“That’s exactly what she thought,” Rose puts in, standing shoulder to shoulder with her sister.
“That’s what it sounded like,” Poppy admits.
“Get your head out of the gutter, Boo.” I scoff as if I’m disappointed in her, but I’m fighting a laugh.
“Well, excuse me,Big! We heard lots of…suggestive talk going on.”
“It’s a workout video.” I turn and walk back through to my living room, unpausing the TV in time to hear the trainer say, “Five, four, three, two, one, and REST!”
“See?”
Poppy primly folds her hands at her waist. “I guess that makes sense.”
Rose takes a step into my side of the house. “So, this is how it’s supposed to look, huh?”
“Rosie!” Poppy’s voice holds a twinge of censure.
“What? I’m just saying!”
“No, she’s right,” I say. “Your side isn’t done. I tried to tell Holland, but—”
“It’s completely fine. Totally livable. We’re grateful. Aren’t we, Rose?”
“Eternally,” Rose mutters.
Poppy looks heavenward before turning her focus back to me.
I grab for my t-shirt, which I tossed onto the back of my recliner mid-workout. I guess Poppy and I are even now. We’ve both seen enough of each other’s skin to feel fully acquainted. “What did you need?”
“I was going to ask if you wanted to go do some door-to-door fundraising for Party in the Park with me.” Poppy looks down, like she’s almost embarrassed to ask. “Heather said she usually does it, and I thought I might get further with a local. Since you’re the only local I know, I’m asking you.”
Before I can formulate any type of response, Rose jumps in.
“And I want to talk to you about our side of the duplex.” She bats her eyes with faux sweetness.
“Mostly, we’d like to go over the lease agreement. We thought we could grab an early dinner, and then you and I could hit up the town for some P&R funds—if you’re not too busy,” Poppy adds.
“I’ve got some time.”
What compels me to agree to this plan, I don’t know. But Poppy’s full-faced smile makes me feel like I gave the right response.
They give me fifteen minutes to clean up after my workout, and then I’m driving us to Romeo’s.
Poppy, who is sitting with her shoulder pressed against mine in the middle seat of my truck, ducks her head and peers out the windshield. Her whole body hums with excitement over this outing. I’m growing accustomed to her consummate cheerfulness, but it still leaves me a little off balance.
“This place is like nowhere else we’ve ever lived,” she says with awe.
I scan either side of the road as I drive them along, trying to picture Cashmere Cove through a stranger’s eyes. We drive past the granary, and of course, Poppy asks about it. I swear this woman has made me talk more in the past week than I have in the past year.
“Cashmere County was primarily built up around an agricultural economy back in the day. This grain elevator stored and protected food around the turn of the twentieth century.”
“Fascinating,” Poppy breathes.
“The granary fell into decay and was about to be demolished by developers, but the community banded together and got it listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. It’s been refurbished. There’s a museum on the bottom floor, and the upper two levels serve as a top wedding venue in the area."
“Who knew small town Wisconsin could be so…exotic.” Rose’s tone is wry, but I see her talking in the sights with a keen eye.
“That’s where Piper and Ed’s reception will be held?” Poppy asks, ignoring her sister’s sarcasm.
