“Is there a chance you’ll get hurt? Of course. There’s always that chance. But is there a greater chance that this could be something good for you? I’d say so. If I were you, I’d take those odds.”
I nod. It’s time to put on my metaphorical fancy underwear. “Okay. When’s my flight?”
Noli cheers, and it’s the happiest and most energetic I’ve seen her in the days since I’ve arrived. She pulls me into a hug.
“You’re the best big sister a girl could ask for, Pops. Time to go and get your man.”
30
Hang the Moon
Mack
“No,no,no!”MayorWitmore bellows. I glance up from the lights I’m finagling to see him stalking across the grassy space and over to where a group of volunteers is setting up tables and chairs. “That’s where the food trucks will be parked. Haven’t you seen the map?” He wields a sheet of paper, waving it in the face of one of the men. “Poppy Kasper left a map. Do follow it, and everything will run smoothly.”
It’s the eve of Party in the Park, and I’m exhausted. I’m trying to get the lights up at the pavilion and grounds outside the lighthouse, but my heart isn’t in it. Everything would be different if Poppy was here.
She’s not. So it’s just me, and my thoughts, and this endless strand of twinkle lights. The late-August sun is beating down on my back, and I’m trying not to think about how the one woman I want to spend the day with tomorrow is six states away.
And apparently, I’m not the only one missing her.
Mayor Witmore clearly appreciates her map of the day’s events. Heather has been stalking around, getting the kids’ rides set up. There are signs plastered all over town for the teen scavenger hunt that Poppy coordinated. I heard through the grapevine that they had over thirty kids signed up to participate. My shoulders roll inward. Everything is better when Poppy’s around.
And I went and broke her trust.
I want to bash my head into a wall.
“Why are you wasting your time on that?”
I freeze at the sound of Tricia’s voice, dripping with its usual disdainful tone.
I straighten my shoulders, take a steadying breath, and turn around. “Pardon me?”
Tricia is standing with her hands on her hips outside the pavilion that I’m currently frosting with enough lights to put the national Christmas tree to shame. She gestures to the roofline. “All the lights. Is it worth it?”
I can’t tell if her question is rhetorical or not, so I stay quiet.
She shrugs. “No one cares what the venue looks like as long as there are drinks and good music. Why don’t you leave it?”
“I don’t mind finishing up.” I turn back to the job and continue looping the strand of lights I’m gripping around the nearest rafter.
Tricia scoffs. “Seriously? Why put yourself out like this? You must be miserable. Go home and get some rest, Mack.”
I stiffen. I hardly think I’m going to take orders from Tricia. But she is right. I am miserable. This is tedious, back-breaking work. I have so much else I could be doing, but…
“I promised Poppy.”
Tricia shoots me a disbelieving look and then makes a dramatic show of looking to her left and right. “I don’t see Poppy anywhere around here. I think you’re off the hook.”
I try to hide my wince. Of course Tricia would know where to poke my open wound.
“I’m almost done,” I say, trying to steer the conversation away from the fact that Poppy isn’t here, so Tricia is right—my main motivation for creating the proper ambiance for the Promenade is no longer around. Nor does she want anything to do with me at the moment.
Still, I couldn’tnotdo it. I promised her.
“You’re a sucker for punishment, Mack.” Tricia shakes her head. “Why are you letting that woman have such an effect on you? Especially since she up and left.”
I grip the lights so hard the wire strand digs into the skin of my palm. That’s not what happened. She didn’t leave me. She had a good reason for going. I know that.
