Not that I was interested. And neither was he. I was sure of it. The emotions rising in me like a wind had kicked them up were nothing more than echoes of the past.
Either way, I was done with the topic. “I need abreak fromallmen. Anyway, I’m going to Mountain Perks. Want to come along?”
I’d been venturing out more and more. My ball cap and sunglasses were a constant. So far, only my old math teacher from high school had recognized me when I’d chatted with Autumn at the bar in the distillery, and he’d never sold me out before.
The coffee shop would be a different story, but the social media talk with Wynter had shown me that I couldn’t hide forever. Nor did I have to reveal why I was home. Besides, I was home and I’d be in a coffee shop. Not exactly front-page material.
“I’d love to.” Wynter swiveled toward her desk. “But I have to finish up some things. We’re going to Denver over Memorial Day weekend and staying for a couple of weeks.”
I was not jealous of her little family unit and how they traveled together. Myles had built his empire in another fucking state, but he’d moved to Montana for Wynter. Their home was here. Yet when he had to go to Foster House, she often accompanied him.
What was it like?
How many times had leaving for an appearance or a performance ruined a relationship for me? The infidelity hadn’t helped, but neither had the constant distance. The continued separation. Each time I went on tour or my partner left town for their own gig or game was like a proclamation. We had come together temporarily, and our relationship was nothing more than that.
I gave her a hug. On my way out, I stopped by the viewing windows into the main room where the giant round pots sat with bubbling mash. The tall stills were atthe other end with their distillation pipes reaching toward the ceiling.
Tenor and Teller were both by a bank of computers on standing desks. Tenor looked up and waved. Teller did the same.
I returned the wave and took off. Summer had left already.
It was only Tuesday, so I didn’t stop at the bar. Autumn worked on Wednesdays and the weekends. Wynter often joined her for a few hours here and there, but it was too early for the bar to be open.
This was the most I’d been involved in Copper Summit business for a long time. Usually, I phoned into meetings or read the minutes afterward.
As I walked to my car, I looked back at the old distillery with its large rectangular windows and peaked roof. I was excited as usual to contribute, but this time, I appreciated the opportunity more. The company wasn’t full of people who wanted something out of me.
In town, I parked and stared across the street into the coffee shop. People milled around inside. Why was it so busy at this time of day?
Just then, a group of kids left. Teens. I checked the time. School had gotten out an hour ago. I would’ve spent all my allowance on iced coffees if this place had been around when I’d been their age.
There was a knock on my window. I yelped and spun around.
Bethany waved at me. “Hi!” she said through the closed window.
Rhys glowered behind her, his jaw cracked down like he’d glued his teeth together. Hannah had a hold of his hand. He wasn’t happy to see me, where people mightwitness us talking and some might recognize me, but a thrill ran through my belly.
He had on a grungy black ball cap, and his worn clothing fit him in all the right places. If he were in a country-boy calendar, he’d be June.
I stuffed my own light-blue ball cap on my head. There was cloud cover overhead, but I stuffed my sunglasses on anyway. Then I got out. “Hi!”
Rhys’s lips twitched. “Sorry, ma’am. I thought you were someone else.”
I gaped at him. Had he just made a joke? I slid my sunglasses down. “It’s me, Junie.”
The girls giggled and I took my sunglasses off. If I wore them in the coffee shop, I’d stand out more. After tossing them into the car, I tucked my hands into my cardigan pockets. “I’m grabbing a coffee.”
“We’re going to the coffee shop too!” Hannah said, tugging on her dad’s hand.
“Wanna come with?” Bethany asked.
Rhys’s jaw flexed. “Wren’s meeting us there. She wants to get the girls a lemonade.”
“Sparkling,” Bethany clarified.
Had he told her I was in town? That I was giving the girls lessons?
“Mommy called today too.” Hannah beamed.
