Page 24 of Feels Like Falling
“So, Ellison, what’s on your agenda today? I’m making a roast for supper”—she eyes Grandad who tries to hide his smile behind his black coffee—“and we’d love to have you join us.”
Giving her a watery smile, I nod and then dive into my plans for the day to distract myself from the way my heart squeezes in my chest.
Celeste tells me about her career as a traveling nurse, flying all over the country and the world. She has me near tears recounting some of her more colorful memories, and even Grandad cracks the occasional smile. Her big heart took her all over the place before she literally threw a dart at a map and headed for Blackstone Falls.
The story is almost unbelievable, but as I look at her in this space, I know it’s more than just a coincidence that brought her here. Some might call it divine intervention, and I have no doubt Nan pulled some strings to make sure the love of her life was safe.
Cherished.
And maybe even loved.
Looks like I might not be the only one falling in love around here.
* * *
ELLISON: Do you know where Sundown Realty is?
ELLISON: Seriously, this town isn’t THAT big
MONTANA: It’s a new storefront. I think Archer’s girl is there
MONTANA: Hold on I’ll send you the address
A couple minuteslater my phone dings with an incoming text, and I pull my car onto the road. It’s a short drive, but I still turn “Matchmaker” by Erin Kinsey down because apparently I’mthat years oldnow and need it quiet to see better.
Double-checking the address Montana gave me, I turn into the gravel lot in front of a small cottage that’s in the midst of getting some upgrades. The dark-stained-wood exterior is decorated with two crisply painted white windows and shutters flanking a maroon farmhouse door. The window boxes are empty, and the front planters have seen better days, but all in all it looks like someone is working hard to make this place shine.
Putting my car in park, I kill the engine and pull my sunglasses on before stepping out into the heat.
“Oh my gosh, are you Ellison Mills?” My head whips up at the sound of a very enthusiastic feminine voice.
“Yes?” I say cautiously as I step around the front of my car.
“Eeeee!” The woman squeals and then lunges at me, wrapping me in a hug and rocking us back and forth. She’s covered in dirt, her blonde hair pulled back with a bandanna, and wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen directed at me.
Montana notwithstanding.
I’m speechless. Completely and totally speechless and so much so that I’ve forgotten my manners. And now we’re firmly in thenervous laughportion of this interaction.
Me—not her.
“This is seriously so great. Montana has told mesomuch about you!” She beams as she pulls away, completely unaffected by my internal freak-out. I know her name—Montana told me her name—and yet in this moment I have absolutely no idea what it is.
My mother would be appalled. The thought makes me smile.
“Would you believe I can’t for the life of me remember your name?” I ask sheepishly because this hasn’t happened before. My life revolved around making other people feel important, and that meant being able to recall names and information about any given person in a room.
“I’m Bea, and I think I can let it slide just this once considering we’ve never officially met.” She grins and I relax just the littlest bit.
“You’re an angel,” I say and she shakes her head.
“Hardly.” She snorts as she turns for the door. “Come on inside. I was just about to take a break anyway.”
“Oh, um, okay, I just—” I stutter because I wasn’t prepared for this level of social interaction. She’s bubbly and adorable, and I kind of want to put her in my pocket.
“It’s fine, you’ll get used to me,” she says with an unaffected flick of her wrist, and I snort, the awkwardness of the moment suddenly gone.
“I can see how this tactic worked on Archer.”
