AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Channel your diva.“It’s about time I tell you to take a flying leap headfirst into a snake-infested sand dune.”
Sara Jean’s mouth falls open. She’s not used to being told off. I’d bet this is the first timeanyone’sstood up to her, let aloneme.Margo stares at me, too, but she’s grinning.
After a moment of stunned silence, Sara Jean finds her voice. “How dare you?”
Ignoring her, I pack up my supplies to leave.
“You can’t leave,” Sara Jean wails. “You haven’t finished my pants.”
I look at her pants appraisingly. “I’d suggest you invest in a roll of hem tape until you can find another seamstress.”
“Another seamstress?” Sara Jean splutters. “You’remy seamstress!”
I shake my head. “Not anymore.”
I leave Sara Jean standing in the dressing area and head toward the door.
Margo follows closely behind me, whistling under breath. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Me either,” I admit. “But from now on, I’m going to channel my diva.”
Margo holds the door for me as I leave the store. “You go, girl.”
As I strut down the street, David Attenborough whispers in my head.Hazel Tuck takes a tentatively step from the nest, edges toward the cliff, and spreads her wings to—
“Go away, David,” I say firmly. From now on, the only voice in my head will be my own.
Chapter 8
Hazel
“Ican’tbelieveyou’removing,” Mom says, wiping tears from her eyes.
I chuckle. “Don’t blame me. You’re the one who fell in love with the chief of police.” I pull her into a hug. “I’ll just be a fifteen-minute walk away.”
The front door swings open and Tuck calls out, “Your moving crew is here!” He’s followed by Coop, Jared, and Bishop.
My breath catches. I haven’t seen Bishop in a few days, and we haven’t talked since the night on the dock. I wish I could read his thoughts, but he barely makes eye contact as he follows Tuck up the stairs to my bedroom.
One by the one, the men return with their arms loaded with boxes. A lot of my stuff is staying here, so it only takes a couple of hours to load everything into the rented U-Haul.
After we’ve moved everything from Mom’s house to my new place, the men retreat to Bishop’s to fire up the smoker and the grill. Mom and Margo help me unload boxes and put the new slipcovers I’ve sewn onto the furniture while Honey explores the house to sniff every nook and cranny. By the time the guys return with smoked fish and grilled vegetables, the house looks cheerful and warm. It’s been transformed from Coop’s place tomyplace.
He whistles when he sees the changes. “Who knew this place could look so homey?”
“It smells better, too,” Bishop says with a laugh.
“Thank goodness for candles and air freshener,” Tuck jokes.
We eat a feast of smoked fish and grilled vegetables for dinner and laugh like old times. Bishop seems the same as ever, and I wonder if I imagined everything that happened on the dock.
When everyone leaves, he hangs back for a second. His eyes meet mine and I feel a current of electricity ping between us.Does he feel it, too?
He runs a hand through his hair. “If you need anything, I’m right next door.”
I tuck a loose strand of hair behind an ear. “Thanks, Bishop.”
His lips tilt into a smile. “Goodnight, neighbor.”
