Page 98 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
Melody left The Bitery, got in her car, and drove the short distance to Liz’s home. She pulled in the driveway and got out, deciding to wait on Liz’s front porch. The weather was nice today. Perfect for making up with a long-lost friend.
Melody glanced down at the charm bracelet encircling her wrist. This little piece of jewelry had defied all odds to get to her and Liz again. Yeah, she knew it was just a bracelet. It wasn’t magical or anything, but it had been lost—twice! How could she explain that without entertaining some divine intervention?
“Melody? Is that you?”
Melody blinked and noticed Matt walking up the driveway with his little dog on a leash. “I’m just waiting here for Liz,” she said.
His brow furrowed. “Does she know you’re coming?”
Judging by his tone, Liz had told him about their quarrel. Of course she had. “No.”
“Should you maybe text or call instead?” he asked.
Melody didn’t blame him for being overprotective. “I have. She won’t respond. She’s ignoring me.”
Matt stopped walking when he was a few feet away from the front porch. His little dog sat at his feet, its tail wagging. “Can you blame her?”
Melody was taken off guard by his directness. “I understand that she’s upset, but the offer on Hidden Treasures was a lot of money. If Jo had wanted the thrift store to remain a thrift store, she should have known not to leave it to me. She could have left it to Mr. Lyme. Surely, he would never sell that place.”
Matt shielded his eyes with his hand. “I don’t think this is about whether you sell that store, Mel. That’s not why Liz is upset with you. I think you know that.”
Melody swallowed. “She doesn’t trust that I’ll come back. But she’s always known I’d leave.”
“You didn’t even tell her when you got the offer on the store. You kept it a secret. The thread of trust you’d built back with her is gone.”
“I was going to tell her.”
“When?”
“After prom. It was an important night. I didn’t want to ruin it. But it got ruined anyway.” Melody sighed and looked down at her bracelet. “I signed the paperwork to sell the store this afternoon.” She blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I thought it was the right thing to do, but maybe that was just my emotions talking. The prom hit me harder than I expected it to. It wasn’t our prom so I didn’t think it would matter, but my emotions just rose to the surface. I sold the store and just planned to get back to real life in Charlotte.”
“But?” Matt asked.
Melody shrugged. “But now I’m second-guessing that decision.”
“Guilt?” Matt asked.
Melody looked up and considered his question. “No. Regret. Maybe that place meant more to me than I realized.” Tears surfaced in her eyes. They were quick and unexpected. “Maybe Charlotte isn’t real life. Perhaps it’s just the fake life I’ve created to avoid real life.” She swallowed hard. She’d only wondered that thought, but saying it out loud, she knew it was the truth. “I’ve got to go.”
“Thought you were waiting for Liz.”
Melody hurried down the steps. “If you see her, tell her that . . . tell her . . .” There were so many things that Melody wanted to tell her. But they had to be said in person. “Just tell her that I’ll be back.”
Melody got into her car and reversed out of the driveway. She didn’t like regrets. She’d had too many in her life, and if selling Hidden Treasures made her feel even an inkling of remorse, she was going to do whatever it took to un-sell it.
To: Melody Palmer
From: Bri Johnson
Subject: Get it together
Melody,
You can’t come back if you’re going to just run away again. I thought we were clear about that. Liz needs you. I need you. But what we don’t need is a repeat of losing you for the next decade. I never cared about a lost charm bracelet. I cared about a lost friend. Alyssa, yes. But also you. And I know that I’m one to talk because I got myself locked up and left Liz as well. I guarantee, once I’m released, I’m not leaving her again. You can live in Charlotte. That’s not what this is about. It’s about being here for one another. Through texts, calls, emails. Just don’t disappear. Friends forever, no matter what.
B
CHAPTERTHIRTY
