“Thank you. I don’t know how I would manage without you all,” I say, looking around the room.
We spend the rest of the evening catching up on each other’s lives. Claire shares funny stories about five-year-old Ben. Megan talks about her part-time job at the bookstore and her recent encounter with Brian Marshal. I can’t stand him. You would think he would be less likely to involve himself in town gossip as he ages, but if anything, he has gotten worse. Beck told us about the tattoo she completed on a cute tourist. He asked for her number, but she declined. April was more than happy to flirt with him as he paid, though. Beck is careful not to mention anything more about Logan.
Unfortunately, that man and everything we went through lingers at the front of my mind long after our friends leave and we head to bed.
Chapter Eighteen
After leaving Morgan happily sitting on the sidewalk, beside yellow and orange potted mums, I pull the door open to Maggie’s. I hear the familiar jingle of the bell at the same time as the aroma of fresh baking hits me. God, I have missed this place. When I was growing up, my mom brought me here every Saturday morning to pick out a treat after soccer. As I got older, and had my own money, I became a regular. I even had a job washing dishes here when I was in my early teens.
“Logan,” Maggie calls out a greeting, “a little bird told me you were home. It’s so nice to see you.”
Laughing, I ask, “Oh yeah? Who’s your little bird? Have you been listening to town gossip, Maggie?”
“No, silly boy,” she laughs, “my niece Beck told me yesterday when she came to pick up supplies to take to Hannah’s cabin.”
Hannah’s cabin? Riot never mentioned that Hannah lives at the lake now. I’m happy for her, she loves it there.
The longer I’m back in town, the more I realize that Riot has kept a details from me. I’m not mad, I put him in a difficult position. He is Hannah’s friend too, and he has kept my confidence for years. She deserves privacy, but I still have questions.
Wait. Beck is Maggie’s niece? I didn’t even know Maggie had a niece. As I mull over this new information, I hear Maggie greeting a new customer.
“Good morning, sweetie. Are you on your way into work?”
I turn to see who she is talking to, and I feel my breath hitch. I didn’t expect to see Hannah again so quickly, but I’m glad I am here.
She’s wearing a simple blue wrap dress that stretches over all the right places. She has on black strappy sandals, and her toes are painted the same colour as her dress. Her curls are down, but the elastic band around her wrist tells me they won’t be for long. It’s all I can do not to stare.
“Good morning, Maggie. Umm yeah. I’m running behind.” She pauses, purposely not making eye contact with me. “Book Club ran late last night.”
Maggie giggles, actually giggles. “Ohhhh, are you reading something good?”
“Nah, I don’t recommend it at all.” She scowls, shaking her head. “Worst book I have ever read.”
“So, it’s not a love story. Will there be a happily ever after?”
“What? No. Absolutely not.” Her eyes widen as she shakes her head. “More like a mystery? Maybe a horror story?”
How does she not know what kind of book they are reading I wonder.
“Interesting. You will have to fill me in later,” she says with a wink.
Maggie turns back to me. “What can I get you, Logan?”
“Large coffee double, double, chocolate milk, and a chocolate chip muffin to go please.”
Hannah snorts. It’s the only acknowledgement that I’m standing here that she’s given since she arrived.
“What?” I raise my eyebrow and ask, happy to have her attention.
Any attention is better than no attention, am I right?
“You have been ordering the same thing for 20 years.” She scoffs, not meeting my eyes.
“So? I like what I like. Plus, I wasn’t ordering coffee when I was ten.”
“Hannah, correct me if I’m wrong, but do you not have that exact order at least weekly?” Maggie interjects as she straightens the already organized counter.
“I do not!” Hannah blushes wide eyed looking from me to Maggie and back again.
