AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She’s one of a kind, that’s for sure.” Ava says with a smile.
I nod, realizing in the moment how much that spicy little kid reminds me of Grandma Hazel. She’s fierce, filterless and marches to the beat of her own drum. Of course, it only makes sense that Piper would be my first customer. She’s Hazel in little kid form, and I almost feel as though I get to experience Hazel as a child.
The rest of the day flies by in a blur. We stay consistently busy for a majority of the day. A lot of familiar faces come in to just look around, but overall we sell much more than I had ever imagined.
Around one o’clock, Andrew brings me a burger for lunch and as soon as it slows down a little, I eat and check out the sales report for the day.
“How’s it looking?” Andrew asks, peering over my shoulder.
Shocked, I stare at the screen. “I think we are going to break a thousand dollars in sales today.” I tell him. “This is crazy.”
“Good job.” He says, high-fiving me. “I told you that you’d rock this. I’m so proud of you.”
“Well, don’t get too excited. It’s only the first day. I have to somehow keep up the momentum.” I tell him.
Andrew stops to glance around the room. “Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”
I sit down on my stool and for the first time all day, I really look around at what I’ve created. Suddenly, I see so much more than a space full of books and merchandise. I see a mom with her little girl, sitting on the floor reading a story together. I see a teenage boy, studying the back of a book about wizards, and an older woman clutching a pile of worn romance novels. Then, my eyes wander to a stack of coloring pages that the children of Fawn Creek have been coloring and returning for my monthly coloring contest.
I can finally see it’s not just a store. This is what my heart needed so badly, and what Fawn Creek needed, too. Silently, I thank Hazel for the push to get me here.
Chapter 29
One month later.
“Knock, knock.” Avery calls out as she walks in through the front door of my house. Sierra is putting the finishing touches on my hair when Avery steps into the room. She quickly lays her dress bag onto my bed and then walks over to talk to my reflection in the mirror. “You look beautiful.” She says with a grin, her own long dark hair is in loose curls framing her face.
“Sierra is a magician.” I say, admiring the half up do she had given me, with curls trailing down my back. I turn to Sierra and smile. “Thank you so much for your help. I am terrible at being a girl and couldn’t have pulled anything like this off without you.”
“You are not terrible at being a girl.” She laughs. “We all need a little help sometimes, and I’m honored to do it.”
It’s insane to think of how quickly, yet easily, this day came together. Our wedding, while small, could not have been made possible without so many community members helping.
Mom’s church let us borrow tables and chairs. Sierra did my makeup and hair, and Avery’s mom altered my dress. Much to my surprise, Cassidy is ordained to perform weddings, and I couldn’t think of anyone else that I would want to marry us. The local bakery made us an adorable cake, McDaniel’s made the bouquets, one of Derek’s friends apparently moonlights as a DJ and Avery hooked us up with an amazing photographer. Just like always, our community came together to make everything work out. And they did it, expecting nothing in return.
I watch my two friends in the mirror’s reflection for a second and realize how thankful I truly am. It’s baffling to think that just over half a year ago; I was living a completely different life. My job was a dead end. My relationship was hanging on by a string. I lived in a giant city surrounded by people, but I was alone. It was what I thought I wanted, but in reality, it couldn’t have been further from what I needed.
Now here we are. I’m back home and marrying a man that is head over heels in love with me. I have the group of girlfriends that I’ve always needed. Mine and Andrew’s businesses are thriving. My parents and I are closer than ever and I have a whole community rooting for me.
“Okay, no tears.” Sierra interrupts my daydreaming after recognizing the look on my face.
I blush. “Sorry. It’s been a whirlwind few months. It’s wild that I’ve always thought of you as my little sister, but after today we will actually get to be sisters.” I squeeze her hand and then look at Avery. “And you, Avery. You’ve always been my sister from another mister.” I laugh. We always used to joke that our mothers couldn’t have handled us as actual sisters, so we had to be best friends instead. “I love you girls so much. And I’m so thankful to have you both with me today.”
“Now you’re going to make me cry.” Avery groans and waves at her face. “There’s nowhere else we would rather be. How are you feeling? Are you nervous?”
“Not really.” I pause, “Well, okay, I’m a little nervous about tripping or forgetting what I’m supposed to say in front of everyone. The actual getting married part isn’t worrying me so much, though.” I laugh. “I think I’m just ready.”
Sierra makes some last-minute touch ups to my makeup and spins my chair so I can look in the mirror one last time.
I stare at myself in awe. My hair and makeup have never looked better. “Can you come over every day to fix my hair and makeup for the rest of my life?” I ask. “You know one day soon we are going to be neighbors, after all.”
“I could teach you to do it yourself?” She offers with a shrug.
“I’ll never be able to work this kind of magic.” I laugh and shake my head at her, still shocked to see the person staring back at me in my reflection.
“You need to get dressed and we need to get going.” Avery interrupts. “Your groom is waiting.”
* * *
