It’s good. We’re planning to fly out to Paris next week for the shoot. What an adventure! Can’t wait. I’m only sad you can’t be with us.
Willow glanced around the empty parking lot. A cool spring breeze rippled past her, and a few dustings of blossoms drifted by her feet. In the foreground, the mountains stood like ghostly giants – strong and protective and forever watching over. It wasn’t a tourist spot by any means. Honey Springs was little known, cozy and virtually undiscovered.
Willow smiled as she pushed her phone back in her pocket. It might not be the glam city lights of Paris, but she really was just as happy to be here.
For a second, her gaze swept back to The Diner. The little sign outside, displaying the main menu, was swinging listlessly to and fro. The curtains were fully pulled back, but the place still looked dark, almost a little lost. She swore it had been brighter once; it had almost sparkled. Why was that? Was the music louder? The lighting better? Or was it something else – something far more fundamental?
Willow hugged her arms around herself and made her way back out, towards the town. There was so much she needed to do – she couldn’t afford to stop and reminisce now.
She headed off into the main part of town instead, deciding to get some groceries for the cabin. Jenn had left her some provisions but there was still quite a lot she needed.It was strange to be walking down these same streets again, the ones she had run along as a child.
Except Martha wasn’t here. Or Mel. Those missing people were like pieces absent from a jigsaw puzzle. The picture wasn’t quite complete. It didn’t quite seem right.
Willow drew a shaky breath. She knew she had to get used to this. Part of the reason she had avoided Honey Springs for so long was because she didn’t want to see it without her grandma. She knew she had to embrace this new chapter. Lucas had been right about what he said yesterday. Grandma was still there with her – stepping in time with her and squeezing her hand in encouragement. Honey Springs would always carry her memories like drifting clouds.
It was going to get easier. It had to.
And now she was at the main shops – the grocery store, the local post office, the bookstore and gaming place on the corner where she used to go regularly as a young teen. The church and town hall had been so important to her grandma, who had always been the hub of the community, especially when she was in good health. At the end of the road was the Watering Hole, which was always out of bounds when she was younger and lived here, but now seemed like a sweet and quaint place to go and have a little wine.
Perhaps it was possible that Honey Springs was even better suited to her now.
Smiling once again, Willow stepped into the local store, greeted by the loud bell that jangled brightly on the door, almost welcoming her in.
The store had barely changed at all in the years Willow had been away. It was still a relatively small space, rammed with cluttered and overspilling shelves and tiny littledusty nooks and cubby holes. The smell was immediately comforting – a mixture of spices, cinnamon and cocoa.
Willow grabbed a little basket and made her choices quickly, trying not to be overwhelmed by the clutter around her. She picked the few things she knew she desperately needed – fruit, her favorite cereal, milk, some bagels. A radio was playing some old sixties track that Willow vaguely knew and a very out-of-tune voice was singing softly along with it.
When Willow lived here before this store had been owned by the Grangers – an elderly couple who often visited her grandma. Willow knew that they were no longer alive. They certainly never had music playing, or a sing-along happening at the same time.
She rounded the corner and saw that there was a tall, skinny woman sitting at the counter. She had bright blonde hair pulled into bunches and was wearing the most colorful overalls Willow had ever seen. She looked like she had just walked out of teaching kindergarten rather than working in a store. Willow wasn’t very good with ages, but as the woman beamed in her direction, she guessed she was only a year or so older than her.
‘Hi,’ she said. Her voice had a sunny lilt to it. ‘I’m Rachel Granger. I swear I recognize you!’
Willow squinted. Of course! Rachel. She had forgotten she was working here now. ‘Rachel? You look so different!’
Rachel giggled. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment. I guess I was a little heavier in high school and always hanging around The Diner like a lost soul. You were there too, weren’t you? Oh my God! You used to be with that really popular kid – what was his name again …’
‘Jake,’ Willow finished for her. She was used to everyoneremembering Jake. He was the star football player and the one everyone wanted to know in school. He had also always been the loudest in the room. She placed her basket on top of the counter. ‘Do you run this place now?’
‘Not exactly. My mom took over when my grandparents died, but she likes to spend time doing other stuff. I work here part time while I write my book.’
‘You’re a writer? That’s cool.’
‘I write romance,’ Rachel said, pulling her basket towards her. ‘I know – it’s a bit cliché of me. I was always the one searching for love after all, but I figured I’m pretty good at writing about it.’
‘I’d love to read your stuff some time.’
‘Really?’ Rachel’s cheeks bloomed red. ‘I could use a little input, I guess. I’m not exactly that experienced on the love front, if you know what I mean, but I’m thinking someone like you would have a lot to say on the subject.’
Willow fiddled with her jacket, not really sure what to say to that. She knew she had been lucky to meet Jake so young and fall in love, but she wasn’t sure that made her an expert. If anything, only having one real lover in her life made her anything but – however, this was not something she was going to announce to Rachel.
Rachel seemed completely oblivious to the mood switch and began to swipe the barcodes on her screen. ‘It’s good you’re back. A short visit?’
‘No, actually, I’m planning to stay longer. I’m opening a matcha van by The Diner.’
‘Oh really?’ Rachel paused, still holding her bag of apples. ‘What did Lucas make of that?’
‘Lucas? Nothing really …’ Willow shook her head. ‘He didn’t seem to be that interested if I’m honest.’
