I can seeMallory’s body tense as she answers the phone. I try to focus on what Charlotte is saying, but I can’t help the worry that is rolling in like a thick fog.
“I’m glad you had a good time Char,” I see Mallory end her call. “Let me go thank Mallory sweet pea,” I have Charlotte sit down so I can walk over and chat privately with Mallory.
As I approach her, I hear her say “California, I can do that.” and my brain latches on to those quiet words. If she’s willing to move to California, how is Montana any different? I give it a moment and then tap her shoulder.
“Hey Jake, I’m glad you haven’t left yet. I wanted to say goodbye to Charlotte. I figure I won’t see you two as much the rest of the week.” She reaches up and tightens her hair tie on her ponytail.
“Sounds good, I wanted to check in,” I shift my weight side to side, “make sure you were okay.”
She offers me a small smile, “I’m great thanks.” She brushes past me to go give Charlotte a hug. “Now you understand I live in Canada, and I have to go home soon.” Charlotte’s little head bobbles a yes. “I’ve had a lot of fun being your friend, and I wish I could stay but I have my own home to get to.”
“Okay,” Charlotte nods but I’m not sure she’s grasping that this is potentially the final goodbye for them.
“Okay, be good for your dad, no paint handprints on purpose, ‘kay kiddo.” She points to her side and I see a small pink handprint.
“Promise,” Charlotte giggles as they do a little pinky promise.
“See you around,” she looks at me with those striking blue eyes. I wish this wasn’t a goodbye.
“See you around,” I reply. We don’t hug or shake hands or anything. She grabs her coat, puts it on, and leaves the bakery. I never thought I’d let another woman break my heart. But I think this time it’s a little different. Maybe Mallory took a piece of it with her.
Dylan comes from the back to ask me about tomorrow’s delivery route. We have racked up a ton of last-minute orders that need to get out before Valentine’s Day on Friday.
“Do you think that if someone was moving to a new place, they’d be open to moving somewhere else?” He looks at me like I’m speaking a different language.
“Are you talking about Mallory? Is she moving to the states?” he asks.
“I heard her say something about moving to California. I assume that it’s job related but I didn’t ask.” I stuff my hands in my jean pockets.
“If it’s for a job then it’s a tough situation. She can’t find that kind of work here in Valentine. Montana isn’t exactly a fashion capital. But from chatting with her, she’s done a lot career wise. I get the feeling that if it was a strong contender, then she’d consider it,” he taps his pen on the counter.
“Could you help me with something big? Outside of work” I add at the end.
His lips purse together, “I don’t want to see you get your heart broken.” Dylan was one of the only people who knewme around the big breakup. The struggle of raising a baby and working full time. “But,” a slow smile forms, “if you think this is it, then let’s do it.”
I quickly explain my big idea – get Mallory to fall in love with Valentine. Everything from the people to the food. Show her around, let the townspeople be their friendly selves, show her the town outside of the festival. And then at the end take her to the old realtor’s office that has been for sale for a year. The available bit is attached to other shops. It’s all one big brick building divided into several businesses. But the building is structured so that the first floor is all businesses and the second floor is apartments with an entrance behind the building.
I tell Dylan I’ll call the realtor and get the go ahead to move to the next part of my plan. I ask Dylan to collect some items he may have at his own art studio and prep the office. If he can set it up to show what sort of studio, she could have in the empty space then maybe it’ll be just like a clean slate. Ready for her to make her dream come true, create her own design company.
All I need is an opportunity.
If she lives and works in town then we can get this a real shot. Dylan agrees to help me and says he’ll make sure it’s ready. But reminds me I have a busy day tomorrow so I should head out now and start on my grand gesture.
I find Charlotte in my chair drawing with crayons. We always keep kids’ stuff on hand in the bakery. Everyone here has been in a pinch and needed to have their kid at work with them. We’re one big, chosen family.
“Hey Char,” she looks up at me, “want to help me with something secret?”
“Yes,” she nods her head several times.
I don’t tell her everything, but if I’m going to win Mallory over then I need to explain why she’s going to have a babysitter on Friday. I tell her I want to take Mallory around town but it’sgoing to be too cold for little kids. She needs to stay inside where it’s warm and there’s hot chocolate. This seems to win her over and she’s fine with the lack of our regular Friday movie night.
We head home and I start to make a list of everything I need and who all I need to contact. If I can show her all the possibilities of the town, then there’s a slim chance she’ll choose Valentine, Montana.
And if she happens to also choose me, then my heart may just be whole once more.
Chapter 11
Mallory
