From the jewelry counter across the shop, hersoon-to-be-former-assistant chuckled without looking up, “Of coursehe is. Have you ever seen her date anyone that wasn’t modelmaterial?” Natalie finished polishing a sterling silver necklacethat Payson had picked up at an estate sale a few weeks back.
A gust of wind rattled the front door ofFlotsam Antiques, announcing that winter had officially arrived.About time, too. They were well into January, and the weather hadbeen mild so far.
The three were attempting to entertainthemselves on the dull day, as town was deathly quiet due to thefoul turn in the weather. Payson walked over to Maddy and leanedacross the old-fashioned buffet she’d converted into her checkoutcounter.
Nodding appreciatively at the photo onPayson’s screen, Maddy agreed, “Wow, yeah. Nice looking guy. Didyou set up a date yet?”
Gazing at her phone, Payson sighed wistfully,“Next Saturday night. Normally, I’d arrange for a coffeemeet-and-greet first, but I have a good feeling about this one.He’s rated at a 98% likelihood of a successful match for me. And,I’ve had way too much coffee lately. I’m in the mood for a fancydinner.” She set her phone down and stood up straight to stretchout her body, stiff from a long day of processing online orders andrearranging stock.
“Just keep telling yourself that. You justlike his resume and his staged ‘I’m not posing, I naturally lookthis good’ glamour shot.” Natalie finished up the last of thepolishing and carried the cleaning materials to the cupboard.
“Lucky for you, this is your last officialday, or I’d fire you for your insubordination.” Payson winked.
Maddy made herself comfortable on the stoolbehind the checkout counter as her friends razzed each other.Hollering to Natalie, she defended her friend, “She is fond of agood resume and a pretty face, but she’s a sucker for a good heart.Don’t let her fool you.”
Natalie shook her head, her short blond wavesbouncing in agreement, “I suppose there isn’t much to choose fromlocally. Where’d you find this one?”
Plenty of eligible bachelors passed throughher shop during tourist season in the small, coastal town ofSeaview, Maine, but Payson wasn’t interested in a quick fling. Nother style. Nor was there much happening in the dead of winter.“I’ve expanded my circle as far as Portland. Not too terrible of acommute for the right man.”
Payson didn’t think she was exactlymodel-material herself, but knew she was easy on the eyes with herlong, pin-straight auburn hair, fair skin with a dusting offreckles across her nose, and a body on the curvier side of slim.She’d had no trouble finding dates when she lived in Boston. Therejust wasn’t much selection of permanent residents in the littlefishing-slash-tourist town. Plenty of fishermen, but most weremarried or not her type. Or, she’d already dated them.
Not her fault she was picky. Her weakness wasthe type staring back from her screen: strikingly handsome,successful, the sort of man that could pull off a sharp tuxedo asnaturally as James Bond. But, one that had a great sense of humor.And humility. And was amazing in bed.
Nothing too specific.Ha. She laughedat her own naivete. When she had ignored her pickiness, she’d woundup in an incredibly dull engagement.
“I’m not sure you’vegot a goodfeelingabout this guy, or if it’s that you just haven’t seenmuch action lately.” Maddy grabbed the phone back and startedscrolling through the new beau’s bio.
Payson opened her mouth to object, fingerraised in the air and eyes wide with resolve, but Maddyinterjected, “I get it. You are due for a fun date. Chase took meout to The Schooner last weekend in Portland; it was phenomenal.Didn’t hurt that the fish was freshly caught by McAllisterFisheries that morning, a deal that Chase had recently negotiatedwith some of the high-end Portland restaurants, so dinner was onthe house. Otherwise, that place is absurdly pricey.” Maddy shookher head in disbelief as she described the extravagant meal.
Pacing around her antique shop, Paysonwistfully dreamed of finding the right guy. Her shop was exactlythe way she wanted it. Holding up a mirrored platter, she wiped offa subtle smudge, catching her reflection in the glass. Although shewas satisfied with her life, she was overwhelmed with the need tofindthe one. Why couldn’t she just be happy with what shehad?
Walking back to the register, she pouted asshe grabbed the phone back, yet again, “See, I want that. Youdidn’t even want to fall in love, yet you and Chase… I’m soridiculously happy for you. Honestly, I am also incrediblyjealous.” She quickly amended, “In a good way.”
She stared at the photo for a few moreminutes. Gregory was incredibly handsome. Dark hair, dark features,rich chocolate brown eyes, chiseled jaw. Her heart took a bit of adive, fantasizing how he might just be the one. She sure hoped so;she was tired of searching. After the all-too-easily brokenengagement with Clive, she was not settling for anything less thanperfect.
“Maybe you should stop looking for yoursoulmate, and you might just stumble upon him by accident.” A fewinches shorter, Natalie wrapped her arms around Payson for afarewell hug. “I’m out of here. I live a block away and will beworking a block down from that, so don’t hesitate to call me if youneed any help around the shop.”
As Natalie left, Payson couldn’t help butfeel teary. As her first - and only - employee, Payson felt torn.Happy her friend was living her dream working at the local artgallery, but sad she wouldn’t be working with her anymore. End ofan era, she supposed.
Settled in the latter half of her twenties,her dismal love life was starting to get her down. Not to mentionthe constant nagging by her older sister, Jen.Time to settledown. You’re not getting any younger.Since their mother haddied, Jen filled the empty role a bit too strongly sometimes.Actually, Jen had set her up with Clive in the first place.
She loved her sisters and her niece andnephew, but it was nice to have the geographical barrier sometimes.It was a constant struggle to keep her younger sister, Cara, ontrack. The girl was so terrified of disappointing everyone,especially herself. Last summer she’d had to drive all the way downto Boston to convince Cara that the world wasn’t over just becauseshe got a D in an elective. Crazy girl went straight into gradschool this past Fall and, so far, was doing great.
After their parents died, Payson had run awayto Ireland as an exchange student for a year to escape the griefthat she’d been drowning in at the loss of her parents, and thestress of supporting her sisters. Out of guilt, she’d moved back toBoston, found a job that she hated, but was stable, and a fiancéthat was just as stable, but bored her to tears. Finally, she’d hadenough and found her balance by moving up to Seaview and openingher own shop. Close enough to see them often, but enough distanceto let her younger sister find some independence, and to escape herolder sister’s bossiness.
She'd met Maddy shortly after moving fromBoston, and they'd become fast friends - the antique shop owner andthe cop. Maddy’s brother, Aiden, and her boyfriend, Chase, hadquickly become part of their little circle as well. Now thatNatalie was going to be working at the renovated art gallery fulltime, she was afraid she wouldn’t see her much anymore. Natalie wasso shy; she’d have to drag her out now and again.
Yeah, she had it pretty good. Just needed tobe swept off her feet like something in her favored romance novels.Was that too much to ask?
Maddy nudged her from her thoughts, “I am nowofficially off duty. I’m going to head home before this weathergets too intense. Chase should be home from work soon anyway.”Grabbing her heavy police jacket and winter cap, Maddy made her wayto the front door. “You closing up for the night?”
Payson nodded, “Yeah, I’m calling it a night.I’ll head upstairs to my apartment to relax with a glass of wine infront of the fire and watch the snow fall. My favorite time ofyear.”
Freezing wind added an extra oomph as Maddyopened the door. Gripping the handle against the gust, she managedto turn back and shake her head at her friend with a smile, “Doesanything ever get you down?”
Head held high, Payson flipped the sign toClosed. “Lots, but there’s nothing I’ll let keep me down.Not for long anyway. Have a good night. Big hug to Chase for me.”Closing the door behind her friend, Payson sighed to herself. She’dworked damn hard to be sure nothing kept her down. After herparents died in the car crash, she had hit a real low point. Wasn’tsure she’d recover.
When that opportunity had arisen to studyabroad her senior year of high school, she hadn’t even checked withher sisters before accepting. She’d known, even then, what it was.She had been running away. It worked. Throwing herself into thetrip, she learned how to forge a new path, to carry herself forwardwhen everything around her collapsed.
