“Hi, I’m Stella.” I reached across the counter to shake his hand, and the comfort of his soft wrinkly hand in mine remindedme of how I had held my own grandfather’s hand all those years ago. Pain and grief were prominent feelings in this moment, but they also didn’t take away from the joy I felt meeting this man.
“She’s just moved here,” Melody explained. “So, of course, I had to bring her over to Liv’s!”
It was the second time that morning I hadn’t been able to admit I wasn’t planning on staying. But maybe that’s because I no longer wanted to run.
“She’ll be happy to see you. Go ahead and head on back.”
“Thanks, Teddy.” Melody waved, and once again picked up the crates of baking, motioning for me to grab the carafe as we headed toward the rows of PO boxes that made up the bulk of the post office.
“Okay, what are we doing with all this stuff?” I asked Melody, unable to hide my confusion any longer.
“Just wait and you’ll see right away.” Melody laughed as she went up to a row of mailboxes at the back of the post office that looked identical to all the others.
On second glance, this set was a little different. The divisions between the mailboxes didn’t look quite as deep and defined as all the others, and I understood why as Melody reached for the large dial on the left mailbox, turning and pulling to open into adoorway,instead of just one singular mailbox.
“Welcome to The Warm Hug.”
Walking into the speakeasy bookstore wasexactlylike walking into the embrace of a warm hug.
It was small and quaint, like everything else in this town, but absolutely stunning. The back walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves full of books, with themed display tables scattered throughout. The room was lit by low hanging chandeliers and vintage swag lamps casting a beautiful glow that reminded me of the cozy atmosphere of the bed and breakfast.
And it was a lot busier than I expected for such a hidden gem. There was a couple browsing the books on the back shelves, and a few others scattered throughout in oversized chairs reading their books. At the front counter was a bakery display case and another large carafe of coffee that I assumed was empty, and the one I was holding was meant to replace. This looked like a place I could get used to.
“Hey, you must be Stella. Melody told me about you. Thanks for bringing this over,” said a gorgeous curvy blonde with short curly hair that bounced as she walked up to me. She took the carafe from me and placed it on a counter next to Melody as sherestocked the baked goods. “I’m Olivia. How are you liking Love so far?”
I was pretty sure her name should have been Joy for how much of it she exuded. Everything from her smile to her delicately patterned yellow dress with a bold pink cardigan screamed happiness.
“I love it, actually. Everyone here is so kind, and it’s been a nice change of pace from the busy atmosphere of Salt Lake City.”
The girls’ faces brightened as they looked at each other and then back at me. “It may be a slow pace now because everyone is busy with harvest, but just you wait until that snow starts to fly. That’s when the parties really start in Love,” Melody explained, and Olivia nodded beside her knowingly.
“Ooh, yes! You’ll have to see the way Love decorates for Christmas. We have the best light displays, and Grandpa Teddy plays a Santa Claus for the kids that rivals the real one, I swear.”
I could picture it in my mind, Teddy with his round red cheeks and button nose would make theperfectSanta in this idyllic town. It was only the end of August now, though, would I still be here when it was Christmas time? I suppose I was in control of my own life now and could decide that for myself.
“Come on, I’ve saved us a spot here so I can watch the till,” Olivia said as we each filled up a coffee cup and grabbed a muffin before heading to the table.
Olivia’s bright skirts flowed and bounced with her curly hair as she led the way. I could see why her and Melody were such great friends. They both had such a warm, welcoming, positive and bubbly personality, like one in the same.
It hit me then, the way they were including me was something I had only ever wished for when I was in Salt Lake City. I had friends when Nick and I first started dating, but he slowly ostracized me from everyone, convincing me that his high-class group of friendswould be a better fit for our relationship and our goals. It seemed like the right idea at first, until I realized I had burned the bridges with all the people who actually cared about me and had no one standing in my corner when the abuse started. Melody and Olivia symbolized everything I could have ever wanted and needed in girlfriends.
I was just starting to involve myself in their casual conversation about a new book that released that week, when a flurry of notification dings started blaring from my bag. It shocked me that, in just two days, I had basically forgotten about my cell phone, but in this moment, it was making its presence known. I must have gotten a bar of service in the bookstore and all the messages I had missed in the last few days were flooding through.
I fished my phone out of my bag to silence the notifications that continued their onslaught against the quiet space and instantly felt nausea rise when I saw the screen. There were twenty-three missed calls and seventeen messages and countingfrom an unknown number, but it was obviously Nick.
Unknown
Where the fuck are you?
You think you can just leave in the middle of the night like that?
You already know you are nothing without me. What do you think you’re doing?
Ha. You took our car, you really think I can’t find where you’re going?
You stupid bitch, answer your fucking phone and deal with this mess you have caused. Do you even realize how this shit you pulled makes me look?
Come back, baby. Did you like the gift I sent you?
