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Her mother, however, held out her hand to his, signaling it was time to say grace. She took both of her parents’ hands and reminisced on the many dinners she shared with them as a girl. As they ate Sunday’s dinner, Leah mulled her mother’s words. Take time for me? Maybe that’s what I need. All worries went away at the taste of her favorite dish.
****
Leah leaned on her elbows as she scrutinized her boutique’s website. She loved how well the online store was doing, but she was at odds with her web designer. While Quinn McGee knew her craft, Leah thought something was still off about the website. The fuchsia colors in the background an
d the scripted handwriting showed class, but something still felt off.
Leah rubbed her head as the corners of her mouth turned up. From dresses to casual wear, Leah’s brand boutique, Morris Styles, boomed in Piedmont Valley. Her love for fashion in high school matured into a successful business and her website expanded her clientele.
When her unruly stomach growled, Leah touched her hand as if to silence the noise. Her eyes diverted to the space on her desk, which she used to display a photo of her and Brian. With smiles on both of their faces among the fall foliage surrounding them, he had picked her up off her feet. Back then, the world was theirs for the taking.
Brian had swung her in his embrace, placing a sweet kiss to her lips. “I love you.”
Leah’s heart had flooded with joy. “I love you too.”
Then he put her down. The leaves crunched under her feet and her eyes caught the fall wind swirling the rest. Brian clutched her hand as they strolled from the park to the nearby sidewalk.
Leah dismissed the painful memories, grateful she buried the picture in the bottom drawer. If only life had worked that way, Leah would stuff every problem away. In reality, she had to face them. It wouldn’t happen overnight, but she would learn to live without Brian.
She got to her feet and grabbed her purse and cell phone. Leaving the store attended by her employees, Leah walked to Mack’s BBQ. Her mouth watered as she expected his special smoked chicken. Normally, she would have had lunch at Carol’s Diner three blocks over, but it was her special place with Brian.
Leah fanned herself as she stood in line. She wasn’t a fan of warm weather, and although it wasn’t officially summer, it was warm outside. Finally, at the counter, the white-haired man with nearly translucent skin greeted her with a smile. She ordered her dish and waited in the corner with her ticket. She checked her cell, no messages. What would they talk about? It was over between them. He would live his dream in Chicago, while she remained in Piedmont Valley.
Once her ticket number was called, Leah settled into a corner booth and ate. She cut into her lunch attempting not to think about Brian. His gleaming smile still vivid in her mind, her efforts to push him aside failed her. Where did they go wrong? He had talked about leaving Piedmont Valley and living in a bigger city.
Wiping her fingers clean of barbeque sauce, Leah discarded her trash. She waved goodbye to Mack and exited the restaurant. She adored the family-oriented community of Piedmont Valley. It made her feel that much more loved outside of her immediate family.
Then Leah thought about her wish as she walked down the sidewalk. She fiddled with her earring. Was it ridiculous to wish for true love? She wondered if it would work. With a shake of her head, she dismissed the idea.
Leah made her way back to her boutique. Once inside her office, she pulled her lips in and sat in her office chair. She tapped her fingers against her lips, staring at the pictures on her laptop screen. Her eyes strained as she pondered the images, leaning forward as she scrolled through the photos. While her models displayed her apparel perfectly, it didn’t resonate.
She leaned back in her chair. Cole Parsons was back in town. She didn’t mind the photographer she had used before, but Cole’s work on her site would definitely catch new customers and more attention. She searched her cell phone for his number. Did he have the same number? She pressed her luck and called the current number she had for Cole.
A deep voice answered at the second ring. “Hello?”
Leah cleared her throat recognizing Cole’s voice. “Cole? It’s Leah.”
“I know. You still have the same number I see.”
A smile danced on her lips. “As do you. Did I catch you at a bad time? I can call back.”
“No, I was on a break. What’s up?”
Leah kneaded her shoulder. “I have a business proposition for you.”
“You don’t beat around the bush do you?” he replied. “I’m listening.”
“I’m working with a web designer for my boutique, but we’re having trouble with the pictures. I… I wanted to hire you.”
“Oh, really?” he said, sounding genuinely excited.
Hope fluttered inside her. “Yes, Cole. I need your expertise.”
“Are you free tomorrow? We can set up an appointment.”
“Not tomorrow, but what about this weekend? Friday after five?”
“Let me check my schedule.” There was a rustling sound in the background, but only a few seconds before he answered. “Friday works. Is five-thirty okay?”
