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Celeste fiddled with her earring. “I’m okay.”
“I heard you’re going back to school for a master’s degree.”
Celeste’s eyes lit up. “Yes, in creative writing. Thankfully, I can attend online.”
“Didn’t want to leave home?”
Celeste leaned forward, resting her hands on the table. “Uncle Albert has been like a father to me since I lost my dad. Mom remarried when I was a teenager. I don’t want to leave my family. Plus, this place is home.”
“I know the feeling. Some things you can’t replace, and that’s home.”
Celeste’s hands fidgeted, twisting her fingers back and forth.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Celeste?”
“Well… I wanted to ask you something, but it’s no
ne of my business.”
“Like?”
“Is there anything going on between you and Seth? I know you two were an item in my sophomore year.”
Leah sat back in her chair. “We’re still friends.”
Celeste leaned in closer, resting elbows on the table. “You two seemed to have a good time at my uncle’s place.”
“We did.” Leah couldn’t forget it since Seth had poured his heart out to her. Her decision turned out to be harder than she assumed. She had avoided it for the last few days, but with the knowledge of Celeste’s affection for Seth, it wouldn’t be fair to put the conversation off with him any longer.
“Maybe…” Celeste said. “It’s nothing, you know. I guess I always felt bad about what happened to him. He was always so nice to me in high school.”
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I don’t think you should give up so easily.”
“There might be hope, you think?” She smiled hopefully.
“I know so.”
****
“Hello, everyone,” Leah greeted her patrons outside her boutique.
“Leah? Please tell me you have this dress in stock?” a female customer asked.
Another woman waved her hand for Leah’s attention. “I love your website. Any chance you have this in coral? I couldn’t tell online. You know how some pictures aren’t true to the color.”
Leah’s head roamed from customer to customer as she entered her store doors. Thankfully, Amber met her to grab her purse. From there, Leah and her employees assisted her customers with their purchases.
While she wanted to bounce on her toes, she held her squeals inside. All her registers possessed lines. Clothes practically flew off her racks, and she even sold out of a few of her items. Though she took breaks in between to rest her tired feet, fresh energy filled her as more patrons entered the store.
For a moment, she sunk into her office chair. I need a break. Then a knock on the door made her cock her head toward it. “Mom?”
“You have a full house out there.” Her mother said. Then she held out a lunch bag. “Thought you could use this. I made meatloaf last night.”
“I’m sorry. I meant to stop by after work,” Leah replied. She clutched the leopard print lunch bag.
