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Cade sat straight and bumped her knee with his. “You should go. You were excited about it this morning. I need time to wrap my mind around this. I’m going to head back to the office and start pouring through files. By the time you’re down, maybe I’ll have a better plan.”
She frowned, torn between the commitment she’d made to Mrs. Collins and sticking around for Cade.
As if reading her mind, he placed a hand on hers and tingles of excitement shot up her arm. “Really. Go. I need a second to absorb everything.”
“Okay. We won’t be gone long.”
She offered him a smile then hurried to the kitchen, Mrs. Collins behind her. The sooner they started the sooner they’d finish, and she could get back to helping Cade.
“Is everything all right?” Mrs. Collins hooked the handle of a giant basket in her arm before handing another her way.
Laura blew out a shaky breath. “I hope so.”
Ignoring the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she grabbed the rest of the goodies she and Mrs. Collins had prepared and headed out the door that led to the backyard. The grass was overgrown, and weeds had taken over a small patch of land intended for a garden. Wildflowers mingled with dandelions along the back of the house.
Mrs. Collins sighed. “So much to do in this place, so little time.”
Laura glanced around the fenced-in area before following through the gate to the sidewalk. “Have you owned the home long?”
“It’s been in my family for decades. I gained ownership when my older sister passed away. The house had been too much for her to manage, and she never would accept help, so a lot has fallen into disarray.”
“When did you start the food pantry?” Laura asked, stepping beside her. She’d lived in Pine Valley her whole life and hadn’t given much thought to the food pantry or what it provided the community. She’d been too busy surviving and wasn’t aware of something she didn’t need at the time.
“Not too long ago. I started small. Setting out a stand by the road with a sign and food to give away. Then inviting people who returned inside to go through the pantry. When word spread, people started dropping off donations. Now I put up flyers around town. Do what I can without spending too much money. But I want to see more growth. Figure out how to help more people.”
Now Laura was happy she’d taken the time to help Mrs. Collins with her mission. Cade might need her, but this was important, and she was happy to do something for someone else for a change.
They turned the corner and headed toward the middle of town. A few pedestrians strolled along the well-kept sidewalks, pushing strollers or walking hand-in-hand with little ones. It wouldn’t be long before she had her own baby to push through the quiet streets. The thought warmed her more than the bright sun overhead.
“Where should we start?” Mrs. Collins asked.
Laura stopped and studied the storefronts. Colorful awnings were pulled over glass windows. A few tables lingered in the shade, providing seating in front of the bakery and a new café she hadn’t tried yet. Buckets of colorful flowers showed off the florist’s works without having to step into her shop.
A thrift store caught her eye. “What about Sweet Repeats? Looks like there’s quite a few people inside, and I’d feel weird bringing food to one of the restaurants.”
Mrs. Collins chuckled. “Agreed.”
Laura led the way to the store. She opened the door and a little bell chimed, announcing their arrival. Racks of clothes and restored furniture welcomed them. Every inch of space was covered with something beautiful, and Laura had to stop herself from riffling through the baby cloths she’d spied.
A woman with bright hazel eyes and a brighter smile approached them. Her strawberry blond hair curled around her face. “Hello. Can I help you find anything?”
Mrs. Collins grinned. “Oh, I think I could get lost finding all sorts of fun things in here, but that’ll have to wait for another time.”
The woman raised an amused brow. “Ok. What can I do for you today?”
“Well, I’m Mrs. Collins and this is Laura. We come bearing treats—freshly baked from the food pantry I run.”
“How lovely. I’m Elsie, by the way, and this is my store. That’s so kind of you to stop and offer something yummy for me and my customers. I’m fairly new in town. I didn’t realize there was a food pantry.”
“Sadly, a lot of people don’t,” Laura said, knowing that was only partially true. Some folks, like her, knew it was there but were afraid to be seen using such an amazing resource. “We’re trying to fix that. One piece of apple pie at a time.”
Elsie’s eyes widened. “I’d love to help spread the word. Do you have a flyer or something I could hang up?”
Mrs. Collins pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket. “I always come prepared.”
While Mrs. Collins handed over the flyer, Laura placed a few more pieces of pie on the glass counter for customers then wandered through the racks of clothes. “You have super cute stuff.”
“Thanks,” Elsie said, beaming. “I love taking something used and discarded and turning it into something beautiful. Something that will make someone else happy. Be treasured.”
