Her gaze shot around her small apartment, and she grinned, until her eyes caught on the white envelope she’d dumped onto her coffee table with the rest of the junk mail when she’d gotten home earlier that afternoon.
Unease stirred in her stomach, but she pushed it down. Slapping a smile on her face, she hoped it would inject some levity into her voice, though she felt none. “My place is cozy and perfect. It’s right downtown and above the cutest knitting shop. But have I told you about the post office drama I’m having?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
After hugging Claire, Freya turned to Janie and was engulfed in an equally fierce hug. “Keep in touch,” she murmured.
“I appreciate the support, Freya, and the great haircut.” Janie smiled and ran a hand over her shorter hair. “I really do feel like a new person.”
Freya smiled. “I’m glad. And, really, if you’re serious about finding a new place to live, you’re more than welcome to come crash on my couch and check Hudson Island out. I know this place is fantastic”—she waved her hand around the lobby—“but it’s not exactly reality, right?”
Janie elbowed her sister. “Unless you’re Miss Moneybags over here.”
Claire snorted. “Hardly.”
Freya chuckled. “Like I said, if you want to check out the island, you’re more than welcome to stay with me. There’s also a little boutique hotel downtown and several B and Bs too.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Janie said as her eyes filled with tears. She pulled Freya into another hug. “Thank you again for listening and just being... you. I won’t ever forget what you’ve done.”
She gave Janie one last squeeze and pulled away. “I haven’t done anything. Just listened.”
“That, my new friend, means everything,” Janie said, flashing her a smile. “I’ll be in touch for sure.”
“Safe travels,” Freya called out as Janie and Claire waved and pulled their suitcases toward the check-out desk.
Freya’s heart squeezed. She prayed everything would work out for Janie. Yes, her husband had been arrested and would most likely get a longer sentence for shooting up the salon, but the woman still had quite the journey ahead of her.
“I thought I’d find you here.”
Freya turned toward the familiar voice and smiled at Miriam. “I was just on my way to meet with you.”
Miriam checked her watch. “You still have twenty before our meeting.” She nodded toward where the sisters were checking out. “Everything okay?”
Freya nodded. “I think she’ll get there. Her sister’s amazing, and I don’t think Claire will give her much of a choice. Janie’s looking to start fresh somewhere and is actually considering Hudson Island.”
“A strong support system is everything. It’s good Janie has her sister and you.” A soft smile lifted Miriam’s lips before she turned and began walking through the lobby toward the spa building. “It was nice of you to take an interest in Janie after what happened.”
She frowned at her boss’s word choice. “I wouldn’t exactly call it ‘taking an interest in her.’” The other woman wasn’t some sort of pet project or charity case. “What happened was awful, and Janie and Claire are genuinely nice people.”
Miriam held up a hand. “Sorry. That didn’t come out correctly. What I meant is that it’s nice of you to genuinely extend your friendship to them.” She stopped as they reached the spa’s main entrance and nodded to Freya. “I need to checkwith the front desk for a second. Go ahead into my office. I’ll be right there.”
“Take your time,” Freya said, waving at Audrey at the front desk.
She glanced to the right where the tall room dividers still remained, blocking off the salon area. She could hear the soft buzz of activity coming from behind the partition, but considering the spa music in the lobby had been kicked up a notch, Freya was certain those who didn’t work at the spa day in and day out noticed.
After making her way to Miriam’s office, she sat in the guest chair next to her boss’s desk. Curiosity tickled her mind. Obviously, Mir wanted to discuss something in private, but so much had happened over the last few days that it could be anything. Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long. Miriam joined her after a couple minutes and closed the door behind her.
“Sorry if everything feels a little cloak and dagger,” Miriam said, taking a seat behind her desk.
She shook her head. “It’s fine. Though I am curious about what you want to talk about.”
Miriam frowned as she clicked her mouse a few times and then turned her laptop so Freya could see the screen. It showed the salon schedule for the remainder of November.
“As you know,” Miriam said, leaning back in her seat, “Hazel gave an interview to a local Seattle television reporter about what happened on Tuesday. Not only did she do so after every staff member was explicitly directed to pass all media inquiries to our front office, but she also told the reporter personal information about Janie Edwards. Is it safe for me to assume that part of your breakfast with Janie and her sister this morning was to see how they were handling Hazel’s interview?”
Freya nodded. “Iwas upset by Hazel’s interview.” Disbelief still flowed through her and had her stomach turning. “I couldn’timagine how Janie was feeling or how angry Claire must have been.”
“That’s because you’re a good person, Freya.” Miriam sighed. “You know respecting our guests’ privacy is one of the most important things here at Pacific View Resort, so Hazel has been let go.”
