Page 39 of Small Town Firsts

I mean, I live nice and easy with what Grams left behind—the house and car were paid for and passed down as well. And yeah, the salon is profitable, but I can just feel it. This place is going to be outrageous. Plus, I’m officially building a nest egg for little man—college isn’t cheap.

Everything inside STORK is luxurious. From the oh-so-soft new baby scent tickling my nose to the feel of the velvety soft blankets, this place is mom-to-be heaven.

The back of the boutique is divided into five small rooms, each one set up like a nursery. There are two girl rooms, two boy rooms, and one gender-neutral.

The third room is practically shoutingMyla Rose, come in, come see.The walls in that room are an ivory color,Swiss Coffee, according to the plaque on the wall. But what really draws my eye is the crib. It’s a farmhouse crib, if there ever was one, and I absolutely love it.

Walking further into the room, I trail my fingertips along the edge of the crib. I can just see myself laying my little man down to sleep in this bed. I can see myself watching over him in it as he snoozes—until I see the price tag.

Good gravy, it’s almost $2500. They’ve lost their ever-loving minds. I can find something that’ll do just fine at the big box store for way,wayless. Even if I don’t like it as much.It’s just a crib, Myla Rose.

I turn to go and search for Azalea, only to find her standing in the entryway to the room I’m in snapping pictures. “Why’re you taking pictures?”

“Memories, Myla. Memories.”

“Sure, okay. You ready to gonow?” I ask her. My earlier tiredness is hitting me hard all of a sudden.

“Yeah, let me check out really quick. You go on out to the car.” She tosses me my keys, and that’s that.

My head’s resting against my seat with the air conditioner on high. I’m thumbing through notifications on my phone when a text from Simon pops up.

Simon

You okay, Myles

Myla

Yeah, I am. Why?

Simon

Just checking on you. Saw Cash outside your house this morning.

Myla

What? Why was he there?

Simon

We’ll talk later.

Why wouldCash have been at my house? That’s just the strangest thing. Before I can stew on it too much, Azalea throws herself into the passenger seat. Maybe she can make heads or tails of it.

“Simon just texted me and said Cash was outside my house earlier. That’s weird, right?”

She’s on her phone again, so she doesn’t respond, her fingers flying across the screen faster than a hot knife through butter. I guess I’ll just have to wait for Simon to tell me.

“Huh? What’d you say?” she asks me several minutes later.

“Nothin’, AzzyJo. It’s not important.” I figure it’s better not to get into with her. She’ll have me thinking it means more than it does.

While she may not be much for romance in her personal life, she loves to set others up. Dogwood’s very own Cupid.

After dropping Azalea at her car, I head home. I need to get the stuff from our shopping trip sorted, and then I plan on having a little chat with Simon McAllister.

I pullup to my house, beyond exhausted. A nap sounds like heaven. Then, I’ll head over to Simon’s house. Maybe I can talk Drake into coming over—two birds and whatnot.

I'm just about to slide my key into the lock when I notice flowers propped up against the door. What on earth?

---