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Shaking my head, I give her a squeeze. “He’s somebody’s type.”
“Are you coming by to see Miss Jessica today?”
“Right after classes.”
“See you then.”
“Oh, I love the smell of this foot cream.” Miss Jessica sits on a vinyl couch in the recreation hall rubbing my lotion on her feet. “I can’t believe this didn’t sell.” She slips a fluffy sock on and leans back studying the bottle.
She’s become one of my best customers, and I bring her favorites from my discontinued line along with new things I’m trying. Of course, I never make her pay for anything.
“Maybe I didn’t name it right.” I reach into the small bag I have today. “Like I didn’t think this sugar scrub was going to do well, but I named it Peach Passion, and it flies off the shelves.”
“I guess it’s hard to be passionate about feet.”
“I think having foot in the name is a problem.”
She takes the jar of caramel-colored scrub from me and opens it, giving it a sniff. “I’m glad you brought me more of this. It works great on my elbows.”
I take out another small jar. “This is some eye cream I’m trying. See what you think.”
“Oh, I love eye cream.” She takes the tiny pot and unscrews the lid, applying a smear as we sit side by side. “Feels good… I wish I knew how to use that Internet so I could tell everybody how great your products are.”
I laugh, and she reaches out to hold my hand. “You seem happy today. Is it because of Taron?”
“I don’t know.” My brow furrows as I think about what changed in me. “I think maybe it’s spring.”
Her spotty old hand pats mine roughly, and she nods. “When my brother Bill was in the service, the first months were always the hardest. We only had letters in those days, and it felt like a little eternity passed between each one.”
“I can’t imagine.” Taron and I don’t Facetime every single day anymore, but our texts are pretty nonstop. “Maybe the peach blossoms did it. I saw them popping out on the trees, and I decided it was time to get back in the game.”
She nods. “The game being your business?”
“And running the orchard. And focusing on my classes.” I think about all the orders coming in every day for my products. “But mostly my business. I have to stay on top of it if I’m going to keep making a profit, which is the only time Sawyer seems interested.”
“You will.” She smiles, giving my hand a squeeze. “When your brother gets back, and Taron gets back, you’ll have your store.”
She makes it sound like they’ve just gone away for a few days. I wish. “Maybe. Sawyer won’t let me build anything in the orchard. He doesn’t want tourists all in the way. I have to show him they’re valuable customers.”
Her brow furrows as if she’s thinking about this, and I collect the items I made for her into the bag again. My movements draw her attention. “How much do I owe you for these?”
“Oh,” I smile and exhale a laugh. “Don’t worry about that.”
“I do worry about that, Noel Aveline.” Her craggly voice goes high. “You’re never going to grow your business giving stuff away, and I always pay my bills.”
“Tell you what.” I pat her hand. “I’ll ask Mindy to deduct it from your account.” Her imaginary account.
The old woman nods. “Okay. Get Mindy to do that.”
“I’ll take care of it now. Then I have to get back to make dinner for Leon.”
“You’ll be back next week?”
“If not sooner.” I give her a squeeze. “Let Mindy know if you need anything.”
That night, lying in my bed, I think about our conversation as I tap out a text to Taron. Miss Jessica asked about you today.
I introduced her to Taron using my Facetime app a while back, and you’d have thought I’d shown her the moon landing. Gray dots bounce as he replies. Tell her when you’re sick of me, I’ll start dating her.
