Page 9 of Lone Wolf in Lights
Until the last of the Christmas cards were nestled into their plastic wrapping, and pride soon filled her. “I can’t thank you all enough for coming today. I’ll see you all tomorrow at the same time.” Since she handled the marketing for the bar, she knew that a large portion of their profits came from parties celebrating women, ranging from divorce parties to birthdays. So, when there was an opening in their schedule, Willow made sure to fit in the crafting group as well. “Does that work for everyone?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Amie said, and the others around the table agreed.
“Great,” Willow said with a smile. “I’m going to take a picture of all our cards for social media,” she announced. “If you’d like to be in the photo then please stick around. If you’re not comfortable, that’s okay too.”
Amie glanced around uncertainly, but after a moment’s hesitation, she offered a warm smile and stepped forward. “I’ll stay,” she said.
“Okay,” Willow said, and then to the others. “See you all tomorrow.”
Once the other crafters filed out of the bar, Willow asked Charly, who stood behind the bar, “Do you mind taking a picture of us, Charly?”
“Not at all,” Charly responded eagerly as she walked over and took Willow’s phone to capture a shot of her and Amie in front of the colorful display of Christmas cards, holding a few of them up.
“Thanks,” Willow said to Charly, taking the phone back.
Willow wasted no time in sharing the photo on social media, eager to spread the word about Empowerment Elves.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” Amie said.
Willow nodded. “You will. Take care.”
After Amie disappeared through the door, Aubrey took a seat on the stool at the bar and said, “That seemed to go well.”
Willow agreed, “It went better than I expected. I’m so proud of this.”
“You should be,” Charly said. “You should be proud ofyou.”
Willow simply smiled in response. Doing something felt better than just existing with the painful memories and her feelings. Helping others felt like the purpose she’d been searching for to make sense out of all that had gone so very wrong.
She busied herself with tidying up to get ready for the cowboys that always came in for a drink after their long workday at the ranch. The Naked Moose, usually brimming with boisterous energy, now held a sacred silence—and Willow felt a similar sweet silence in her heart.
Done good, kid,she imagined her dad would say. She missed her parents who lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she and Charly and Aubrey all grew up, but they understood what brought her to Timber Falls, and they were coming for Christmas.
As she folded up the tablecloth, her phone buzzed from within the pocket of her apron. She retrieved the device, swiping to reveal a comment on the post she’d just made.
Her heart stuttered at the comment.
Willow Quinn is a lying bitch! You think you’re helping our community with your support, but you’re just out to destroy entire families by false claims of abuse. Timber Falls sees through your lies.
The words hit her like icy needles. Shock rooted her to the spot, her breath catching in her throat as she reread the comment.
Lying bitch.
Destroy entire families.
Lies.
“Willow?”
She gasped and lifted her head, surprised to find Charly and Aubrey staring at her.
At whatever showed on Willow’s expression, Aubrey sneered, “Who do I have to kill?”
Charly rolled her eyes. “Stop being dramatic. What is it?”
“I don’t... I don’t know,” Willow replied, handing Charly her phone.
Charly glanced at the screen, glared and announced, “Sorry, I was wrong. You were right.” She turned to Aubrey. “You get the shovel. I’ll come up with a solid alibi for us.”
