Page 30 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
“Good. Then no, I’m not going to yell. See you at home,” Liz called behind her. She headed back to the car outside, her heart racing the closer she drew to Matt. She just wasn’t sure which reason was to blame. The tiny crush she refused to admit, even to herself. Or the fact that he was her living, breathing reminder that sometimes, in the midst of the best moments of your life, everything crumbled to pieces.
“Got what you need?” he asked as she slid back into the passenger seat.
“Yep. All set.” She clutched the door’s handle again, holding it tightly as the car began to move. She took a breath and then another, startling when Matt unexpectedly reached out and touched her arm.
“Don’t worry, Liz. I’ll go slow.”
To: Liz Dawson
From: Bri Johnson
Subject: YES!
Liz,
Firstly, and most importantly. You don’t need to change a thing. I love you exactly the way you are.
Secondly. I AM HERE FOR LIZ 2.0! Yes!
Thirdly, if you decrease your hours at The Bitery, tell your mom I’ll pick up the slack. Unless she doesn’t want a convicted felon working for her. I would completely understand if that’s the case. It won’t be easy for me to find work once I’m out. I’ve already been forewarned. My best chance at employment is with someone I know. At least I know my grandma won’t let me be homeless. If it were up to my parents, I probably would be. I’m not being bitter or anything, just accepting what’s true. I’ve learned in my counseling sessions here that accepting the truth is part of creating a realistic plan for when I get out. I have to do that for my role in Ally’s life too. I might not get legal guardianship of my daughter right away. Or ever. Realistic expectations will keep me grounded. Maybe keep that in mind when you’re dreaming up Liz 2.0.
B
CHAPTERNINE
MELODY
Melody hesitated on the text she’d typed out to Christopher. He’d told her she could call or text anytime for any reason. She didn’t really like asking for help, especially from him, but she couldn’t operate a power tool to save her life. And if she wanted to clean up this thrift store this week, she needed to call in reinforcements.
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and nibbled softly. To text or not to text?
She re-read the text she’d drafted.
Melody: Hey Christopher! If you don’t mind, I was wondering if you could help me hang some stuff at the shop sometime soon?
Was the exclamation point too much? Should she ask how he was doing first? Make small talk? They weren’t friends exactly, so she didn’t know why she would. She just needed a helping hand, that was all.
Melody read the text one more time and pushed SEND. Then she blew out a breath and busied herself by walking over to some shelves of shoes which ran right along a broken clothing rack that she needed help with. A pair of brown suede flats caught her eye. She placed them on the floor and kicked off her pair of yellow Keds. Then she stepped into someone’s used shoes and audibly sighed. The brown suede flats looked almost new and hugged her soles like they were made just for her. That sounded like something Jo would have said. To think someone would bring their old shoes here and that fate would pair them up with their next perfect owner. That was such a Jo thing.
Melody’s chest ached. She regretted the lost time between her and Jo, even though Jo would insist that wasting energy on regrets was like throwing money to the breeze. Jo had obviously loved this store. There was so much of her in the little details, like the items she chose to display in the glass case at the register—lockets, charm bracelets, and crystal knickknacks. The stool at the register had a worn candy apple-red seat that Melody imagined her great-aunt sitting on day in and day out as she welcomed her customers with that free spirit Melody remembered.
Alyssa used to say that when you loved something, a little piece of your heart and soul stayed with it. Like the charm bracelet. Alyssa thought wearing the bracelet would be like carrying a little piece of each friend around with her. Maybe a little piece of Jo’s heart and soul was still in this store too, Melody thought, glancing around. If that was true, clearing out Hidden Treasures and turning it into something boring would kill off whatever essence of Jo hadn’t been cast off in a firecracker.
Maybe, Melody thought, just maybe she could find a buyer who would keep the store as is. Then Jo would live on in some way and Melody’s conscience would remain clear.
Her cell phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the caller ID and saw her business partner’s name.
“Hi, Julie. How are you?” She leaned against the wall and held her cell phone to her ear.
“Hanging in there. How are you?” Julie asked in an upbeat tone.
“Good. Very good.” It was an honest answer that surprised Melody even as it tumbled off her lips. She wasn’t actually miserable here on Trove Isle like she’d thought she’d be. She was moving at a slower pace than she normally kept, stopping to admire the view, and catching up with people she hadn’t allowed herself to think about in years. She was also catching up with herself, if that made sense.
“Great,” Julie said. “Next question. You’re still planning on returning this weekend, right?”
Melody had told Julie she’d be gone for two weeks, but she’d need longer if she took the real estate agent’s advice and cleaned this place out. Selling the store as Hidden Treasures would be easier and allow Melody to get back to her normal life quicker. The only downside was that Melody wouldn’t make as much profit.
Melody left the pair of Keds she was wearing on the shelf in place of the brown suede shoes she’d pulled off. “That’s the still the plan,” she told her partner.
