FIVE
Emma
The next morning,I tied Stella’s leash to a railing outside Silver Linings Coffee on Main Street. “I’ll be back in a few. You be good now. No more cozying up to strange men.”
Stella tried her sad doggy eyes on me. And of course, they worked.
“All right, I’ll buy you a treat if they have one. We could both use a pick-me-up.” There was a dog bowl here on the sidewalk, half full, so Stella had her drink already. Now, it was my turn.
The bell on the door jingled cheerfully as I pushed inside. I was supposed to meet Dixie Haines here later, but I’d shown up bright and early to scope things out myself. I hadn’t slept well and needed copious amounts of caffeine, stat.
Also, I planned to make use of the coffee shop’s wi-fi, since the wi-fi at my apartment was apparently broken. Among other things.
When I reached the counter, a tall woman with blond hair and a warm smile greeted me. “Morning, what can I get you?”
“One of those doggy treats.” I pointed at the bakery case. “And your biggest vanilla latte. With as many espresso shots as you can legally serve in one cup.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, this sounds like a challenge. I love it.” She tapped on her order screen. “Rough night?”
“It certainly wasn’t the best.” I wasn’t ready to call the Ponderosa a dump, like Ashford had. But the paper-thin walls, clanking pipes, and drafty windows weren’t ideal. Who knew it would get so cold at night here in the summer? Well, the internet probably knew. But not me.
The lumpy, thin mattress hadn’t helped with my restfulness either. Or the ominous-looking stains on the apartment ceiling. I hadn’t dealt with my car yet, either, but all that would wait until after coffee.
“I’ll throw in an iced mocha donut, on the house. Always perks me right up.” She winked.
“That sounds amazing. Thank you so much. Maybe my night wasn’t great, but you’re turning my morning around fast.” I handed her some cash. “Keep the change. I’m Emma, by the way. I’m new.”
“Piper. Wonderful to meet you. Is that your retriever out front? She’s gorgeous.”
“She is. And thank you.”
“Welcome to Silver Ridge.”
“I appreciate that.” At least some people around here knew how to make a newcomer feel welcome. While I still had her attention, I dug a leaflet for my music lessons from my messenger bag. I’d printed them before leaving California with the info Dixie had given me. “Any chance you have a community bulletin board and wouldn’t mind me posting this?”
Piper read the text on the paper, eyes widening. Then she looked over at me with a whole new level of understanding in her expression. “You’re the music teacher! I’ve heard about you.”
“All good, I hope.”
Her head tilted back and forth. “Well, I’m friends with Ashford O’Neal.”
My heart sank. Had he already been bad-mouthing me around town? What the heck was that man’s vendetta against me?
Thankfully, Piper laughed. “From the look on your face, I would guess you’ve met Ashford already. Don’t worry. His bark can be bad, but his bite is no worse than your golden retriever’s.” She nodded at the window, and I turned around to find Stella, tongue out, gleefully accepting tummy rubs from passersby.
“Maybe. But Stella likes just about everyone. Ashford definitely doesn’t like me.”
“Just ignore him when he’s being surly. That’s what I usually do.” She plucked the leaflet from my hand. “I’d be happy to hang this up for you. And I’ll spread the word. I love the idea of parent-and-tot music classes. Are you going to offer lessons for older kids? My son is seven.”
I nodded eagerly. “I plan to. I wanted to assess interest first. I play violin, piano, guitar, and I have experience with one-on-one lessons. That’s the kind of teaching I prefer. What do you think he’d be interested in?”
Slow down, I told myself. The woman was at work, and a couple of customers were in line behind me. But could you blame me for being excited? She was my first potential client.
“Not sure about which instrument. Ollie might be the drums type. He’s a fan of loud noises. But not so much sitting still.”
I laughed. “I’m sure we can figure out a good fit for him. And an affordable price. Private lessons don’t have to break the bank.”
“I would love that. I’m so glad you came in today, Emma. I’ll have your order right out.”
