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Nowthiswas the kind of hospitality I’d expected when I arrived in Laurel Lake, not the reception I’d received from the grumpy guy next door. At least I hadn’t seen him for the last two days. I’d gone over yesterday to tell him I’d ordered his replacement mailbox, but no one was home. In the daylight, I was able to check out his house. Flowerboxes, pretty curtains, a wreath on the front door—it made me wonder if there was a Mrs. Bunyan. I couldn’t imaginehimdecorating so nicely.
As I made my way up and down the aisles of the home-improvement store, my cell buzzed in my pocket. Digging it out, I tensed, expecting to see Noah’s name on the screen yet again. To my delight, it was Nilda—the woman I wished was my mom. My shoulders relaxed as I swiped to answer.
“Hey, Nilda!”
“Hello, sweetheart. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
“How’s living in America’s Friendliest Town?”
“Well, it’s been interesting so far. The lake is gorgeous, so serene and peaceful. There are only houses on my side. The other side is protected state land, so when you stand out back, it looks like you’re in the wilderness. All you see is a giant lake and big, old trees.”
“That sounds like heaven.”
“It is. The outside anyway. The inside…not so much. Dad’s house was apparently occupied by a hoarder, and the place is pretty much falling apart. I spent yesterday filling a dumpster and still haven’t gotten rid of all the newspapers and VHS tapes.”
“Oh no. Are you staying somewhere else?”
I probably should’ve relocated with the condition the house was in, but I didn’t want Nilda to worry. “It’s livable. Just a little more work than I’d anticipated.”
“It’s a good thing my girl is the hardest worker I know.”
I smiled. “How are you feeling? Have you gone to the doctor about that pain in your back?”
“I’m working on it.”
“You said the same thing about the pain in your side a few years back, yet the only time youactually wentto visit a doctor was when they took you out of the house on a stretcher because your appendix had burst. Do I need to call my mother on you?” There weren’t too many things the esteemed Dr. Melanie Preston took an interest in, but shelovedto bully people into seeking proper healthcare.
Nilda sighed. “I’ll get an appointment soon. I promise. But speaking of Dr. Preston… Have you talked to your mother since your discharge?”
“She left me a voicemail, but I haven’t called her back yet.”
“I’m sure she’s concerned.”
I scoffed. “If she was concerned about how I was doing, she could’ve come to visit.”
Nilda said nothing. In the twenty-five years I’d known her, she’d never once badmouthed my mother, even when she clearly deserved it. And it wasn’t just because my mother was her employer, which she was. I doubted Nilda had ever talked crap about anyone. She was the kindest, most warm-hearted human on the planet. I owed her so much.
“Tell me about the people of Laurel Lake,” Nilda said. “Are they worthy of the America’s-Friendliest status?”
I could think of one person who didn’t represent the title Laurel Lake had carried for the last seventeen years running. Then again, I’d thought of him a little too often overthe last forty-eight hours. It was time I forgot all about Mr. Grumpy. I wasn’t going to let one bad egg ruin the little town I’d fantasized about for most of my life.
“I haven’t met that many people yet,” I told Nilda. “But the guy at the home-improvement store is really sweet, and the lady at the coffee shop gave me a free cup yesterday when I told her I was new in town.”
Nilda and I talked for the next fifteen minutes while I meandered through the electrical supply and heating sections, picking up various items I hadn’t thought of when I’d made my shopping list. I wound up telling her about my neighbor, even though I’d told myself I was going to put him out of my head. Before we hung up, I reminded her to make a doctor’s appointment, but I was pretty sure I’d have to call my mother and get her involved in a few days. In fact, I wouldn’t put it past Nilda tonotcall the doctor just so I was forced to call Melanie. I’d never understood why she wanted me to have a relationship with my mother so badly, but I knew she meant well. After we hung up, I went to find Sam.
“I’m all ready to schedule the delivery,” I said, holding out my list.
Sam perused it. “Our guys are only allowed to deliver to your driveway. Unless you’re planning on using the sheetrock and wood right away, you might want to get a few tarps. They’re calling for a little rain in the forecast over the next few days.”
“Oh, good to know. Can you add that to my delivery, please?”
Sam winked. “You got it. And I’m going to set you up with George as your delivery driver. If you need anything carried in, he’s good about that. Some of the guys are lazy and hide behind the rules.”
“Thank you.”
He picked up a clipboard and scanned some papers. “I can have that to you between one and four today. If for some reason you’re not home, they’ll pile it all up in the middle of the driveway.”
