Page 10 of Room for Us
Zero.
While every day, I see more evidence of the spring tourist season ramping up. Hikers, mountain bikers, and fly fisherman join the usual smattering of adventurous families. Rental cars clog Main Street during business hours. While I was happy to see Annie’s Pie Shoppe rocking a full house when I walked by this morning, I’m also bitter. Very bitter. None of these people are staying at my inn.
The cherry on my misshapen life-cake? One of the biggest events of the year, the Sun River Film Festival, is happening next month, and I know for a fact people are looking for accommodations.
“Hey, Zoey! Slow down, will you?”
Unfortunately, there’s a distinct line between Oh, I didn’t hear you and I’m ignoring you. Admitting defeat, I park my cart and turn with an overly wide smile.
“Oh my gosh, hi, Celeste!” Fake laugh. “I was lost in my own head and didn’t hear you!”
Celeste puffs for air, out of breath after chasing me for three aisles with a full cart. There’s a boy, maybe six or seven, loitering behind her, his face glued to a comic book.
And now I feel bad.
“Hey. Whew.” Her blue eyes are bright with curiosity beneath blond curls. She looks exactly the same as she did in high school—an effortless beauty queen. “I’ve been trying to catch you around town, but you always disappear!”
“Crazy! Well, it’s great to see you, but I—”
“How are you?” she interrupts, her tone so earnest I’d love to bottle it and sell it to the Hallmark Channel.
“I’m fantastic,” I lie. “Really feel like I dodged a bullet getting out of my marriage when I did. Happy to be home.”
Celeste nods, and nods some more, and we both know I’m full of shit, but she’s too decent to call me on it.
“I miss Aunt B, of course. I wish I could have spent more time with her.” The second I say the words, I wish I hadn’t. Celeste’s eyes mist with sympathy, and she reaches out to touch my arm.
“She talked about you all the time, you know.”
My brows lift in disbelief. “You spent time with Aunt B?”
She nods even more enthusiastically. “We were in Bridge club together, and book club, and she was a part of our weekly flower program, too. Barb was a peach and we all miss her.”
Ahhhhhhh, that’s right. Back when we were kids, Celeste’s parents owned Main Street Flowers, a staple in the community almost as long as there’s been a Main Street to sell flowers on. Now it makes sense… Celeste knows Aunt B left me the inn, and she wants to make sure I’ll keep up with the flower deliveries.
“Even Damien misses her. Isn’t that right, sweetie?”
The boy looks up. “Yeah, she was cool.”
My performance falters, smile dipping. “Well, it was great catching up, but I’ve got to run. I’m still figuring out finances, so you’ll understand if I don’t resume flower delivery right now.”
Celeste’s eyes widen. “Oh, wow. You think I only wanted to talk to you to make sure you kept the flower delivery?”
Caught in a trap of my own making, I blink at her. “Um, yes?”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” She gives a stilted laugh, then clears her throat. “Well, this is embarrassing.”
To my mounting horror, I see tears gathering in her eyes. “Celeste—”
“No, no, it’s fine. Don’t mind me.” She swipes at her eyes. “Anyway, I’ll see you around!”
“Okay.”
But it’s not. Definitely not.
Celeste jerks her cart around, almost knocking over an older man passing us in the aisle. She mumbles an apology and takes off. I stare after her, feeling even worse. As hard as it is to believe, there’s a chance she was just trying to be my friend.
“Turn that frown upside down,” chirps the man in the aisle.
