Page 4
Ginny nodded. “As long as they’re well-behaved, dogs are allowed. Have a seat anywhere you like. Coffee or tea?”
“Do you have chai?”
Ginny nodded again, and Rissa slid into a booth, setting Frizzle on the seat beside her.
When Ginny brought over her tea, she grinned. “New to town?”
Rissa nodded. “I’m here for a couple of days doing science lessons at the school. When they told me the nearby town’s name was Phail, it was impossible to resist visiting.”
Ginny laughed. “That’s great to hear. I’m Ginny Phail; my cousin Troy Phail and his wife Piper are having so much fun promoting the town’s name to draw in tourists.”
“It worked for me. The town is beautiful. I love the business names, the matching Christmas decorations, and Phail Way Park.”
“There are walking paths through the woods at the far end of the park. Even when there’s snow, we keep them clear for everyone to use. You’ll find park benches along the way, along with signs telling you Phail Facts and some riddles to keep you entertained.”
“That’s a great idea. I love riddles and puzzles.”
“You’ll fit right in here.”
Wasn’t that a lovely thought? When was the last time she’d fit in? Had she ever?
A few minutes later, Ginny brought over the empanadas Rissa ordered, and she inhaled deeply. “Heaven. That smells like heaven.”
Ginny laughed and pointed through the open window to the kitchen, where a man saluted her and turned back to his cooking. “Manuel is a magician in the kitchen. If you’re craving something that’s not on the menu, just ask if he’s willing to make it for you.”
“I think it’ll take me a dozen visits to go through the menu, but I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you.”
“Anything else I can get you?”
“Do you know if there are any places I can park my RV overnight? I didn’t see any signs in the parking lot I’m currently using.”
Ginny pursed her lips. “I don’t know. We have a large field just outside of town where leaf-peepers park in the fall, but it’s inaccessible in the winter.”
That was too bad, but Rissa smiled. “No problem. I’ll check in at the police station to make sure I’m not violating any rules before I park anywhere for the night. Thank you.”
She could always return to the school and use that lot. The staff had assured her it was fine, but she wanted to explore the area a little, and the lot would be isolated at night.
The bell above the door chimed, and two women entered, laughing, with a large German shepherd walking close to the pregnant woman. She pointed to the stools. “Let’s sit at the counter. Sprout is too big for me to fit in the booths anymore.”
The other woman laughed and made sure her friend was seated securely before taking her own seat. The dog positioned himself on the pregnant woman’s other side. Then his gaze turned to Rissa, studying her for a moment before zeroing in on Frizzle, who was snoozing on the seat beside her.
Rissa smiled at the dog, trying to reassure him she was no threat without words. The dog’s head tilted, and then he straightened and checked out the rest of the room.
They’d been approved.
Ginny reappeared from the back and smiled at the new arrivals. “Jolie, Amber, Boomer. It’s so great to see you. I’m hoping everything went well with your checkup with Lia?”
Rissa’s head spun. Jolie and Amber? Those were the names of Burke’s siblings. She’d looked at the dog, not their faces. Was it them?
Panic rose, but she battled it down. Was Burke here, too? Would she have to face the man who hadn’t wanted her friendship any longer? It would be embarrassing if he thought she’d hunted him down, but half of her heart hoped he’d walk in next.
She’d spent far more time than was reasonable thinking about him through the years. He’d been her only anchor in those tumultuous times. Until Frizzle, she hadn’t found another like him.
What would she do if she saw him? Would he remember her? Had he thought of her at all after he’d stopped replying to her emails?
Embarrassment crawled up her throat, and she had to push it down. Her life had been full of small disasters, but she was still standing, still fighting.
She’d created her own business and it was successful. Well, from her perspective. Her bank account would be a lot less when the Q Lab demanded the clunking noise be fixed, but she supported herself and Frizzle.
