AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That might be the weirdest thing you’ve ever said,” Clarissa told him. “Now I’m wondering if you’re a serial killer.”
“I’m a day trader,” he corrected.
“Prove the difference.” She sent him a hyperbolic gaze of suspicion.
Jamie held up a hand. “I’m clearly not the only moody one around here. If you must know, I’m just going through some things. It’ll pass.”
Genevieve closed her laptop and folded her arms. “We haven’t seen Leighton in a long time, and Marvin’s checked out both stores.”
“Don’t tell her about my missions,” Marvin said, tossing up an exasperated hand.
Jamie turned to him. “Are you spying on me, Marvin?”
“Just taking one for the team.” He looked over at them for backup. “We were worried.”
Clarissa hadn’t said much. She knew the story and gave Jamie’s hand a squeeze in solidarity, having told her—from the night it had all happened and she’d come over to comfort Jamie on the couch—that she’d done the right thing. “It’s never wrong to be honest about your feelings,” she’d said as Jamie had cried on her literal shoulder.
“I’m not sure Leighton would agree.”
“She was caught off guard. Give her time.”
She had, wanting more than anything to just put things back how they had been. She’d accept a friendship, would support Leighton’s marriage, and would bury her feelings until she found a way to resolve them. She could do all of that if it would bring Leighton back into her life.
“Listen, all of you,” Jamie said, addressing the regulars. “I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m doing just fine, and from what I cantell, Leighton is on vacation. Her office email has an autoreply that says as much.” She shrugged. “She’ll be back, right?”
“She will,” Genevieve said with such force it was startling. “I guarantee it. She would be a fool not to, Jamie.”
“And we know she’s not that,” Clarissa offered. She stood. “It’s the first day of our big clearance sale at the store, and my mother will be on edge all day. I better get over there.”
“Oh, save me one of those turquoise scarves for my mom’s birthday.”
“Half-off today.” Clarissa kissed Jamie’s cheek and waved to the regulars. She’d check in on Jamie diligently throughout the day via text, good friend that she was.
As for Jamie, she would limp along through the rest of her day, go home, and try to find a little joy in a good book or a rerun ofModern Family, until it was time to get up and do the whole thing over again. Meanwhile, she watched the clock, wondering when, if ever, Leighton would return.
* * *
When you needed to escape reality, a strawberry farm in the middle of small town California might just be the best place to do it. Leighton knew Tanner Peak from her visits to see Courtney here, along with their grandmother, whom she missed so much that it hurt. Her mom, too. She didn’t delve too far into the other people she’d been missing these weeks she’d been away, but the fresh air had been good for her. The long walks through the strawberry fields had become a daily practice. She’d been staying in the little cottage on the property that she was told used to be Maggie’s. In the evening, she’d sit on the porch and watch the sunset, her heart squeezing at the display of color. New York would always be her city, but even she could concede that they didn’t have sunsets like these.
Early one evening, just as the show in the sky got underway, Maggie appeared at the bottom of the steps. She’d knocked off her real estate job for the day and now wore jeans and a simple white T-shirt, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was such a big part of this place. “Courtney just called from Chicago. She wanted an update on how you were doing, and quite honestly, I don’t think I have the latest.”
“So here you are.”
Maggie placed a flat hand beneath her chin. “It’s me. Here for the check-in.”
Leighton nodded. “This respite from the real world has been good for me. I don’t think there’s anything like an abundance of time on your hands to help you clear your thoughts.”
“Country life for you. It’s good for the soul.” Maggie placed a hand on Leighton’s chest.
After the past few weeks, Leighton believed it and wondered about investing in a cottage or cabin like this one somewhere. “You can say that again. Though my problems aren’t resolved, I have a peace about everything that, one day, they will be. I will be eternally grateful for you letting me hide out and clear my head.”
Maggie shrugged. “Well, I really like having you here, and we needed somebody to help eat the strawberries.” They shared a laugh because Leighton had eaten more than just a few with a dish of vanilla ice cream. “And I’ve been there before. This very cottage was instrumental in helping me get myself together when my whole world fell apart.” She touched a beam and gave it a pat. “It won’t let you down.”
“Do you know what I think?” Leighton asked.
Maggie took a seat on a step. “Tell me.” Her eyes were luminous and kind. In fact, everything about Maggie’s welcoming presence had made Leighton’s stay on the farm just what she needed. There was a part of her that never wanted to leave, clinging to the safety and distance from her real life struggles. The other part of her knew that it was time to book a flight to New York.
“I think I have to go back, face everyone, figure out what I want to do.”
