Page 102 of Every Chance After

Befuddlesandbeguiles me. He has no idea how much Ilongfor him—longing that’s left me stranded in a strange, unfamiliar place. I loved and enjoyed Ashe, but he never kept me up at night, pining over him, or inspired me to peek around corners to catch glimpses of him. It makes me uneasy how quickly I jump out of bed in the morning, excited to see Grady, only for our disappointing encounters to keep me up at night, wishing and wondering. Is my desire rooted in something real? Or do I want him because he makes it clear I can’t have him? It’s hard to tell.

I try to engage him, but it’s all fluff-talk. Once, we got into a slightly interesting conversation about our favorite chips. He prefers plain, ruffled chips, better for dipping, whereas I’m more of a nacho cheese or sour cream and onion fan. Otherwise, it’s crickets.

He won’t make plans with me but shows up at my side. He’s there but doesn’t talk. The man who promised to always catch me avoids real connection with me—not that Ineedcatching or should require more from him. Even so, whenever I see Grady, questions dangle between us, begging for takers like baited hooks. He wants to talk to me—that’s clear. Why he doesn’t is a mystery.

I asked Marigold for insight into her aloof brother, and she shrugged and said, “Shadow man.”

“That’s it!” I gasped. “He’s my shadow.”

Perhaps this is just Grady—the man with the soul-penetrating stare who prefers living in the shadows. I bet it’s safer there.

I should be relieved that he’s pulled back since our pier conversation. His intensity and concern overwhelm me and inspire feelings I shouldn’t be having, especially for a man who doesn’t want to spend real time with me. I wonder if that’ll ever change or if we’re cursed the same waythatday is and always will be for me.

Besides that, he’s done so much for me. Spending more time together might reveal my future housing problem, something I don’t want him tackling for me. The distance between us seems to alleviate his guilt, allowing him to get on with his life—I desperately want that for him.

So, perhaps it’s better to let those words hang there, unsaid. No matter how much I want to be in his arms again.

The G&G’s renovation keeps me busy, and so does house hunting. There is absolutely nothing affordable in Seagrove. One possibility is an apartment complex in the next county over, a twenty-mile commute that’ll cost me over double what I’m paying now. It’s that or one of Wade’s trailers. Though that option gets bonus points for location, it’s not what I want. They remind me of my transitory life with Mom—unstable, vulnerable in bad storms, and impermanent.

But problems are opportunities in disguise with the right attitude. Something will turn up.

Work at the G&G’s been going too well to get down about anything. Thanks to Marigold and Peter, we have new street-side signage—a gorgeous shamrock greenWelcome to the G&Gsign outdoors. We adorned it with lights and hints of pistachio, light orange, and pale yellow, which has become our color palette for the entire project. She’s painted similar welcome messages on the clean store windows and glass door. We refinished the concrete floor with funky, hand-painted tiles branching out from our new logo at the main door with hidden shamrocks for Maureen. My before-and-after Instagram posts brought people to see it in person.

They’ve also shown up to see our other standout upgrades, like:

The fishing rod and net display constructed from old pallets along the corner wall.

The updated, refreshed Canteen, now serving hot dogs, coffee, and fountain drinks (a big hit with the lunch crowd).

The wall of wood crates, painted to match our color palette, puzzled into an eclectic display of canned goods and non-perishable dinner options.

The snacks, candies, and car games aisle, complete with everything kids (and parents) need for a long trip.

The local section, featuring fruits, veggies, and farm products like honey and lavender soaps.

The everything-you-need aisles—must-haves from batteries to laundry detergent to medicines to paper towels, name brand and generic options. No one’s forced into five-dollar mac-n-cheese here.

The updated beverage department now sells craft beers along with name-brand ones, local wines, and every conceivable soda, fruit drink, iced tea, milk, and seltzer.

Wren’s witches corner, boasting Tarot cards, crystals, teas, sachets, and incense.

A book nook, curated by Wren and Christie, featuring their favorite mass market paperbacks.

Roy’s spot, offering antique fishing lures, hubcaps, and metal signs. It adds a unique, homey vibe.

Adhering to our three rules and letting our imaginations fly with the rest has been miraculous. The store is bright, cheery, clean, and family-friendly.

Now, they’re working on a billboard—a huge, back and front invitation to the store that’ll perch on the corner of Highway 40 and Lakeview Drive, mere yards from the parking lot at Sunny’s. We’re still working on the exact wordage, but I predict that adventurous families looking for a diversion will bypass Sunny’s for the G&G if we play our cards right. All we need is the right incentives. What they will be, I’m still brainstorming.

Regardless, I’ve charted our course directly into the bloated hull of the Sullivan Cruise Liner.

I don’treallyexpect to dent Sunny’s success. They’ve been here for decades. Sunny’s will always have us on size, offerings, and location. I only want to rescue the G&G and make it the best it can be. With customers streaming in, our plans are working.

The only downside to our glorious progress is that the one person I want to share it with isn’t into sharing anything with me. That’s not true for the rest, though.

Wade confided in me about Maureen. That man grieves her every day.

Christie told me about his vicious ex-wife, who belittled and mistreated him until he found the courage to leave. He said he couldn’t have done it without Wade and Roy’s support. Wade even offered him the trailer for next to nothing to give him and Wren a safe place to go.

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