“People here like to know exactly what’s happening.” Lindsey winked and lowered her voice. “Wait until they start quarrelling about who the new bench by the bridge should be dedicated to. That’s the entertaining part and the only reason I’m here.”
Riley laughed as she helped herself to a coffee. “In that case, I think I’ll stay for part two.”
“It’s mainly the people on the first row who are highly opinionated,” Lindsey said. “Sarah, the librarian, likes to think she’s the voice of the town, but when it comes down to it, people rarely agree with her.”
“Small-town politics, huh?”
“Exactly. You might as well get used to it.” Lindsey reached for a chocolate chip cookie, broke it in half, and offered Riley the other half. It seemed like a strange thing to do, but not wanting to be rude, Riley took it. “Sorry. I always share sweet stuff. It’s my way of cutting down on sugar. I usually share with my friend Quinn, but she’s not here tonight.”
“I met her, actually. She told me she was busy with work,” Riley said.
“That’ll be an excuse. She hates this kind of stuff. So, you’ve spoken to her?”
“Yes. She was kind enough to help me take a ladder back from the hardware store. I’ve invited her for dinner on Thursday. You’re very welcome to join us.” Riley chuckled. “I can’t promise the food will be any good. I generally can’t cook, but without tons of takeout places around here, I figured I need to practice my skills. Your husband is welcome too, of course, or your kids if you have any.”
“How lovely of you.” Lindsey seemed pleasantly surprised at her invitation, but she shook her head. “I’m single, no kids, and I’m sorry, but I’m busy on Thursday. We should definitely meet up some other time, though.” She narrowed her eyes as she studied Riley. “What about you? Do you have anyone back in New York?”
“No. I was married a long time ago, and after my divorce, I was married to my job.”
“I feel like that sometimes.” Lindsey shrugged. “But hey, I love my job, so that’s okay, and anyway, it’s not like there’s much choice of men here in Mystic. The good ones are taken, and the single ones are single for a reason.”
“Dating in New York isn’t much better,” Riley said. “Everyone is out for themselves there.” She hesitated. “And Quinn? Is she single?”
“Quinn?” Lindsey’s eyes widened. “Are you into her?” she asked in a whisper. “If you are, you can tell me. I promise it will stay between us.”
Riley’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “No, I’m not…” She hesitated. “Is Quinn…?”
“I’m so sorry.” Lindsey slammed a hand in front of her mouth and giggled. “Yes, she’s gay. I just figured you might be too since you asked.”
“No, I’m not. I was just curious, that’s all.”
Lindsey winced. “I’m sorry, I—”
“Hey, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Riley wasn’t surprised to hear Quinn was gay. Women didn’t normally stare at her legs the way she did. “I was married to a man. We met in college and got hitched way too young. Long-term, it didn’t work out because we were too different. He wanted a family, I wanted to build a career.”
Lindsey nodded. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Sure.”
“How does a New York career woman end up in Mystic? Do you have any ties to this town? Family?”
“No. I just randomly picked a place.” Riley paused. She’d expected the question and she was aware her answer sounded ridiculous. “Actually, my assistant picked Mystic. I had to stop working for health reasons. The doctor told me to move somewhere with a slower pace of life, and this was close to New York, plus there’s a hospital nearby with a great cardiology department.”
“It’s your heart? I’m so sorry to hear that.” Lindsey rubbed her arm. “Are you going to be okay? Is it safe for you to live on your own?”
“If I take it easy, absolutely,” Riley said with a smile. “I can do physical stuff, and I can even work out, as long as I avoid stress.”
“Well, your assistant picked a good place. We all take care of each other around here, and with that house, you’ll have your hands full, hopefully without too much stress.”
“I used to work sixteen hours a day, so a bit of home improvement is nothing,” Riley said with a brave face. In truth, the house depressed her to no end, but if she gave up on it now and sold it before she’d done it up, she risked losing a lot of money. She had a healthy bank account, but now that she wasn’t working anymore, real estate was her security. She’d be stuck in Mystic for at least a year before she could sell it, and making the best of it was her only option.
“Ouch.” Lindsey winced. “And I thought I was a workaholic.” She waved at a few people who were making their way over to the coffee table. “Less work and more socializing it is, then. Let me introduce you to some friends.”
12
QUINN
Clutching a bottle of red wine under her arm, a box of chocolates in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other, Quinn headed up the steps to the front door of Aster House. Perhaps the flowers were a bit over the top, but she thought it might spruce up the place a little, and it wasn’t like they were red roses. The bunch of rainbow alstroemeria came from the gas station she’d passed on her way here and weren’t remotely romantic.
