Maggie clutched her cheeks and couldn’t help the smile stretching her mouth wide. “You think?”
“Oh, for sure. I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that.”
“How does he look at me?” Maggie sat on Grace’s couch.
“Like you’re the only two people in the world.” Grace collapsed into the other side of the couch. “I’d give anything for someone to look at me that way.”
Pretty sure someone already does, Maggie thought to herself. But she didn’t say anything. It wasn’t her place.
“I actually have to ask you something.”
Grace sat up at attention. “What’s up?”
“He asked me to the Spring Fling. Which means I need to go shopping.” Grace squealed again.
“Yes! Let me get out of these chef’s pants. We’re going to the mall.”
Maggie tilted her head in confusion. “A mall? Around here?”
Grace shrugged as she headed into her bedroom, leaving the door open. “It’s about an hour away. We’ll want to get some dinner while we’re out.”
“I work the breakfast shift tomorrow so we can’t stay out late.”
“No problem!” Grace emerged in a fresh outfit. “Do we need to stop by the Haven for anything?”
“Nope.” Maggie had all her cash with her, and she’d just paid Virgínia for that week’s stay. Hopefully she could find something in the clearance section. But either way, it would be fun. “Let’s go.”
Thedaysflewby.Maggie was making enough to start a savings account at the little Hawthorn Hills Bank where she’d set her new checking account up. Grace had become a great friend, plying her with treats so she could describe them for her social media posts. Tuesday nights had become game nights at Underhill, where Felix led their merry group through adventures. She’d bought her own set of dice from him last week, a beautiful yellow set with black numbers and a subtle shimmer.
Days turned warmer, and today she was waltzing down main street with Grace, who had convinced her to tell the other shop owners about her social media marketing business.
“Seriously, Anna has so much awesome stuff in her shop. My grandma used to drive for hours to go antiquing. I’m sure she can use your help.”
Grace held open the door to the brightly painted storefront with “Pandora’s Box” painted on the window in gold. Inside was an eclectic mix of furniture and knick-knacks, a glass-case counter brimming with old-fashioned jewelry, and aisles that went further back than Maggie had imagined.
“It’s bigger on the inside!”
A chuckle came from behind a beaded curtain. “That’s what they all say.” An older woman, around Edith’s age, emerged from the beads and clapped her hands. “Grace! How are you?”
“I’m wonderful, Anna. I want you to meet Maggie. She’s new to town, working at the diner and she’s doing my social media forme now.” Maggie blushed as Grace wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She’d actually spoken to Anna on her first day in town when she was trying to find work. “I’m trying to drum up more business for her.”
“Social media? I can see it working for a bakery, but for antiques?” Anna put her hands into the pockets of her bright green cardigan.
“People sell antiques online all the time. And I’m not suggesting you put up listings for everything, that’s a lot of work. But even just knowing there’s a store here, people would want to come out and shop.” Maggie tucked her hands behind her to keep her nerves from showing.
Anna hummed. “How’s it working out for you, Grace?”
“Great! I’ve been getting big orders for parties from as far away as Harrisburg.”
The three of them wandered the shop as they talked, Maggie explaining and showing Anna on her phone all the things she was doing for both Too Sweet and The Busy Bee. By the end, Grace had convinced Anna she could benefit from Maggie’s services and they agreed on a trial run.
Maggie also found an adorable pair of squirrel statues. One sat on a branch, and the other was eating a peanut. She paid Anna for them, who wrapped them up and put them in a bag. Such a silly thing, but they’d look adorable on the dresser in her room at the Haven.
“I’ll be interested to see what happens. Thanks for coming in, ladies.”
Their next stop was Brew-Ha’s, the purple painted coffee shop next door.
“Hey, Rosa!” Grace waved. “How’s it going?”
