Page 12 of Worth the Risk
I’m exhausted and a little punchy. I’ve been here at Thistle and Sage since way too early this morning working on all the food for the festival tomorrow. Anna took care of everything we needed in the shop today so I could focus on tomorrow. She has a real knack for baking and is going to start helping me out in the kitchen more. I let her go at four so she could get some rest before working in the booth all day with me tomorrow.
I let out a long and tired sigh and swipe the loose hair out of my face. It’s been a long day. I’ve had that thought most days over the last four months, but after the events of last night and this morning I can feel my anxiety bubbling near the surface and keeping it at bay is really zapping my energy.
I finish wiping down the counters and grab my things to go. I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket and pull it out to see Mare is calling me. Probably to check in on me. I haven’t had achance to update her on Rhett being back in town. She’s the only one who knows about what happened four years ago.
“Aren’t you supposed to be working until 8 tonight?” I ask when I tap the screen to answer.
“I am, but I’m between surgeries so I wanted to call and check on you. I also have to tell you something.” I frown. That usually comes with either bad news or gossip and her tone isn’t very gossipy. I lock the front door and start my walk home.
“I’m fine. Really. It was a shock but it was for the best. I really don’t think I could have listened to him talk about his peach crop one more time. He made it sound dirty…” I shiver. “Anyway, what do you have to tell me?” She laughs.
“He did talk about peaches a little too sensually.”
“Entirely too much.” I laugh with her. “Now what’s the thing?”
“Well I’m not sure how you’ll react but I heard a couple of the nurses talking this morning and they were talking about Rhett.” She pauses. “I guess he’s back in town…” She trails off.
“Yeah, I know.” I think about his twinkling eyes last night and our short conversation. “I guess he’s taking over for Coach Reynolds at the high school,” I inform her.
“What? When did you find this out and why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just found out last night after we got off the phone.”
“Did Colt tell you?” I roll my eyes.
“Colt? Why would he tell me? He has no idea that I would even care.” I grumble. “Not that I do,” I add.
“Oh knock that shit off, Win. It’s me.” I sigh.
“I shouldn’t care. I didn’t think I did anymore. Then I saw him.”
“Wait. You saw him? Where?”
“Listen, last night was a long one.” I continue to tell her all about our encounter last night. She laughs a little too hard whenI tell her I’m sporting a bruise on the side of my face from the swinging door.
“So, he’s back for good then?” she asks me as I turn the corner to my house. There’s no car parked in front of the Miller’s’ house tonight and I’m grateful. It’s been for sale for a little over a month and there has been a lot of foot traffic. I’m not a huge fan of change, I really don’t like when I have zero control over said change. Like my new neighbor. I just hope whoever it is turns out to be nice. The Millers were elderly and had a golden retriever that I loved. They would sit outside and talk to me while I worked in my garden or on something for the house. There was always something to do and never enough time to do it.
“I mean, he made it sound that way, but who knows?” I’m on my front porch now and turning my key in the door.
“I’ll see what else I can get out of the nurses.” I laugh at that.
“Don’t scare them too bad.” She scoffs.
“Me? Scare them?” I laugh harder at that. I hear the click and push it open. I can feel my shoulders relax as I walk into my home. I’ve turned this space into my safe haven. My sweet little cottage is still a work in progress, but so am I. Seeing the potential shine through even when it’s covered in a layer of ‘geese wearing bonnets’ wallpaper is a metaphor I like to apply to myself. Working on this place has become a form of therapy for me.
“So, we’re on for next weekend? You’ll come out with me?”
“Yes. I may regret it but I think I need to get out. Meet someone.” She gasps.
“Winnie Parker. Are you looking for a one night stand?”
“I didn’t say that…but maybe…? I don’t know.” She giggles.
“Well you don’t have to decide right now.” I consider that.
“True. I downloaded my dating app.”
“You did? When? You just broke up with Sam last night…oh…”
