“I’m good,” I lied. “Making casserole? You must be feeling pretty good.”
“Yep. I’m learning to balance, and I got my checkup. This cast is definitely coming off. I’ll be getting that walking boot, you’ll see.”
She was determined to get the walking boot at her six-week checkup, and given her dedication to following her doctor’s directions and keeping up with her strengthening and conditioning exercises, I didn’t doubt her.
“I’ve learned to do all my chopping and prep at the counter sitting down, and I can still do most everything on my own,” she was saying proudly, and I had to refocus to pay attention to what she was saying.
“I’m proud of you, Maggie. I know that you want to keep your independence.” We all knew that was important to her.
“Where’s that girl of yours at?”
The question was innocent enough, but I winced a little, and that was enough for Maggie to perk up. “She’s at the shop. I’m not sure …”
“Listen here.” She shook her finger at me. “That there is the perfect woman for you, Easton Holt. Don’t you let her run away from you. You hang onto her with both hands. You chase her if you need to. Don’t listen to your brother.”
My shoulders slumped a little. “I’m not sure if she feels the same way I do.”
She scoffed. “I’ve been around a little longer than you have. She feels just the same. I can tell by the way she looks at you. Maybe she’s a little gun-shy, but you need to keep showing up for her. Don’t let her fears or yours get in the way. She steps back, and you step forward.”
“Okay, Mags. You’re right.” I squared my shoulders.
I knew what my feelings were. They were strong and steady like a current in a river. If hers were the same, or even like the ones that eddied, swirling into each other and back again, then I could work with that. She could be my chance at a love like Levi and Maggie’s, and I wasn’t going to mess that up.
“I’m going to head to town. Check on Lila.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” Maggie shot me a wink.
By the time I got back to my truck, I looked toward the valley where her cottage sat, half rebuilt and empty for afew minutes before I started it up. Somewhere out there, Derek was walking around, just waiting to cause more trouble. It bugged the hell out of me that he was back in town. And then there was the issue of Lila’s father coming back into the picture. I was sure that bothered her, just as it would bother me if someone with no claim at all was making a move. They were getting closer. I could feel it.
And the worst part was knowing that no matter how ready I was to fight for her, she might not let me. Still, I wasn’t backing down. I climbed into the truck and dialed Wade. When he answered, I didn’t bother with hello. “We need to talk.”
39
Lila
The bell over the door sounded again, and the smell of rain drifted in with the morning rush. The shop was warm inside, and usually, the scents, the feel of the books, and the smell of brewing coffee would evoke nostalgic feelings in me. It would ease any nerves I had. But today, it only made me more jittery. Everything felt enclosed and tight. It was like I was trying to swim upstream or breathe through molasses.
It had only been two days since Derek showed up, and since I’d essentially blown up the best thing I’d had going for a long time.
Two days since I’d stood in my half-gutted kitchen, staring at the Holt who once grumped at me for wearing that dumb costume, and then teased me about it later. Two nights of pretending to sleep in Sage’s guest room while Itossed and turned, listening for some maniac outside my window, wondering if they were going to come and light her house on fire.
She and I had argued over my staying there. I was sure her brothers had words with her about it, too. In the end, it didn’t matter because East was always outside watching anyway. I should feel terrible, but all I could feel was absolute relief that he hadn’t given up.
Every sound in the dark — a car door, a dog barking down the street — sent my pulse hammering. Sage had said I could stay as long as I needed, and I believed her. But I hated the thought that she was in danger or that my little slice of heaven was no longer safe.
Mia caught me zoning out again behind the counter. “Hey.” She snapped her fingers, not unkindly. “Did you hear anything I said?”
“Sure,” I lied automatically, blinking hard. “Just thinking about the new display.”
I was completely off my game, and she knew it. I was running on absolute empty. Even my displays felt lackluster. Instead of a book about spies and Enigma machines, I should have picked a rom-com for this month, but no … I wanted an excuse to make more scones.
She followed my gaze to the window, where a vase of roses sat among Sage’s vintage bottles, the petals lush and pink against the colored glass of the staggered bottles behind them. Nestled between them, a little card readSome codes are meant to be broken.
Mia grinned. “The Rose Codeclues are killing them.You know that, right? Mrs. Callahan came in twice yesterday just to ‘check the flowers.’”
Every day I changed the message. If someone wrote it all down, they would probably catch on from the names for the drinks, the roses, and all the World War II clues.
“That’s the fun of it,” I said, voice steady enough to pass for normal. Normal. God, I wanted that back.
