Hollowville was gorgeous.It was nice in the autumn but there was something about how the light of the end of spring sunshine made the small town, for lack of a better word, shine.
And Naomi loved everything about it: the outdoor cafés, the waterfront and even the smell of the restaurants and the bright window displays in the center of town.As she walked past the famous Caf and Nosh, Naomi saw a sign for a village-wide block party happening in a few weeks.
Being there with Jason was lovely; and yet the reason she was there was the first stop in salvaging this wedding.Which was probably the worst way to do this, but time was ticking and there was absolutely no room for error; she wasn’t going to chance an email or a phone call.
Judith’s wedding was at stake.
Of course, as she stopped outside the bookstore, her phone buzzed.
Expecting trouble, she took the phone out of her purse.It was Samuel.“Hello?”
Jason’s expression was concerned, but she smiled back at him and led him to a nearby bench.
“Hey,” said…Leah?!“Don’t hang up.”
Because, as she settled down on the bench, she wasn’t going to deny that her first impulse upon hearing her cousin’s voice was to smash the end button on the call with vim and vigor, before continuing on with her day.But Leah had gone as far as to call on Samuel’s phone so Naomi would actually take the time to answer.Leah deservedsomething.
Not much.
But something.
“Unless you have either important information or an apology,” Naomi said to her cousin, “I don’t want to talk to you.”
“I have important information,” Leah replied, “because it’s in my best interest to save my sister’s wedding.And you’ve already demonstrated you won’t listen to any apology I want to give you, so I’m going to run interference if anybody asks any other questions.”
“Good to hear.Now I’d like the information you said you have.”
Naomi could picture Leah’s nod after all this time; they’d grown up together.“Yes,” Leah said as Jason took Naomi’s hand.“Samuel called Tom, and he said that he’ll meet you two at the gallery at about six.I’ve got his number to give you.”
“Thank Samuel for me,” Naomi said, gesturing toward Jason excitedly.“And thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
And when she ended the call, she turned to Jason.
“We have an appointment,” she said excitedly.
He took her hand as she put the phone in her pocket.“Really?”he asked.
She nodded.“We do.Six.The gallery.”
“That’s amazing!”he said as he leaned over.
She tracked his movement, knew what was about to happen and cupped his cheek with her free hand.
And then, on a bench, in the middle of a Hollowville afternoon, she felt his lips meet hers and she fell into a kiss that made her feel like flying.
*
Breaking the kisswas the most difficult thing he’d ever done.But the reality was they were on Main Street in Hollowville, and even though his closest ties to Hollowville were out of town, he’d never underestimated the power of the small-town Jewish community gossip chain, no matter what state he lived in, and he wasn’t starting now.Especially when at least two Briarwood businesses, and their owners, had ties to Hollowville.
He wasn’t letting her out of his arms or his sight though; she’d come out of the kiss half dazed and beautiful.
But they were there for a reason, right?And he remembered her saying something important, something about an appointment?Which meant he had to clarify.Because what appointment?With whom?The photographer?The gallery owner?
Who.
And when was it?
