Ed’s massive body sauntered through the grass, approaching the deck. With each step closer, he seemed to double in size.
“You can’t come up here,” she told him, eyeing the sliding door as her hands shook slightly. “You’ll bust through the boards. You’re too heavy.”
Ed dipped his head near the base of the steps, sniffing something in the grass.
“You’re really odd, you know that?”
He lifted his head, reminding her he could scoop her up with his antlers. He might be a local favorite and a bit quirky, but he was still a wild animal capable of causing a person a great deal of harm if he felt threatened. Laurel shuffled back slowly, creating extra distance between them.
“Don’t you have a girlfriend to woo? Or maybe you’re runningfromher,” she added in a chuckle. “Look, I don’t believe any of the rumors about your matchmaking antics are true. I think people read too much into things because they want to believe in something that makes them forget how rotten the world can be. So you can stop trying to be my fairy god moose or whatever.”
Ed tilted his head at her.
“I know you don’t understand a single word I’m saying, but I’m glad my voice intrigues you.” She glanced down at the nearly full cup steaming between her hands. “Or maybe you have a new affinity for coffee because of me.”
The moose kicked at the ground beneath the deck steps, causing Laurel to freeze. Was he going tochargeher?
At some sound Laurel couldn’t detect, Ed froze. Much like a dog catching the distant sound of a familiar engine or rustle in the trees. Seconds later, the moose turned away and trotted off into the heavy tree line as if he were being chased.
“Weird moose.”
The sliding door opened, and Dad stepped out to join her, his own cup in hand. “You couldn’t sleep either?”
“Seemed pointless to go back to bed after all that,” Laurel said, omitting any detail about Ed. She leaned over the deck railing, the rising sun catching something shiny at the foot of the steps. She refused to believe Ed was trying to point it out. He was probably just as curious about the shiny object as she was. “I’ll be at the store a couple hours this morning.”
“Sounds good.”
She descended the three steps to get a better look at the shiny object, certain it was a dime or something equally unexciting. “Maybe sometime soon we can discuss a more permanent arrangement. You’ll be looking for an assistant manager soon, right?”
“You’re not going to take your old boss up on his offer, then?”
Dad was the only one who knew about the dilemma. Chase was right, she sure had a lot of secrets. The weight of them continued to pile on. It was the reason she decided today was the day. She was going to come clean to her best friends about the reason she left. The miscarriage, her begging Chase to keep the secret, all of it. Even the painful stuff she wouldn’t admit to herself.
“I’m home to stay, Dad. I don’t want to move back to Florida. The money doesn’t entice me.”
“You know we’ll gladly have you as long as you want to stay—”
“I’ll find my own place soon.” She bent down, gasping when she saw it was a ring.Herring. A white gold wedding band bonded to a beautiful diamond engagement ring. The unique way they intertwined left no doubt. What in the world was it doing out here?
“Anything interesting?” Dad asked.
She dropped the ring in her robe pocket. “Just a dime.”Another secret, Laurel. Great idea. It puzzled her why her ring was outside instead of tucked away in her jewelry case where she last put it, but Laurel had enough things to worry about without allowing Ed’s mischief to add to them. “I’m going to grab a shower.” She patted Dad on the arm. “I’ll see you at the store.”
* * *
“Do you remember the crazy things I used to be talked into doing because of these darn scones?” Ava broke off a piece of blueberry scone, shaking her head in reminiscent laughter. “You guys got me in so much trouble. I spent half my junior high and high school years grounded, and there was always a scone to blame.”
Kinley pointed a piece of broken scone at Ava from across the booth. “No onemadeyou go along with anything.”
“But we weren’t going to leave you out, either,” Laurel added, nudging Ava with her shoulder. “Let’s be honest.”
It felt good to laugh together in one of their old hangouts, Bonita’s Bakery. The scones were legendary and trance-inducing delicious. The atmosphere was fun and upbeat with the bright teal-blue walls and pink cartoonish cupcake decorations scattered throughout. Laurel didn’t have any bad memories here. Which was the reason she picked this location over any other.
She waited until the elderly Jones twins abandoned their table. Aside from Bonita and her daughter working in the kitchen, the three of them were alone.
Laurel knew it was now or she’d lose her nerve all over again before the next customer walked in.
“I need to tell you both something, and it won’t be easy for me.” She fiddled with a napkin, studying the donut patterns on it so she could avoid their curious gazes. “I don’t want your pity. It’s far too late for that, and it’ll only upset me. No questions would be preferable, but I’ll understand if you have a couple.”
