Page 9 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
Melody waited to leave her room the next morning until she heard the front door close. Then she showered, dressed, and headed outside to her car. She was hoping her second impression of Hidden Treasures Thrift Store would be better. When she arrived, however, she decided that it was maybe worse.
She’d thought she was being overly dramatic in her reaction yesterday. She’d had high hopes in coming to the store, and they’d taken a sharp dive once she’d realized what she’d actually been gifted.
Melody leaned against the glass case full of costume jewelry and tried not to cry. She needed air. A coffee would be nice too. After that, she’d return and figure out her next steps. Or get into her reliable Honda Accord and pretend like none of the last forty-eight hours had ever happened.
Melody collected her purse and walked quickly to the store’s front entrance. She stepped outside and locked up behind herself, using the set of keys that Mr. Lyme had jingled proudly in front of her yesterday. A quick glance down the street told her that Liz’s family bakery was the only viable option for coffee.
In contrast to Melody’s thrift store, The Bitery was inviting. The awning above the door was bright pink with white polka dots and the store name was written in teal script. From the outside looking in, it was quaint and cheery.
Melody didn’t want to avoid Liz the entire time she was in Trove Isle. They’d probably never be best friends again, but maybe Liz could tolerate Melody’s presence. She certainly hadn’t looked happy to see her yesterday.
Without giving herself time to second-guess, Melody headed up the sidewalk, distracting herself by taking in the detail of the downtown area. It was the picture of a small coastal community without the tourist mobs that overran nearby towns. Seagull Street was scenic with black cherry trees and bald cypress lining the two-lane street. There were as many bikes in the sidewalk racks as there were cars. And just like its name, seagulls squawked overhead, on their way to the ocean and pier two miles away.
Melody stopped in front of The Bitery, hesitating before pushing through the entrance door.You can do this, Melody. One foot in front of the other.A little bell chimed overhead as she stepped inside.
“Be with you in a minute!” a voice called from the back.
“No rush!” Melody headed to the glass display case full of delicious-looking treats. The only thing that didn’t appear to be small portioned were the cinnamon twists, which had always been Liz’s specialty. She used to make them during the sleepovers they’d had together while growing up. Melody, Liz, and Bri. That’s how it had started.
Alyssa had somehow inserted herself into the mix, the way that younger siblings tended to do. Melody used to object to Alyssa manipulating her way into their slumber parties, but then Melody had started inviting her. Alyssa brought an element of fun to the group. She could make them laugh so hard that orange soda came out of their noses. In truth, Alyssa became Melody’s best of the best friends.
“Just one more second,” the voice in the back room called again.
“Take your time!” Melody looked around the shop, finding it mostly the same as she remembered from the days when she and her friends would gather here after school. One thing that was different were the framed photographs that decorated the walls. They were all black-and-white snapshots of places Melody recognized around Trove Isle. The bridge that crossed over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Sunrise Park. The old drive-in theater on Cameron Street two streets from the oceanfront. Melody and her friends, including Alyssa, would catch a movie and then get ice cream cones and walk the beach until curfew.
“Can I help you?” Liz stepped out of the back kitchen and froze when she saw Melody. She wore an apron that matched the awning outside, pink with polka dots and teal writing across the chest that readBite Me. “Oh. Hi.”
Melody waved, feeling slightly awkward. “It’s just me.”
“What are you doing here?” Liz’s tone wasn’t mean or even rude. It was more surprised than anything.
“I was hoping to get a coffee. And maybe something to eat.”
Liz seemed to hesitate for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, of course. What would you like?”
“A cinnamon twist.” Melody hadn’t had breakfast yet and she needed more than one or two bite-sized foods.
“Sure.” Liz rang her up for the order, her gaze flitting up to look at Melody behind her glasses, but never sticking. She wasn’t smiling either. When they were growing up, Liz always had a smile on her face. There were different versions of the smile though, that only those closest to her understood. The happy smile. The anxious smile. The heartbroken smile. The smile of despair. Liz smiled to make everyone around her feel better. But Melody was the only one here right now though, and apparently Liz wasn’t concerned with how Melody felt.
Liz tapped the register and read out the price in a monotone voice.
Reaching into the front pocket of her purse, Melody pulled out a ten-dollar bill and slid it across the counter. A second later, Liz handed back four single-dollar bills.
“Take a seat and I’ll bring your breakfast to you in just a moment,” Liz said curtly. Liz had always been the sweetest of their little group of friends. If she didn’t like someone, they must have been a horrible human being. So, it was official. Melody was decidedly horrible.
Melody turned and looked around. A few tables were occupied by folks she recognized. Hopefully they wouldn’t notice her. She wasn’t in the mood for socializing this morning. Keeping her head down, she walked toward the front of the store and slid into a corner seat. Then she watched as Liz retrieved several items from the display cases for incoming customers.
Melody had hoped that she and Liz could take a moment to talk, but now she realized that was a foolish fantasy. She couldn’t just reappear after nine years and expect to be welcomed with open arms. Melody had bailed. In the face of so much pain, she’d decided to turn her back on everyone and everything in Trove Isle. Even her best friends.
A few minutes later, Liz headed over to where Melody was sitting. She slid a plate of treats onto the center of the table along with a to-go cup of coffee.
“I hope you haven’t changed the way you like your coffee.” Liz pulled out the seat across from Melody and sat down, propping her elbows on the table and using her hands to cradle her chin.
Melody was surprised. She was starting to think it would be lucky if Liz didn’t pour salt in her drink instead of sugar. Melody pulled the cup to her and took a sip, practically sighing because it was freshly roasted and so smooth. Much better than the gas station variety she usually grabbed on the go. “You remembered that I like hazelnut?”
“Of course I remember. I’m not the one who left and seemingly forgot everything and everyone in her life.” Liz’s gaze was pointed.
Melody put her coffee down, her hand trembling slightly.
