A couple emerged from the No Fail Diner, hand in hand, sending Olivia’s imagination soaring.Could that be her and Nash one day?
The couple smiled at her, and the man spoke.“Hello.Welcome to Phail.Are you Olivia?”
Olivia stepped backward as fear roared through her.Had Adam found her?How?Would these people snatch Ella from her on the street?She wrapped her arms around Ella and took another step backward.
The couple reacted instantly to her fear.They both held up their hands and he spoke again.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to sound like a creep.I’m Troy Phail and this is my wife, Piper.We’re friends of Jim and Carl.They mentioned you were in town exploring with your daughter.”
Heart pounding, Olivia didn’t know what to say.
Piper smiled at her.“I’m guessing you’re not from a small town.I found it so weird when I first arrived.How did all these strangers know my business?I promise, we’re not scary.”
Was this for real?
Troy looked at his wife with a soft smile that slowed Olivia’s heart rate.He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.“Best day of my life when you showed up.”
Aww.No one connected to Adam would talk like that.Or even be able to act like that.
Piper leaned up to kiss him softly.“Me too.”
Then they refocused on Olivia, and Piper smiled.“I’ve just recently opened Phail Central.It’s in the back room of Troy’s store, Phail General.We’ve got all kinds of incredible artisans in the area, and I’ve talked them into letting me showcase their creations.When you have a minute, I hope you’ll pop in.I could use some input from someone who isn’t a local.I want to see how a tourist reacts to the store.”
A woman approached and smiled at the group.“Hi everyone.Excuse me for interrupting, but I’ve got a birthday party emergency.Troy, if you don’t have birthday candles in stock, I’m going to be a failure at being a grandma.”
Troy grinned.“We’ve got you covered, Janine.Have you met Olivia yet?She and her daughter are in town for a few days at least.”
The woman, with a golden retriever on a leash, couldn’t have been more normal, and Olivia let go of the last of her nerves.Her paranoia wasn’t going to rob Ella of another fun experience.
Janine smiled.“Hi there, Olivia.And hello, cutie.”The woman poked Ella gently in the belly and brought on giggles.“This is my dog, Potato.Do you like dogs?”
Ella clapped her hands, and Olivia smiled.They hadn’t been around many dogs, but Ella hadn’t been afraid.This gentle retriever made her smile.Only in a town named Phail would a dog be named Potato.
After patting the dog, she followed the group into the store.A teen worked at the register and grinned.“Hey, everyone.See, Troy, the store didn’t burn down or anything.You were brilliant to leave me in charge.”
Smiling, Olivia shoved her fears away and followed Piper through the store.A sign decorated with a cartoon firefly and fox had her smiling.
Piper pointed.“I don’t know if you know Paxi, the comic strip artist, but she now lives in Phail.She created Fancy the Firefly and Phil Phail the Fox for our town mascots.”
Olivia didn’t know the comic artist, but she’d look her up soon.Her art was amazing.
The walls were covered in art of all kinds.Paintings, sketches, decorations.They had her craving a home of her own so she could decorate it.
Handmade moccasins had Ella squealing with delight as she touched the brushed leather and soft fur.
There were books on display as well—baby board books showcasing the Ojibwe language and novels by A.Migizi.“This is one of my favorite authors.I adore her books.”She didn’t say it out loud, but Binesi and Ziigwan had inspired some of her own characters.Their fierce bravery and love for adventure were exactly the qualities she wanted Lelja and the others to have.
Piper grinned.“Addy lives in a farmhouse just on the edge of town.She’s one of the sweetest people I know, and she absolutely hates being in the limelight.”
That sounded familiar.Olivia wondered if the woman also had reasons to be more comfortable in the shadows.It would be amazing to meet one of her favorite authors.Maybe one day, she could even share that she was an author herself.
In the end, Olivia couldn’t resist buying one of the board books for Ella along with a pair of tiny moccasins and a t-shirt featuring Fancy the Firefly telling the world toCome to Phail to succeed.It was a message Olivia hoped would work for her.Could she truly find her place in this town?
Another t-shirt showed Phil Phail the Fox showing off his muscles.Phail’s Super Hero at your service.Olivia laughed at the captions and picked through them for a Charlie-appropriate size.She hoped they’d text her and she’d see him and his dad again.This would be a small thing to thank them for their kindness the previous day.
When she brought the items to the counter to pay, Piper grinned.“That’s my favorite slogan.Might be a little big for Ella though.”
“It’s for a boy we met yesterday in town.He was so kind to Ella and I’d like to thank him.”
Piper’s eyebrows shot up.“Was it Charlie?I didn’t get a chance to meet him yet.”
