“Don’t worry about it,” Grayson said. “We can just set a time and meet right back here.”
“Okay,” she said, choosing not to remind him that without a phone she had no way to know what time it was. Hopefully, she could resolve the situation this morning.
They hopped out of the car and she moved to get Leo out, but Grayson waved her away.
“I’ve actually got to grab something at one of the big box stores up on Route One,” he said. “So I’m getting back in.”
“Oh,” she said, surprised. “Well, thanks for bringing me to town.”
“My pleasure,” he told her, his voice a little gruff. “Now, you can shop wherever you want, but I’d recommend checking out a place called Pura Vida on Ambler. You just go to the corner and turn left.”
She looked at where he was pointing and nodded.
“Okay,” she told him. “I’ll head over there first.”
“You can’t get lost,” he told her. “All the shops are either on Park, that’s this street, or Ambler.”
“That’s good,” she said. “Thanks a lot.”
“Sure,” he said, his eyes flashing to hers for a breathless instant before he headed back to the driver’s side.
It was cold out with an even colder breeze, but she still felt her cheeks heat from just a moment under his gaze.
Stop that,she told herself.Go get some clothes.
She passed a real estate office with a Victorian dollhouse in the window. Two little kids had their faces pressed against the glass while a lady who looked like she must be their grandma watched them fondly. The woman at the desk behind the window in the office waved to them.
As she got closer, Evangeline could see that the little house was decorated for Christmas with tiny lights and pine boughs, and the whole thing rested on a bed of cotton batting that looked like snow.
Walking up Park Avenue, she passed more sweet little shops.Locally Madeseemed to sell all local artwork and pottery. Then there wasScandinavian Sundrieswhich had racks of gorgeous woolen sweaters, pretty artwork, and ashelf of the kind of Polish pottery that Grandma used to love.
Mario’s pizza shop was already open, even though it was only late morning. She could see a man wearing an apron inside starting up the ovens. And the bakery smelled so good that it took all her resolve to keep walking.
Maybe I’ll stop for a snack and another cup of coffee if my shopping goes okay.
But she probably wouldn’t. She was on a budget anyway. Having to buy a whole new wardrobe and other things she needed was going to set her back a lot.
Don’t think about it,she told herself.
But thinking of her situation reminded her that she had to get to the library too, all in a pretty limited amount of time.
The corner of Park and Ambler was occupied by Gabriel’s drugstore. She could see people shopping through the big windows. Once she had some clothing she could stop there for bathroom stuff.
She passed more shops, including the toy store and the hardware store on Ambler before finding a sign that saidPura Vida. The clothing in the window was beautiful, all made of soft fabrics in pretty colors. There were even a few pairs of warm-looking boots and a display of scarves.
“Welcome,” a young woman said as Evangeline pushed open the door, releasing a pleasant whoosh of cinnamon-scented warmth.
“Thank you,” Evangeline said.
“I’m Ana,” the woman told her. “Is there anything special I can help you find today?”
Normally Evangeline would have slunk to the clearance rack in the back of the shop, assuming there was one, and furtively checked the price tags on her own.
But there was something so forthright and encouraging about Ana’s smile, that she found herself ready to open up.
“I, um, came out here for the day,” she admitted. “But I actually need to stay a while. I got a job.”
“Congratulations,” Ana told her with a big smile. “You’re going to love living in Trinity Falls. But I guess you kind of need everything, huh?”
