Page 90 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
The door opened from the other side and Christopher peeked through the opening. “There you are. You okay?”
“Yeah, I just . . .” Melody glanced over shoulder. “I lost the charm bracelet in here, and I can’t find it.”
Christopher’s lips set in soft line. “It can’t have disappeared. I’ll take you back here tomorrow. I have a key. We’ll find it together.”
Melody nodded, feeling a little better with a plan in place. “Okay. Sounds good.”
“Ready to come back out here and chaperone with me? The kids are starting their shenanigans. I could use some backup. ”
“What about Liz and Matt?”
Christopher shrugged. “Liz took off. Not to worry. Rose went with her and took her home. She’s fine and doesn’t want anyone checking on her. Matt is on the case.”
Guilt spiraled inside Melody. This was her fault. She’d ruined everything. Christopher didn’t seem to know that yet though.
He held out his hand. “Come on. I’ll get you a plate of cocoa bites. They’re sure to make you feel better.”
The Bitery was one of the local businesses to donate to the prom’s spread of food and beverages.
“I’m not really hungry.” In fact, she wasn’t in the mood to do anything right now except go home and hide under her covers. But she’d made a commitment and she would keep it. She stepped toward Christopher, forcing a smile that felt like one big lie.Shefelt like one big lie. As they stepped back into the gymnasium, Melody’s gaze scanned the room, and she spotted Rose dancing with Josh. In quick strides, Melody walked across the room until she was standing in front of Liz’s little sister. “How is she?”
Rose pulled her arms away from Josh. “She’s hurt. I don’t know what you did to her, but she’s pretty upset.”
Melody took a breath. “I didn’t do anything.”
Rose frowned. “Of course you did.”
“I just . . . I just agreed to sell Hidden Treasures. I was always going to sell the thrift store though. Liz knew that. I don’t know why she’s so mad.”
“Maybe because she believed in you.” Rose shrugged. “Liz has always believed in me, even when I disappointed her. Liz finds the best in people. She probably realized she was wrong to do that in your case.”
Ouch.
“So I’m the bad guy just because I have a life somewhere other than this town? I was never going to stay here. Never.” Melody caught movement from the corner of her eye and turned to look at Christopher. He looked disappointed too. “What?” she asked, throwing her hands out to her sides.
He shook his head and averted his gaze. “Nothing.”
“Someone made me an offer I can’t refuse. They don’t want to run the store as a thrift shop. They plan to open a boutique instead. That wasn’t my original plan, but I think Jo would have liked the idea.”
“No, she wouldn’t have,” Christopher said, the letdown evident in his expression.
“You don’t know that. Jo loved fashion and clothing.” Melody forced a smile. “This is good news. We should be celebrating.” She looked between Christopher and Rose, neither of whom seemed to be in the celebratory mood. “It’s just a store.”
“Wow,” Christopher finally muttered. “I kind of thought you would eventually change your mind. Maybe you’d stick around.”
“That was never the plan,” Melody reiterated quietly. “You know that.”
Christopher’s gaze lowered to the floor. “I guess. But it was also the plan to maintain Jo’s shop as a thrift store.” He looked back up and met her gaze, searching her eyes. “What happened?”
“I can’t rearrange my whole life to make Jo happy. She’s not even here.” Melody blew out a pent-up breath. “What would you do differently if you were in my situation?”
Rose stepped closer. “You left for like, ten years, and never looked back. Not once. I never would have done that to people who I claimed to love. There’s no excuse, not that you gave anyone a good reason anyway.”
Melody had thought everyone had moved past this. “I lost my sister. The only sister I’ll ever have. I was hurt, okay?” Melody felt the rush of tears to her eyes.
“Bri was hurt too. So was Liz. Everyone was hurting. You should have come home sooner. Liz needed you. She still needs you,” Rose said. “And you’re packing up to leave and, in her mind, you’re not coming back for another ten years. Is she right about that?” Rose put her hands on her hips.
Melody blinked past her tears and one slid down her cheek. “Of course not.”
