Page 97 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
“Yes.” Melody led the two women to the small table in the back room and gestured for them to have a seat. “Can I offer either of you some coffee?”
“No time for that.” Wendy placed a pen on the table along with a stack of papers. “There are Post-Its marking where you need to sign.” She sat back, crossed one leg over the other, and folded her hands over her knee.
On a nod, Melody pulled the stack toward her and picked up the pen. It felt abnormally heavy, along with her heart.This is just a thrift store. I never even wanted it to begin with.
“Sign right there, sweetie,” Wendy said, tapping the paper. “Do you see the line?”
“She sees it,” Abigail said, giving Wendy a hard stare. “We’re in no hurry. Take your time, Melody.”
Melody nodded and then continued. Her hand shook as she scrawled her name. Once she got started, she just kept going, barely taking a breath.Just get this over with. Sorry, Jo!Finally, she exhaled and set down the pen. “Done.”
Wendy smiled. “See? Quick and painless.” She collected the stack of papers, dropped them in her briefcase, and stood. “I’ll see myself out. I’m serious. Keep whatever you want in here. My buyer doesn’t want any of it.”
Melody didn’t get up to see Wendy to the door. Abigail waited until after Wendy left.
“You okay?” Abigail asked as she stood.
“Yep,” Melody said, even though she wasn’t sure that was the truth. “Thank you for your assistance. I really appreciate you meeting us here this morning. I’m not sure I would have wanted to be here alone with that woman.”
Abigail laughed. “Of course. Call me if you need anything else. You have my number.”
Melody nodded. “I will. Thank you.”
Abigail grabbed her briefcase and saw herself out as well. Melody sat there numbly, waiting to hear the jingle of the bell up front, announcing that both women were gone and she was once again alone. She considered remaining at the table and crying. That’s what she felt like doing. What good would that do though? It would just make for red, puffy eyes as she drove to Charlotte in a little bit. Taking Wendy’s advice, she decided to walk around and see if there was anything she wanted to keep. She’d been the one to put all the items out on the shelves. If there was something here that she wanted, she would have found it by now. Even so, she walked around, perusing clothing, shoes, well-read books, and toys. Finally, she stopped at the glass case below the register. The photograph of the little child was there along with Jo’s pink broach. Melody slid the case open and took those items out. They didn’t belong in the trash. The broach really wasn’t her style, not by a long shot, but she pinned it to her purse anyway. Then she looked back down into the glass case and gasped. Were her eyes deceiving her?How did it get here?
She quickly reached inside the case and picked up a charm bracelet. Her hands were shaking so much she could barely get a good look at it. There was the muffin charm. The dress. The little car and the shooting star. The wave. The butterfly. They were all here. This was her charm bracelet! Hers and Liz’s and Bri’s. What was it doing here? Liz had tossed it at her feet at the high school and it had been lost. She’d thought it was gone for good.
Tears rushed to Melody’s eyes. Who cared about them being red and puffy later? The charm bracelet wasn’t lost. She slipped it over her wrist, savoring the feel of the cool metal against her skin. “I don’t know how you did this, Jo. But thank you.”
She had to tell Liz. Liz would never believe this.
Hurrying toward the door, Melody stepped out onto the sidewalk and locked the shop up behind her. She turned toward the pink polka dot awning a few stores down and practically jogged all the way.
“Welcome to The Bitery,” a woman’s voice said as Melody stepped inside. It wasn’t Liz. “Are my eyes deceiving me? Melody Palmer, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me. Hi, Mrs. Dawson.” Melody approached the counter.
“Lizzie told me you were back for a little while, but I didn’t dare hope I’d get to see you before you left town. How long are you staying?”
Melody was supposed to be leaving today. Right now. But she desperately needed to do something first. “I’m not sure. Is Liz here?”
Mrs. Dawson shook her head. “She doesn’t work here anymore, you know?”
Melody’s jaw dropped.
“I guess you didn’t know,” Mrs. Dawson said on a small laugh. “Lizzie quit. Well, I mean, she’ll still help out around here until I can hire Brianna in a few weeks. I still can’t believe Brianna is finally coming home. You four were like sisters.” Her smile faded. “I know you miss your sister.”
“Yes, I do.” More than she’d allowed herself to realize all these years. “If Liz isn’t here, do you know where she is?”
“She’s working a photography gig today. Oh, she was so excited. I even let her borrow my car to get there.”
Melody blinked back tears. “She drove? By herself?”
“She did. I go away for one summer and everything changes. For the better, of course.” Mrs. Dawson leaned over, her elbows on the counter. “The event she was working should be over soon. Knowing her, I’m sure she’ll go straight home to start editing the photographs. If you want, you can wait for her there.”
“That’s a good idea,” Melody said. “Thank you. It’s nice to see you.”
“You, too! Don’t be a stranger, Melody!” Mrs. Dawson called after her.
