’m a reporter.”
The older woman seemed to feel like that necessitated straightening up and fluffing her short yellow-blond bob.
“Are you writing about Cozy Creek?”
“Should I be?” Claire asked in a co-conspiratorial tone.
“Every town has their secrets,” Kathy said, looking at me as if putting together pieces that weren’t there. Pieces that shouldn’t be uncovered. I stiffened, then shifted on my feet. Claire said something in response that my ringing ears couldn’t make out.
“Is Levi being a good host?” she asked, still trying to sniff out salacious details to spread through town.
“He is. This whole area is beautiful.”
