“I hope she has some good coffee at that shop because I will be there every day.”
“Yeah, she will. She’s going to have her bakery on the small storefront side, and her friend is managing the distillery on the back.”
“An odd little mash-up,” Zane comments.
Henry shakes his head. “They have two separate buildings, two separate entrances. I guess Magnolia will help her friend with the actual distilling process, and her friend will handle the distribution and retail at the distillery. Magnolia will also run her bakery during the day.”
“This ought to be interesting,” Zane says as he grabs a pair of vise grips from the shelf and sets them on the counter. He pulls out his card again to purchase them.
“Don’t you already have some?” I ask, pointing at the tool.
Zane raises his eyebrows. “I did…until somebody walked off with them.”
Pressing my lips together, I do my best to give him a somber nod. “You can’t trust anybody these days.”
After Henry rings up the purchase, he glances at the antler clock on the wall. “If you guys stick around, they’re supposed to be here any minute.”
As if on cue, the door chimes, and we all pivot to stare at Nash and Magnolia as they walk in. Magnolia’s light blonde hair falls around her shoulders in soft curls. She’s wearing paper-bag waist pants paired with pink high heels. She always looks so perfectly put together.
I brush at the dust on my work jeans, hoping it won’t be so noticeable. But while I’m brushing, I notice the dirt ingrained in the calluses in my hands. I won’t be able to get it off until I soak in the shower tonight.
“Well, that’s excellent timing,” I mutter to Zane.
“Hello,” Magnolia greets us with a warm smile and a little wave. Nash is right behind her, his hand resting against her back as they walk in.
I haven’t seen Magnolia in a month. I forgot how much I like her.
They’ve been coming out here to Pine Ridge regularly, prepping for their move, and I’ve gotten to know her a little bit. She seems so nice and fun, and I’m so glad Zane didn’t fall madly in love with her because she’s one of those people I could see everyone tripping over. I don’t mean that in a jealous way, just in a practical way. She doesn’t know a stranger and has treated me like a friend every time I’ve been around her. She has that kind of energy around her that immediately makes you feel welcome.
“Is this the official move-in week?” I ask.
“Yes! And I’m so ready to be here,” Magnolia exclaims as she reaches for me to give me a hug.
I hold up a hand to stop her. “I am so dirty and disgusting from work today.”
She laughs. “I don’t care about that!” And then she gives me a big bear hug, as if we’re long-lost friends, and I like it. I like to feel like I have a friend.
I don’t have a lot of those out here. All five of my high school friends moved away. While I still hear occasional life updates from them, including their wedding invitations and baby announcements, I’m still here in Pine Ridge.Alone.I don’t begrudge them leaving—there aren’t a lot of opportunities to make a living in Pine Ridge. I just miss them and the friendships we had.
“It’s so good to see you. I’m so excited to be here. We are here permanently!” she says as she steps back with a big smile on her face.
“We’re moving into the lodge this weekend,” Nash says as he shakes Zane’s hand. “It has been an ordeal.”
“I would’ve come and helped you,” Zane tells him.
Nash shakes his head. “It’s not the amount of stuff we had to move. The whole family isn’t thrilled with the situation, and Grandpa has been wanting to move out here with us, but his doctors want to keep a close eye on him for a little bit longer before he does that. So, we had to get him all set up with his next round of doctors’ appointments before the move.”
Magnolia looks around the store. “The lodge is completely empty. I came here to buy some coffee beans and a few groceries for the weekend. Should I shop now, Henry, or after I look at the building?”
“Either way is fine,” he assures her.
“When do you start on your bakery?” I ask before she disappears down an aisle.
“Charlie’s already been working on the interior for me, and we’re waiting on some county inspections to do the next phase,but she thinks it will be ready to go in about a month, which I’m excited about.”
“Please tell me you’re going to have a good coffee machine in there,” I say to her, clutching my hands together in a begging gesture.
She laughs. “Of course. I’ll have an espresso machine and some French press coffee.”
