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Chapter 31
Brooke reread Sam’s letter countless times on her red-eye flight back to Bliss Cove. The undeniable warmth of his words, as well as the admission of trust, eased a bit of her lingering anxiety. She didn’t read anything more into what he wrote, especially as Aria had texted her with “credible” rumors that Sam was planning to leave Bliss Cove soon.
Unfortunately, Brooke wasn’t surprised. Now thatTripwirewas finished, he’d move on to another town or even a whole new country.
While she loved his revelation that she helped him believe in “happily ever after,” he’d said nothing about turning that into reality. And if her love couldn’t fully break down his walls or convince him to stick around, then surely a letter, no matter how cathartic, wouldn’t do it either.
Still, that didn’t stop her from hoping she would see him again this weekend. As her flight landed at eight a.m., she only had time for a couple of hours’ sleep at her parents’ house before she grabbed her camera and headed out to the fair.
The California sun and ocean breeze was a welcome relief after the frigid winter of New York. Book-themed stalls and food booths lined Starfish Avenue, a ten-piece band belted out music in the gazebo, and people clustered around the sleek Airstream trailer that had been colorfully painted with books, flowers, and a skyline scene of fluffy white clouds and hot-air balloons.
After admiring the bookmobile, Brooke took numerous photos of the vehicle, the book displays, and the various programs going on around the square—games, read-aloud events, and “design your own book” craft tables.
She stopped to say hello to Charlie, who was supervising the letterpress printing demonstration, and spent a few minutes petting the cats prowling around Aria’s Meow and Then enclosure. She greeted almost everyone she passed and took notes for herGazettearticle about the fair, which she’d insisted on writing for free in exchange for Gramps’ interview.
On the corner of Starfish and Dandelion Road, Callie and Rory Prescott were staffing a Sugar Joy Bakery booth. Platters held cookies and mini-cakes shaped and decorated like books.
“This one is chocolate and strawberry.” Callie handed Brooke a plate bearing aPride and Prejudicecake. “Oh, and don’t forget to be over at the stage on the square right at eleven. That’s when the elementary school play-writing winners are staging their productions.”
“Okay.”
“Eleven on the dot.” Callie held up her forefingers and lifted her eyebrows. “Elevensharp.”
“Did you get that?” Rory smirked. “Not nine, not twelve, not ten-fifty-nine. Eleven.”
“I’ll be there.” Accustomed to Callie’s worship of punctuality, Brooke tapped her phone for emphasis. “I’ll even set my alarm.”
“Okay.” Callie nodded in satisfaction. “And come back later to check out the comic book cookies. Mom’s bringing them over after lunch.”
“I will, thanks.” Brooke took a bite of the delicious cake.
As she stepped aside to let other people approach the booth, she glanced over at Title Wave. The interior of the store was dark and the Closed sign hung on the door.
Aria had told her the residents, even Mayor Bowers, were unanimously disappointed to hear Sam might be moving away. Despite his reclusiveness, or perhaps because of it, he’d disarmed the whole town and become a steadfast fixture of Bliss Cove life.
Brooke smiled faintly. Over the past year, he’d become a fixture of her life, too. And over the past month, he’d become embedded in herheart. The thought of him no longer being there was a physical ache in the deepest part of her soul.
Polishing off the cake, she tossed the plate in the recycling bin and crossed the street. She knocked on the back door, in case he was in his office. No answer.
She’d make a quick trip to his house and see if he was there. She was leaving again in a few days, and he might not be here the next time she came back. If nothing else, she wanted to thank him for the letter and say goodbye again.
He wasn’t at his house either, and his truck was gone.
Could he have already left?
No one had said anything about him having left for good, but she knew better than anyone that Sam wouldn’t announce his departure. He’d just leave.
Checking her watch, she returned to the Book Fair. The fourth-grade winner of the play-writing contest had won for her classic Old West melodrama featuring a lasso-wielding heroine and a great deal of audience participation.
People sat on the grass, booing the villain, cheering for the hero and heroine, singing songs, and calling out advice—all prompted by two kids wearing cow costumes and holding up cue cards.
“I can’t do it!” cried Cowgirl Kate.
“Believe in yourself!” shouted the audience.
Brooke took pictures of the production, actors, and crowd, pausing to add her own cheers and boos to the repertoire. As she moved around the square, a suddenzingingsensation pulsed through her. She paused and rubbed her arms.
She knew that zing. She’d felt it countless times over the past year whenever she was near—
