Page 79 of A Texas Hero

Customers, not having anything better to do, wandered around the store, reverse window-shopping. Zoey greeted everyone she knew by name, but she also saw a few new faces.

“Is Archer here?” asked a young woman. “I’d love his advice on a pair of shoes.”

“Which ones?” Zoey didn’t carry many, so the girl’s request had her a little befuddled.

She held up a pair of adorable blue-and-white ankle boots with cutouts. “These. I got them online. I just brought them in so I could get his opinion.”

“They’re super cute, but I’m sorry, Archer doesn’t work here anymore.”

“What? Are you kidding me?” She jutted her lip.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. What kind of fashion advice did he usually give you? Maybe I can help?” Now Zoey was truly curious, because she’d never asked.

“Oh, he was just the best. What I liked most was his honesty. I could always tell when he didn’t want to hurt my feelings but wasn’t going to lie to me, either. Every time I ask my boyfriend for advice, he lies like a rug because he thinks I’ll get mad if he tells me the truth. Archer didn’t have that problem.”

“Mmm,” Zoey said, nodding her head. “You know he didn’t really have a background in fashion.”

The girl laughed. “Yeah, I could tell. But no matter what he said, I felt good about myself after talking to him.”

For a moment, Zoey didn’t know what to say.

“Well, let me know if I can help you with anything,” she finally said. “I think the boots are really cute, by the way.”

Before long, word got around the store that Archer no longer worked there. Everyone wanted to know where he’d gone, would he possibly be available to FaceTime with them, and could Zoey give them his number. She said no, obviously. She’d known Archer was a hit with her customers, but she had no idea just how much everyone liked him.

When it continued to rain, and little Wade became more and more agitated, Zoey led Valerie to the bridal annex, where she could sit for a while and nurse her baby. To occupy Wade, she found a large box she hadn’t yet broken up. Turning it on its side, she presented it to him as his new fort. He squealed with delight and climbed in.

“Oh, my God, thank you,” Valerie said, leaning her head back against the wall. “I need to call Cole. He’ll be worried.”

Zoey heard Valerie on the phone explaining to Cole that they were hunkering down at Glamtique, and not to worry. Cole told her to stay at the boutique and he’d come and get them.

Even as her shop took on the distinct aroma of damp clothes and wet hair, Zoey couldn’t complain because she sold an item every few minutes. When people were bored, they shopped. Her entire stock of scents and lotions sold out, and as luck would have it, so did all the new sweaters and the few windbreakers she had in the store.

“Your shop has the best fall vibes,” one of her regulars said to her. “It always feels to me like we go straight from summer into winter.”

“Fall is 100 percent my favorite season.”

That statement drew assents from a few of the customers, who started mentioning everything they loved about autumn.

“Piles of leaves that my dog loves to jump in.”

“Cozy fires and roasted marshmallows.”

“Turkey and pumpkin pie!”

“Mashed potatoes.”

“Boots and sweater weather.”

Zoey glanced around the shop with pride. Sometimes she told herself that her mother wasn’t really here—that it was a nice thought, and nothing more. But she’d never felt her presence more than today. Zoey had created something special here, an extended family of sorts.

And while she loved the fashion, decorating the shop and scouring the internet for vintage finds to sell in her store, the people inside were the best part.

* * *

“I’m sorry. I’d offer you something to drink but I don’t have much,” Archer said once he’d invited Patch inside.

Patch held up a palm. “That’s okay, I won’t be long.”