Lily sat down across from Tessa at the table. She cupped her mug in both hands. “Like medicinal properties? Sure. There’s a ton of proof that supports it.”
Tessa fiddled with the hem of her T-shirt. “What about magical properties?”
Lily snorted. “Like what?”
“Like maybe eating an herb, saythymefor example, could give you the ability to predict the weather . . . before it happens,” Tessa said, feeling stupider with each word she spoke. Why did she care what Crazy Kate thought? If she believed the local nut, Tessa might as well join her at the edge of town.
Lily narrowed her eyes at Tessa, and then she laughed. “What are you going on about? Have you been eating Brian Mumford’s brownies? Cause youknowthose aren’t ‘regular.’” Lily joked. “If an herb could make me predict the weather, then I’d make a bazillion dollars, because even my weather app can’t tell a rainy day from a sunny one half the time.”
“Forget it,” Tessa said, but still she leaned over her mug of mint tea and inhaled. Her mind cleared instantly; the tense muscles in her shoulders relaxed. She glanced across the room at the wall map as thoughts of traveling swept into her mind. “What are you doing tonight? Do you think Jakob could spare you? We could make the pancake recipe.”
“You mean, I could make the recipe while you loiter around in the kitchen?” Lily asked with a smile.
“Basically, yes. I don’t feel like being alone tonight, and Mama and Daddy are gone for months. If I hang out with anyone else, I’ll have to pretend that I’m not depressed, and I don’t have the energy.”
“I wish I could, but you know I’m trying to finish up designing that new children’s line for my shop. I’ve promised buyers it will be ready for a show by July. If I don’t stay on schedule, I’ll never get finished. Tomorrow?” Lily asked.
Tessa slumped a little more in her chair. Her eyes wandered to the wall map again. “Sure. Tomorrow’s fine.” Her cell phone rang, and she got up, grabbed it off the coffee table, and sent the call to voice mail.
“Your mama?”
Tessa rolled her eyes and groaned. “No, it’s Marty.”
“Marty the meat guy?”
“Most people call him a butcher,” Tessa said, dropping the phone onto the couch. She walked back to the kitchen and sat before propping her elbows on the table and covering her face with her hands.
“I thought you didn’t want to go out with him after the group-date disappointment,” Lily said.
“I don’t. Not really.” Tessa lowered her hands and shrugged. “He’s not that bad.”
Lily chuckled. “Based on your last description of him, I’d say smelling like raw hamburger meat all the time isn’t on your wish list of potential dates.”
“Sometimes I get lonely. I don’t want to sit at home by myself every night.”
“Enjoy being alone while you can,” Lily said, blowing across the top of her coffee. “I never have a minute to myself anymore.”
“Beingaloneand beinglonelyaren’t the same,” Tessa said. “You probably don’t even remember what it feels like to be lonely.” She felt the beginnings of tears, so she cleared her throat and glanced away. What did Lily know about being lonely? She had a warm house to go home to after work, a husband who loved her, and a daughter who wanted to be just like her. Self-pity crept in like a poisonous vapor, swirling around Tessa’s kitchen chair, rising higher until it settled over her like a miserable mist, sinking her lower into the chair.
After a few seconds of silence, Lily asked, “What did your mama say about the buyer and your condo?”
Glad for the change of subject, Tessa answered, “She said I should seriously consider it.” When Lily looked at her with raised eyebrows, Tessa added, “Actually she said I’d be a fool not to take the offer.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. The thought of giving up her condo—herhome—left her feeling unbalanced. She drank more tea and toyed with the corner of the recipe card.
“I know this stinks to high heaven right now, but you’re a realtor,” Lily said. “You know better than anyone else how to find the perfect place.”
A breeze blew through the window, bringing with it the scent of lavender. Tessa sat up straighter. “Why haven’t I thought of that?”
“Because you’re not thinking like a realtor. You’re thinking like someone who just lost her first home. I know you loved it, but the condo wasn’t your forever place.” Lily paused only long enough to drink more coffee. “Fortunately for you, a wealthy developer wants to buy the whole place from y’all at a more-than-decent price, and you can put that money toward something new. Think of it as an adventure, and you’re the best person to lead this one. You have all the information right in your office. I bet there are at least a dozen places you could start looking at right away.”
The tightness in Tessa’s chest loosened. “You’re right. I’m focusing on the miserable part of this situation.”
“In your defense, this situation is exceptionally miserable, but we can turn this around, make this a new opportunity.” Lily glanced at the clock on the wall. “I need to get going.” She gulped down the rest of her coffee and placed the mug in the sink. “Don’t mope around all day, okay? It’s going to work out.”
“You sound like Mama,” Tessa said. “I don’t see why no one will let me feel sorry for myself.” She allowed a small smile to ghost across her lips.
Lily looked at an invisible watch on her arm and grinned. “You have exactly ten minutes to throw yourself the best pity party ever. Then go to the office and see what’s available on the market. I bet there’s something that’ll catch your eye.”
Tessa stood. “Thanks, Lily. I’d be lost without you.”
