Page 56 of When In Doubt

“I know, Little Peach. I’m just messing with him.”

I follow Elsie up the stairs into what was probably once a spare bedroom, but has now been taken over by supplies for every kind of craft possible.

“Jeez,” I say in wonder, “and I thought my mom’s stash was big.”

Elsie just laughs. “And this is it after I had a clear out.”

Fucking hell. Maybe she should have turned the florist into a craft store herself. She seems to have all the inventory already. “What needs taking down?”

“What were you doing in Denver with Freya?” I turn to see Elsie by the door, arms crossed, eyes lasering holes through me.

Right. I guess I should have expected this.

“She had a stand at Denver Yarn Festival,” I reply evenly.

“I know.” She looks me up and down. “What were you doing in Denver?”

“I was helping her.”

“Why? Did Valerie ask you to?”

“No.” I sigh. Jesus Christ, why does everybody think I need instruction from my mother to do something kind?

“So, you just, what? Volunteered?”

“Yes?”

Elsie assesses me. I let her, hoping she sees whatever she needs to. She’s important to Freya, I want her to like me, to approve of me being in Freya’s life. Not that I need her blessing, but I know Freya values her opinion. If I want to pursue something, which I’m becoming more certain with every second we spend together that I do, having Elsie on my team would certainly help my case.

“You like her?” Elsie asks.

“Yes.”

“Are you gonna do something about it?”

“I expect so, yeah.”

She taps her nails together. “How much do you know about why she’s in Cedar Creek?”

The question catches me off guard. “I know you offered her the lease, and that she’s always wanted her own store.”

She eyes me carefully, choosing her next words. “And what do you know about why she left Connecticut?”

The question stumps me. “I figured it was just a good opportunity.”

“It was…”

“And?”

“And.” She pauses, seeing that I don’t know, and deciding how much to tell me. “And, it’s not my place to say.”

“Is she in some kind of trouble?”

“No, no, nothing like that.”

“Then, what?” I press, my heart racing.

“She just wanted a fresh start.”