The main trauma hospital is there, although we have a smaller urgent care facility here in the Hollow, along with a dentist office and the family doctor’s office.
As I reach the light, the white walking figure illuminates on the other side and I quickly cross the street, careful to make sure there aren’t any cars coming. Early in the morning like this, school is already in session and most work traffic has already traveled down the cobblestone streets. A chill runs through meas the cool breeze drifts across my face, carrying tendrils of my hair in front of my eyes.
Brushing them away, I tuck the stray hairs behind my ears and reach up to tighten the ponytail to keep my long hair back. My hands don’t even make it back down to my side as another cold breeze sweeps around me again, and I gather the collar of my hoodie up to cover my neck to block the wind.
I pass the coffee shop and come to the front of the vet office where I stop along the street, looking both ways before breaking out into a jog across the road to the hardware store. The metal handle is cool against my palm as I curl my fingers around it and pull against the weight of it. The hinges groan and the bell above dings as I duck inside.
The smell of lumber wraps itself around me and I roll my shoulders, the warmth inside the store enveloping me. I should get a small heater for the shop. It can come in handy when there’s paint that will need to dry. I tend to always be cold anyways, so it’s not like it will go to waste.
“Hey, Willow.”
Glancing over at the checkout counter, a smile tugs on my lips when I find a young woman standing on the other side. She tucks her hair behind her ears as I lift my hand to wave at a familiar face. “Bella! Hey!”
Bella Howard and I went to school together, although she was a year younger than me. Her father has owned Howard’s Hardware for as long as I can remember.
“How are you doing? I thought I heard whisperings of you being back in town.”
My eyes widen slightly and I shake my head. “I swear, word travels so fast around here.” I don’t know where the whisperings would have even come from. I’ve been back for two days and I haven’t really been in town for anyone to catch sight of me. I did stop by the bakery, so maybe Miss Maggie is the one who’s beengossiping. There’s no way it would have been Jace, since he just got back in town himself. “I’m good, though. How are you?”
“Can’t complain,” she says simply as she nods. “I just finished my teaching degree at the University of Portland. I’m on the waitlist for Sugar Hill Elementary and have been taking some substituting jobs in the meantime.” She pauses, shruggings her shoulders with a smile. “And I’ve been working for my dad until something more permanent comes up.”
“That’s amazing!” I say with excitement as I smile back brightly at her. “The world needs more teachers. You have always had the personality for being an elementary school teacher.”
“Thanks,” Bella says. “I’m really hopeful that I will find something within the next year or so.” The phone beside her begins to ring, interrupting our conversation. “I should take this, but if you need any help finding anything, just holler.”
It’s not a big store and I wander down the aisles until I find and collect the few things I need. My basket isn’t full, but the box with the space heater is tucked under my arm making for an awkward walk back to the front of the store.
“Do you need help?”
A soft laugh escapes me as I lean forward, attempting to put the space heater on the counter without dropping it. “No, I think I’m okay,” I say as I stand upright and lift the basket to set it down next to the box.
Bella grabs the items one by one, ringing each one up before setting them to the side. “Your total is $107.62,” she says after hitting the button for the total. “What kind of project are you working on?” she asks as she puts the cleaning supplies, putty, knife, and sander all in one bag.
Pulling some cash from my wallet, I hold it out to Bella. She takes it from me and punches a few keys before the cash register drawer pops open. “Fixing up the maple store.”
“I thought it closed?” Her eyebrows tug together as she counts out the change and hands it to me.
Did everyone know that it closed except me?
“Yeah, it did,” I say, dipping my chin as I tuck the change back into my wallet and slide it into the front pocket of my hoodie. “My brother’s didn’t have the time to manage it anymore but since I’m back in town, I’m going to fix it up and reopen it.”
She raises her eyebrows, another bright smile breaking out across her lips. “Oh, I love that! Give it a good rebrand and make it fresh.”
“Yes, exactly,” I say eagerly, nodding my head. Another customer comes up behind me with an arm full of tools. “I have until Harvest Fest, so hopefully it’s ready by then.”
“Well, if you need any help with anything, you know where to find me!”
“Thanks, Bella,” I say as I collect my bag and space heater, then step out of the way for the man behind me. “I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”
“Bye, Willow,” she says, giving me a wave as the man begins to set his things down on the counter.
I stop by the door and turn back to her, pressing my back into the door as I push it open. “Bye!”
A gust of cold air carries a whirlwind of crisp leaves scurrying across the ground as I step onto the sidewalk, letting the door slam shut behind me. Just as I turn to the left to head back to the shop, I collide with a solid warm body. The brown paper bag crushes against my side and I lose my grip on the box in my other arm.
It’s about to tumble onto the ground when a hand reaches out and catches it. Another hand wraps around my bicep, steadying me on my feet.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry,” I rush out, my eyes flashing up to the person I ran into. My breath hitches as I meet familiar green eyes. “Jace.”
