“And ...” Before I lost my nerve, I shared the rest of the idea. “I saw this thing on the internet on matching makeup and nail colors to the book cover. The trend started in New York, but it’s spreading around. Bloggers are picking it up. It could be fun. Colebury is ready for it,” I said, taking a long breath when I was done.
“It’s definitely a stretch for here, but I’m willing to give it a try. You’re the resident big-city girl. Does this mean you’re putting down roots here?”
Swallowing the giant lump in my throat—there was that word again,roots—I shook my head. “I’m definitely growing to like it here more and more every day, but eventually I’ll take my experience back to a city. Not New York, but somewhere I can make my own name.”
Zara raised an eyebrow. “What about Ben? I see the way you two look at each other. And you can’t deny you’re spending a lot of time together.”
Unable to stop a huge smile from forming, I felt my eyes crease. “We go way back, and we’re definitely having fun.”Fun like I’ve never had.“It’s fun now, but it’s not a long-term thing.”
She gave me a speculative look. “Are you sure that’s how Ben sees it? I’ve never heard about him being this gaga for someone. He may not live in Colebury, but he spends enough time here.”
“I’m sure,” I said with a certainty I wasn’t sure I believed but forced myself to get behind.
Then we were saved by the chimes above the door when a customer arrived, a book tucked under their arm.
Zara nodded toward the book. “I’m liking the book club idea more and more.”
With no further discussion of Ben, we went back to selling and making coffees.
22
Ben
“Hi, Mom,” I said, picking up the phone as I was leaving the medical center. There was no use ignoring her call. She knew I saw patients on Wednesday afternoons and would be getting out around now—in time for dinner.
“Ben, I’m so glad to get you on the phone. Dad is grilling steaks, and we wanted to see if you wanted to come eat.”
Sliding into my car, I said, “Sure, that would be great. I wanted to tell you guys some news anyway.”
“About Murphy?”
I stifled a sigh. Of course Marley had already spilled the news about seeing us together at the farmers’ market. “Not exactly.”
“But I heard you were out with Murphy last night. Is it the same Murphy?”
Pulling out of the parking lot, I said, “Mom, I’ll see you in a few, and then you can ask me anything you want.”
After I parked my Jeep in front of the house I grew up in, I took a long inhale and even longer exhale. “Hey,” I hollered in the hallway.
“Out here,” my dad yelled through the screened back door.
“I’m starving,” I said as I stepped out onto the back deck, where he was grilling a sizable number of steaks.
“Good thing,” Dad said with a grin. “Hunnie’s parents dropped off these steaks. They got them from a friend of theirs over in New Hampshire. They’re excited I’m agreeing to this petting zoo venture and goat yoga, to say the least.”
Shrugging, I said, “If it sells syrup, who cares?”
“There you are.” My mom came bursting out the back door, her black hair threaded with gray swinging with the movement. Everyone said I resembled my mom, but I have my dad’s height.
“Hi, Mom,” I said, pulling her in for a hug.
“Want a beer?”
I shook my head. “Can’t. I have an early morning tomorrow.”
“Sit,” she said.
Knowing Mom wouldn’t let me help unless I had a reason, I said, “Let me wash my hands, and then I can help you bring stuff outside. I assume we’re eating out here.”
