Page 14 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
Subject: You asked, so here’s my answer
Liz,
When I get out of prison, I’ll finally return to Trove Isle. I’ve thought about this day so many times over the weeks and months and years. I’m a little worried that it’ll feel like I’m coming home with my tail between my legs. Part of me doesn’t even want to go back for that reason. I don’t want to show my face because that’s going to be hard. I know it will be. I’m guessing Melody feels that way too. After all this time, being back and being the subject of gossip. All eyes on her. When it’s me, I’ll want to have a friend by my side. I hope it’ll be you. In fact, I don’t need to hope because I know it’ll be you. Because you’re the strong one (don’t forget it).
B
CHAPTERFIVE
MELODY
Melody had spent the last several hours at Hidden Treasures, taking stock of what was inside and deciding on her next steps for putting it up for sale. Now, Melody stepped inside her father’s house, intending to go straight back to her room. She and her father had barely uttered a word to each other since she’d arrived so why start now?
“Melody?” her father’s voice called after her.
Melody froze but didn’t turn. “Yes?”
“How are things going with the store?”
“Fine. I scheduled a meeting with Abigail Winslow for tomorrow. She’s going to help me put it up for sale.”
“Sell? You’re sure that’s what you want?” he asked.
“Absolutely. I have no use for the place.” Melody waited to see how her father would respond. When he didn’t, she continued down the hall.
“Melody?”
She stopped walking again. “Yeah?”
“Are you . . . okay?” he asked quietly.
She noted the hesitation in his voice. Why would he hesitate? He was her father. He had a right to ask how she was doing. And she was his daughter. She had a right to want him to care. To want him to ask her to consider keeping the store. To stay in Trove Isle. Not that she ever would, but it was nice to be wanted.
She turned now and took a few steps toward him, her breathing shallow. “Not really.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Doubtful. Once I sell, I’ll be out of your hair. As long as you don’t mind me staying through next week.” She hated to ask anything of her father, but it was that or live out of her car. Or she guessed she could use the foldout cot she’d noticed in the back room of the thrift store. The amount of dust inside might kill her in her sleep though.
“This is your home. Stay as long as you want.”
Two things. This wasn’t her home—not anymore. And he wasn’t saying he wanted her to stay, just that she could.
She blinked past the threat of tears that stung her eyes, reminding herself to breathe. “Thanks. I’m leaving next weekend at the latest. I told my work partner that wrapping things up here wouldn’t take longer than two weeks, but I’m hoping to be gone sooner.”
“Of course,” he said quietly.
She cleared her throat. “Right now, I think I just need to go to bed. Sleep always makes things new again,” Melody said, the words rolling off her tongue the way they had all her adult life.
“Your mom used to say that. Do you remember?”
“No,” Melody said, honestly. And she didn’t want to remember. That’s why she’d left Trove Isle. To forget. Being back for too long threatened to bring all the painful things right back to the surface. There was too much grief wrapped up on this side of Trove Bridge. Even more than she’d realized. “Goodnight,” she called behind her, walking down the hall.
She stood in her bedroom doorway for a moment. There were two beds for two sisters who’d grown up as the worst kind of enemies. Not for any particular reason except that they were siblings vying for the same things and attention from their parents. Then suddenly one summer everything had changed and they’d become the best of friends. They’d shared secrets and stayed up late talking about their dreams and the boys they liked.
The boy next door, Christopher West—undeserving as he was—for Alyssa. A dozen different guys for Melody.
A deep ache settled over her heart. She needed to get out of here, the sooner the better. First thing tomorrow, she’d meet with the real estate agent and begin the process for listing Hidden Treasures. Who knew? Maybe by the end of next week, it would even be sold. Either way, she had to head back.
