“I think so,” she said. “I like it there.”
Cassidy shrugged. “I leave for school on Monday and can’t wait. I don’t think I’ll come back next summer, either. I want togo to New York City. I want excitement. I want a hot man with big hands, you know?” She giggled. “What about you? It’s been weeks since Gus left.”
Luckily, she was saved from answering when Samantha and Hal rolled up with extra supplies. They’d been doing brisk business since eleven o’clock.
“Nora and Paul will be here to take over at four.” Samantha redid her ponytail. “Do you have your cell phone on you?”
“Always,” Cassidy replied.
“I meant Faith.”
“Oh, no. Sorry it was dead this morning and I forgot it on the charger.” She frowned. “Did you need something?”
“Just that Candy called me. She’d been trying to get a hold of you. She had a bit of an issue and is at the hospital, but Taco should be fine on his own for a bit.”
“Oh my God. Is she okay?”
“I think so,” Samantha replied. “Something to do with her heart but she expects to be home later tonight at the earliest. Maybe tomorrow.” Samantha eyed the crowds. “I don’t think they’re going to let up. Why don’t you take off now? Go home and get Taco. I’ll stay with Cassidy until the other two show up.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.” The woman smiled and pulled on an apron. “Besides. You look a little pale.”
“Her stomach is off.” Cassidy volunteered.
“Go then. I’ll see you later.”
Faith grabbed her bag and a bottle of water. She felt terrible about Candy but wasn’t overly concerned for Taco. The dog was used to Candy’s place and was probably sleeping on the large dog bed her landlord had bought the first week she’d been in Fire Lake.
She walked through the carnival and was almost clear of it when she spied Ford and Benjamin. The boy was clearly begginghis father for a piece of cotton candy, and Ford was not giving in. She almost walked over to say hello but felt funny knowing the private things she knew. Instead, she turned the other way and took a different street that led up to the other side of Main. From there, she made her way leisurely to Cedar. Each step that brought her closer to Lawson House was weighted down with memories.
How was it possible to have made so many in such a short time?
She allowed herself to think of his name just this once, and to wonder where he was, what he was doing, who he was doing what with.
Still worried sick over Candy in the hospital and feeling more than a little sorry for herself, she trudged up the steps and into the house. It was cool and dark with the blinds drawn. Carefully, she made her way to Candy’s apartment and grabbed the key from under the bowl on the table in the hall. She let herself inside and Taco greeted her with a wagging tail and kisses. She took him outside, and after he was done sniffing and doing his duties, she headed back inside and climbed the stairs to her apartment.
As always, the sight of Gus’s door brought with it the kind of pain that made her want to stay in bed all day and cry and eat marshmallows and candy and watchGilmore Girlson repeat. She gave in to those feelings for a couple of seconds and then walked into her apartment. While Taco ran for his water bowl, she went to her bathroom and splashed cold water on her face as she gazed into the mirror.
The image that stared back at her looked tired. There were blue smudges beneath her eyes, and her skin didn’t glow like it should. Maybe she was coming down with the flu. Or maybe she was just sad.
She let her hair down and changed into a simple sundress. No way was she going to stay home and wallow in self-pity. She was better than that.
Faith took exactly two steps out of her bedroom before she remembered her cell phone. She scooped it from the table beside her bed and headed to the living room. Her plan was to fill her water bottle, eat some crackers or something to settle her stomach and go back to the carnival.
She was in the process of filling up her bottle when her cell phone pinged. And pinged. And then pinged some more.
She set the bottle on the counter and grabbed the phone. The messages were from Candy. There was another from Samantha. But it was the next name that made her stomach roll so badly that she thought she was going to be sick.Gus.She saw that he’d messaged her earlier and it was only coming through now.
I’m coming home.
Oh God. Her heart leaped into her mouth, and she had to sit down because her legs were limp, like her muscles had gone to mush. Her fingers were numb as she rolled over the screen and bit her lip.
It was then that she noticed the three little dots that meant he was typing. She held the phone so tightly her fingers ached and never took her eyes off the device. Heck, she didn’t think she blinked. Or took a breath.
Where are you?
Nervous, she couldn’t make her fingers do what her brain wanted them to do, and it took nearly a minute for her to send a simple answer.
