I’ll give myself the night to think through this, the best approach, and arrange a few things.
I’ll surprise her whether she wants me to or not.
Probably not right now.
But I’ll change her mind.
Even though I’maware that there are only so many roads in this county, and I don’t need the GPS, the lack of GPS is frustrating. It keeps telling me I’m on Country Road One when I’m positive it’s two. When I see the barn up ahead, with a sign for a large antique store, I decide to stop. Julian Haven doesn’t get nerves, but right now, apparently, I was wrong. Maybe I’m buying myself a few extra minutes before I just show up in front of Savannah.
Turning off and pulling up to the gravel parking lot, I notice two other cars.When I get out of my car, I slide off my sunglasses and look out to the other side of the road, where I see more cornfields, the sky clear and sunny.
Maybe I feel out of place, with my expensive car andcrisp dark shirt, my sleeves rolled up, but I remember that Lake Spark is in the other direction, which is the town of luxury and hockey. Everhope is this way, which is by no means struggling either, with a few undercover millionaires.
Walking into the store, setting off the bell hanging over the door, I smell old wood and see everything from old furniture to knick-knacks.
The older man behind the counter, with his hands set on his glass counter, notices me. “Hello there, sir.”
“Hello.” I approach him and notice a woman in one corner examining old plates and the modest couple with a bonnet on her head, setting down a rocking chair that seems to be the man’s recent craftsmanship yet suits the store. My eyes swing to focus on the store owner. “Crazy question, but I’m trying to get to Everhope, and the GPS seems to be throwing me off.”
He chuckles at me. “You’re not the first. Those things haven’t been updated. They redrew the lines. Half a mile more, and you’ll see the sign that points you in the right direction. What’s sending you that way?”
“A problem. I mean, something I need to fix. My girlfriend isn’t too pleased with me right now. I’m not sure she even wants that title anymore, so I’m going to have to go out. I would say getting us a room at the inn and locking the door all weeke—” In the corner of my eye, I see the couple quietly listening with a neutral look. “I…” It drags out of my mouth. “I mean, communicating with the woman that I’m courting in a very appropriate way, with the door unlocked and discussing the pie competition because we are obviously waiting for our wedding night to use the key.” I cover my almost slip of inappropriate proclamation of being locked in a bedroom all weekend, doing very indecent things.
The woman in the other corner turns slightly and looks at me strangely, and the room falls into an awkward silence.
The man behind the counter clears his throat. “No need for that,” he quietly advises me.
I shrug. “I don’t know. I’m from the city.”
“Since you’re heading that way, who are you seeing? We all know one another.”
“Savannah May.”
He steps back. “Really? Well, that is handy.”
“Why?”
He turns around, walks a few steps, and searches the counter. When he spots the package he needs, he picks it up and returns to me. “You can take this with you. She must have forgotten to pick it up.” He sets the box down.
“She was here?” That surprises me.
“Yeah. Twice. Once to pick up an old pack of cards and the other time to ask if I could find someone who she could order another pack of cards from.”
My eyes narrow and zone in on the box. “As in playing cards?”
“Yes, sir. Not every day that I have someone requesting that. Actually, never. By chance, I had some on hand the first time, and last time she asked for something special. Nothing in particular, only that it should be unusual and would make someone smile. She was over the moon when a contact up in Geneva had a pack supposedly from the 20s and Al Capone’s circle. I thought she would pick them up when she was back in town.”
My heart is getting poked. They’re for me. She did this for me. Because she possesses every little way to make me happy, I can’t let this be the end of us. I won’t let it be. She’ll crack her resolve, I’ll make it happen.
I pick up the small package. “I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“Thank you.I don’t like having things lying around.”
“I don’t like having things unsettled, so perhaps we’re alike. Anyhow, I have to get going. Thanks for this.” I hold up the box.
When I’m back in my car, I press the button to have the top down. The breeze will be good for me, and maybe I have a little confidence boost with the knowledge that Savannah did this for me.On a mission, I rev the engine, and when I’m back on the road, my tires screech as I pick up speed.
After checkingin at the inn, I decide my best bet is to walk around town. I could show up at Aunt Bea’s house, but that feels a little daunting, and I’m not sure her aunt would appreciate the effort. After all, I’m the guy who is ruining her business and breaking her niece’s heart.But it’s a beautiful day, and I’m taking my chances that Savannah might be somewhere on Main Street. It’s near lunchtime, so she could be at the Riverbell or grabbing something from Foxy Rox.The Riverbell most definitely isn’t an option to check out, as stepping anywhere in that radius would have me slaughtered, most likely.
