Page 40 of Finding Yesterday
I take a deep breath, inhaling the cool air. At least the weather cooperated today, which is great because there was a chance of rain.
As soon as Jack leaves to go fetch the rest of our supplies, I stop breathing when I see who’s down the row, setting up shop.
Hudson.
And Harlow is with him. Since she’s here, I’m guessing Hudson probably doesn’t have a business partner yet. Together, they take out a Tangz sign and hang it over their stand.
I shift from one foot to another. I don’t want to go over there and face Hudson, but it’s the right thing to do, especially because Harlow is my friend. It’s hard to believe Hudson and I haven’t spoken since his mother kicked me out of Tangz. Right now, the sight of him makes me angry.
I head over, my heart racing. But I shake off my nerves before I say, “Hey, guys,” forcing a smile when I look at Hudson.
“Claire!” Harlow smiles ear to ear, running up and giving me a hug. “How have you been? I’ve missed you so much.”
I give her a good squeeze. “Good. I love being back in Blue Vine.”
“I bet.” She pulls away. “It is a great little town.”
Hudson inhales sharply. “Claire.”
“Hey, Hudson.” I manage to meet his eyes, but he won’t meet mine.
“Don’t worry, Tangz is not offering your chili,” he blurts, pointing to the crock pot. “I’ve been practicing a new recipe and Harlow’s here to manage, clean, serve, whatever.”
I look at her, and she shrugs. “Manage, clean, serve—” She tosses up her hands. “Whatever.”
Poor Harlow.
And Hudson, cooking? He doesn’t do that part, I do. But I’m not there anymore. “So, Hudson, you’ve started making dishes?” It takes everything in my power not to sound indignant.
“Yeah, trying to.” A nervous smile tugs at his lips.
I glance at Harlow, and she makes the cut motion over her throat. I try not to chuckle, but then I feel a tinge of guilt. Hudson is struggling. “I miss you so much,” she mouths.
I flash her a wink before returning my gaze to Hudson. “That’s great you’re trying out new things.”
“Oh, I thought you might be here, and I have something for you.” He goes and digs through a box before returning. In his hands is a necklace with a ruby stone set in a rose-gold pendant. I know that necklace. Hudson got it for me but was going to take it back to the store. It arrived in sterling silver and it was supposed to be in rose-gold. It was the one romantic thing he’d done for me in years.
Wow. He exchanged the necklace, and now he’s giving it to me after everything.
“Hudson…” I trail off, not sure what to say. That’s so nice of him, and after all that went down between us, my brain can’t compute what’s happening. All I know is there’s regret and sadness flowing through me. I manage a smile. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I know. But it was yours. I figured you should have it.”
I take it, studying the gorgeous stone. I wanted a ruby to remind me of Mama, and it was really nice of Hudson to still give this to me. “It’s perfect.”
“Good.” Hudson blinks, his brain apparently short-circuiting before he says, “We have a highly competitive chili. So, you better watch out.”
“I dunno, my chili has major zest.” That was supposed to be a joke, but I don’t really know why or what’s funny about my comment. “It’s a wild explosion of flavors,” I blurt, wishing I could dig a hole and crawl inside. Giving up, I say, “It was nice seeing you guys. Good luck.”
Harlow puts a thumb to her ear and a pinkie to her lips. “Call me,” she mouths.
Feeling a mixture of things, I put the necklace on and get back to work on setting everything up. I’m trying to compose myself, but I can’t stop running my hand over my new stone. I thought Hudson would’ve found a business partner by now, but he’s doing the cooking himself. He’s not a chef.
And Harlow seemed pretty desperate for me to swoop in and rescue her, something I did many times at Tangz when Hudson was being overbearing or his mother was around. I see Hudson and Harlow out of the corner of my eye, guilt nipping at my gut. I wouldn’t have wanted to see them be a raging success, but I also don’t want to watch them struggle either.
Jack approaches, glancing over at the Tangz booth. “You okay?”
I hesitate, looking in Hudson and Harlow’s booth. “You know, I am,” I reply, meaning it. I thought that seeing Hudson would make me feel a whole lot sadder than it does, but all I feel is guilty.
