Westop directly across the street.
Itlooks more like a place a magician would buy a wand, or a box to saw a woman in half in, than somewhere to hang out and sip a cappuccino.It’sall dim lighting, heavy drapes, and dark wood.
Iput the strap of my bag over my head and make sure to hold the package by the, er, well,Iguess they’re stems.
IfRose’saunt comes here every day and the staff know her well enough to recognizeRose’sname in the magazine, they must know where she lives.
“Couldyou wait a few minutes?Imight need you to drive me somewhere else.”
“Sorry, sir.”Hemeets my eyes in his rearview mirror. “Haveto get back for another pickup.”
Shit.Thechance of me arriving at the exact same time she’s in the shop is virtually zero.
“Arethere taxis around here?”
“Noidea.Butif there aren’t, this is the kind of town where if you need a ride, someone will just drive you.”
Whoknew places like that still existed? “Okay.Thanks.”
Iget out and stand on the sidewalk for a moment, taking in the surroundings, and wondering ifI’vestepped back in time.
Thelimo pulls away, leaving nothing between me and the coffee shop across the street.
Andit hits me.I’mhere, in this tinyWashingtontown in the forest, about twenty paces from someone who can tell me whereRoseis.
UnlessI’vegot it wrong.Imean, there is a chanceI’vecome all this way for nothing.Maybeshe’s not here at all.Maybeshe’s holed up in a hotel inManhattan, surviving on room service martinis.
ButRosewouldn’t waste her money like that.She’llmake sure every penny she earned fromSterling’sbizarre scheme goes to school things and a sensible, non-lavish place to live.
Butwith no close friends to turn to while she searches for a new apartment,I’mbetting she’s used this as a good reason to catch up with the person who means most to her and who she hasn’t seen in forever.
Andif that’s the case, thenIreally am about twenty paces from finding her.Whichis suddenly terrifying.Whatif she doesn’t want me?Imean, she must know it was me who paid off her student debts and her upcoming tuition, yet she’s said nothing.Whatif she hates me?
Thenagain,Ithought my brothers and cousins would look down on me for wanting to swap the company reins for sketch pads, canvases, pencils, and brushes, but they thought it was spectacular.
AndwhenIcalled my parents on the way to the airport to be sure they heard the news from me rather than one of the guys, they said they’d never been more proud of me.Dadsaid he couldn’t imagine what it must have taken to finally speak up, andMomwas a bit choked up, saying how sad it wasI’dbeen unhappy for so long, but she hoped all that would now change.Theyboth said they were excitedIwas finally following my dreams.
SomaybeI’mnot the loserIthoughtIwas.OrifIwas once,I’msure as hell not going to be one anymore.
Aheavy raindrop hits the wrapping of the gift in my hands and jolts me from my reverie.Thenthere’s another, and another, and another.Thisis not going to be a shower.Theseare fat, juicy,PacificNorthwestraindrops that follow hard and fast on each other's heels.It’slike someone stuck a giant pin in one of those swollen gray clouds.
Eventhe weather is telling me to get my ass into gear.
Itrot across the street and shoulder open the heavy, distressed-wood door toCatastropheCoffee.
Asit squeaks shut behind me,I’menveloped by the warm aroma of roasted beans, pastries, and the old books that pack the shelves covering one wall.
It’snot the weird magic shop it looked like from the outside.Inside, there’s light, happy chatter at a couple of tables and the man and woman behind the counter are involved in a play fight trying to dab something that looks like cream cheese on each other’s noses.
Thewoman catches my eye, looks embarrassed, and wipes her nose and finger on a paper towel. “Hi.Sorry.Didn’tsee you there.WhatcanIget you?”
Mystomach jitters, and my heart joins in. “I’mactually just wondering if you can help me find someone.”
Theman looks up from the stack of bagels he’s now smearing with the cream cheese. “Nota person in townJanicedoesn’t know.Ifshe’s not heard of them, they don’t exist.”
“Great.I’mlooking for a woman who comes in here most days.Shelives in a log cabin.Justoutside town somewhere,Ithink.Hername’sJen.”
“Goodnessme,”Janicesays. “Ahandsome young man is looking forJen.”Shefiddles with her hair, tucking it behind her ears and putting it back in place after the cream cheese battle. “Shewill be delighted.”
