Page 190 of One More Kiss

Chapter3

CJ

“Mom, it’s fine. I promise,”I said as I put her on speakerphone. Pulling my galoshes from the closet, I grimaced. Too bad my new cute boots didn’t arrive before the trip. It had cooled down a little but still probably wasn’t cold enough for the ones I bought online the other day. But, in case the rain came early, I may need the rain boots. “The weather said next week. I’m going to be back Sunday night. No need to worry.”

“I know that’s what the silly weatherman said but I’m telling you, that storm will be here sooner. And you’re driving a few hours north. What if something happens?”

“I have an SUV, I have water in the car, I have blankets, and a roadside kit. But it doesn’t matter because it’s all going to be fine.” I kept tossing things in my luggage as we went back and forth.

“What are you going for again? A retreat?”

“Yep, a writer’s retreat. It’s good for the creative juices.”

“Well, it seems more like a writerrrr retreat since you are going alone. Why don’t you still take the day off work, but stay home and write?”

“I love you, Mom. I gotta get going if I want to get there before it’s too late.”

“But CJ I—”

“Love you, I’ll text you when I get there!” I hit the end call button. I hated to cut her off, but she had already gone in circles with me for over thirty minutes and neither of us were willing to budge.

Looking around, I made sure I had everything on my list. I grabbed my Fireball and stuffed it down into the luggage before zipping it up. Grabbing my laptop bag on the way out, I turned off the lights and locked up.

“Hey, CJ. Going somewhere?”

My lips thinned but my back was still to the hall of the apartment complex. I forced a grin and turned, pulling my laptop bag higher on my shoulder as I pulled my luggage behind me. “Hey, Miss June. How ya doing?”

“Oh, I’m well dear,” the tiny grey-haired woman said with a smirk. “I heard otherwise about you.”

Internally I was rolling my eyes, but outwardly I smiled and my voice oozed positivity. “Oh, I’m fantastic, but thank you so much for your concern. I gotta run. Enjoy your weekend.”

I turned and headed to the elevator with my bags and heard a distinct “mmhhmm” as I pressed the down button. The eyeroll finally commenced. I couldn’t get into the elevator fast enough to be clear of her searing gaze.

“Nosey Nancy.” I rolled my eyes one more time for good measure, even though nobody was in the elevator with me. I definitely needed to get away from this place for a few days.

After putting my luggage and laptop in the back, I hopped in the driver’s seat of my small SUV and threw my purse in the passenger seat. I had filled up the tank yesterday so I could leave straight after work. Most of the traffic would be going the other direction, so maybe I could make it by eight, or at least not too long after.

I cranked up the radio to my favorite eighties station to drown out the judgy voice of Miss June. Inhaling a deep breath, I let a wave of excitement for my little getaway wash over me. When Bonnie Tyler’s version of Total Eclipse of the Heart came on, I had to belt it out with her.

The drive was beautiful. The air outside was getting cool but felt crisp and fresh so I rolled the windows down halfway. I was getting closer, and any sign of business or life was few and far between, so it occurred to me I should grab a bite to eat and probably get coffee and some kind of breakfast. Based on the website, if you could call it a website, the cabins were up the mountain and not near town.

There was a sign for groceries up ahead; I slowed down, so I didn’t miss it. About a mile up the road, there was a small old country store with a single row of parking spots right in front and two gas pumps on the side. It looked like a single-story log cabin with cherrywood but had double glass doors right in the middle below a banner that said, “GROCERY.” Pulling in, I rolled up the windows and grabbed my purse before going inside.

“Welcome, sweetie. Can I help you find anything?” A tall, thin, older gentleman asked as I walked in.

“Um, coffee for sure then I need to grab a few little things to hold me over ‘til I can get back out tomorrow.”

The man, who wore dark colored denim and a grey long-sleeved button up shirt, walked toward me and gently placed one hand on my shoulder and pointed with his other as we walked. At the edge of the two checkout lines, he grabbed a basket but held it instead of giving it to me. “The coffee is back this way. Do you need creamer, or do you take it black?”

“Creamer. If you have flavored, that would be great.”

“Oh yes, we finally got French Vanilla or Caramel flavored. So many visitors complained about the powdered stuff we had, we started getting a few flavors of the creamer. I personally love sweetened condensed milk in my coffee.” He looked over with a warm smile. “Just a touch, of course.”

I wondered how old the sweet gentleman was. His wrinkles were long and deep on his weathered face, and he was practically skin and bones. He had such a vibrant light in his pale eyes, set under bushy grey brows, and the warmest smile I’d seen on anyone in longer than I could remember.

“Here we are, dear.” He went to reach for the creamer and the bell at the door jingled. “Oh dear. I’d love to assist you, but I need to tend to that.” He passed the basket to me and slowly shuffled to the front again.

I grabbed one of each creamer. They were the travel size, and I preferred a little coffee with my creamer, so hopefully both would hold me over for a few days. I turned and my eyes swept across the store. No signs showed what each aisle held. I shrugged and smiled before walking to the first one and looking around. Even though it was a bit of a pain to peruse each one for what I needed, I also appreciated the simplicity of the cozy store.

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