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“That was a long time ago, Leah,” I mumble under my breath.
“Come on, that’s not something you forget. You were devastated when he got the full ride to Stanford,” she says,her words bringing back those feelings of loss and heartache in sharp detail.
He was always laughing and joking with me. Teasing me about my reading and calling me ‘happily ever after girl’. I know that he sees me as just Jack’s little sister but it felt good to have his attention.
Then he was gone, and life was bleak. I’ve dated of course, but no one has ever held a candle to Mason.
“That was a long time ago. He’s Jack’s best friend, Leah. He was always at the house, and now we’re just good friends.”
“How is your hunky brother? I haven’t seen him stop by in a while.” Leah tries to act casual, but her demeanor makes me wonder if she’s carrying a torch for Jack. I’m not about to ask her. I don’t want that laser focus she has to turn on me.
“He’s been busy with work. Once he was promoted to Captain, he had quite the mess to clean up and I think it’s taking a lot of his time.”
“He needs to have more fun. All work and no play is going to wear him out.”
“I know he goes fishing with Mason a lot. And he comes over quite a bit and mooches dinner off me.”
“Is he dating anyone?” She asks, not looking me in the eye.
“No, I don’t think he has the time, and he hasn’t said anything about anyone catching his eye.”
“If anyone would know if, it’d be you. Sometimes it makes me jealous that I’m not closer to my siblings. They were all itching to get out of small town Maine and get to the big city. Not us, we’re homebodies,” she grins.
She had her time in the city and decided it wasn’t for her. When she came back we opened up the bookshop and café.
“The Danishes went fast today. I’ll have to make a bigger batch tomorrow,” she muses as she walks around to look at the display case.
“Those chocolate chip cookies are going to get massacred this afternoon, the chicken salad too. You’re a culinary legend.”
“And then we trap them with soft lighting, relaxing music, plush seating, stacks of books, and up go the sales.” She does a happy little dance to celebrate our envisioned full house.
“That’s the plan anyway.”
“I’m going into the back to work on the lunch stuff before the rush. Call out if you need help up here,” she saunters into the back and I wipe down the counter.
“Hello, my girl.” I look up and see Mrs. Robertson.
“I’ve got your books all ready for you.”
“Good, I was running out of reading material. But first, I want one of those Danishes, a cup of tea, and a bit of gossip.”
“Coming right up.” Mrs. Robertson is the absolute cutest. She is such an inspiration and a truly lovely woman.
“I saw a handsome firefighter walking back to the station during my walk into town today. He had some goodies from here. Any chance there is a romance brewing?” She wiggles her eyebrows at me as we sit down at one of the wrought iron café tables.
“No such luck. He was coming in to get his usual pastry and coffee fix. We’re just friends—we’ve known each other all our lives.”
“That is the best kind of romance. You know each other inside and out. Friends make the best lovers.” She winks at me and I try not to think of Mrs. Robertson and Frank from the general store on their once a week date.
“How is Frank?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Oh, he’s doing well. Tomorrow is the anniversary of Elsie’s passing, so he’s a little down. I’m going to make him his favorite soup and take it over tomorrow evening.”
“You are so sweet. It has to be hard to lose the love of your life. But I don’t have to tell you that.”
Her eyes go misty. “My James was a good man. We had fifty years together. Now Frank and I lean on each other— he’s good company.” She smirks and takes a sip of her tea. “Remember what I said about friends earlier?”
I laugh and sit back in my chair. “I hope that I’m just like you when I get older, Mrs. Robertson. You are a treasure.”
