I shoved the thought away as hard as I could, before it showed on my face.
"It's only a few short weeks," Fiona said wistfully. "Unfortunately, it goes hand-in-hand with being cold as heck. I guess we have to take the good with the bad. Now, how much for that painting?" She pointed at the one Riley smudged with his nose. "That'll look perfect over my fireplace."
Whitney almost squealed. "Itsowill! Now I'm jealous I didn't think of that first. But this one would look amazing in my place."She lived near Fiona's parents, about five minutes away from the cottage I was renting.
"Ohhh, it really would," Fiona agreed. She caught sight of something off to the side and her expression changed. Her smile faded and her eyes became sad.
I followed her gaze to a man in his late fifties making his way through the market with the help of a walking stick. He was looking in front of him, but his eyes didn't seem to see anything. His mouth was turned down and a deep crease mark to the centre of his forehead, between his bushy eyebrows. Something about him was familiar, but I couldn't place him.
"Who's that?" I asked softly.
"Gavin Clarke," Fiona whispered as if she didn't want to intrude on him, even at a distance. "He used to own the bakery here in town."
"Used to?" I echoed.
"Yeah," Whitney said. "I don't really remember it, but to hear them talk, he used to be the life of the whole town. The one who held everyone up. Who supported everyone, y'know? When anyone needed a shoulder, or a laugh, he was there. Then his daughter died. They say he changed overnight. Became reclusive and…broken. He lost his marriage and the bakery."
"These days, we take care of him," Fiona said. "People take turns checking in on him and bringing him food. The community nurse makes sure he keeps clean and washes up after him. Mostly he walks around town as if… I don't know, like he wants to find her again." She looked close to tears.
"That's really sad," I said, my eyes following his slow progress. People nodded at him as he walked past, but he didn't seem to be aware of it. He went on shuffling until he disappeared out of sight past the stall selling fresh fruit and vegetables.
"It's nice you take care of him. A lot of people wouldn't bother." In the city, would anyone have noticed what he wasgoing through? Would they have cared? He would have withered away, largely unnoticed. The thought was heartbreaking.
"We always bother," Whitney said. "That's what we do. We look out for each other. We support each other and encourage each other." She pushed a smile back onto her face and nodded down to the painting she'd chosen. "We make sure no one goes without."
"I don't know if I can take your money," I said uneasily. They'd both been so sweet to me, taking me under their wings. Including me on nights out and inviting me to a barbecue next weekend. They could as easily have ostracised me the way Riley and Connor did.
"Of course you can." Whitney pulled out her purse and handed over a couple of bills. After a moment, Fiona did the same, then picked up her painting and tucked it under her arm.
"Thank you," I said sincerely. For their support and because this money would go a long way. "You're so sweet."
"That's us." Whitney grinned. "Sweeter than pie." She batted her long eyelashes.
"We have good taste, that's all," Fiona said. "Which reminds me, I need to buy some chutney. I'll see you both later."
"Oh, I need chutney too." Whitney blew me in and kissed before hurrying after Fiona and Sarah.
I sagged with my palms on the table in front of me once they were gone. An hour down, three more to go. I could do this.
8
CONNOR
I driedthe last glass and placed it back in the rack, ready for the evening rush.
"Where's your shadow?" I didn't want Whitney to think I gave a shit, but every time I saw her lately, she was with Leah fucking Kent.
Whitney wiped the last of the tables vigorously and tossed the washcloth across the bar, straight into the sink.
"She shoots. She scores!" She raised her hands victoriously and made a sound like a cheering crowd.
"She didn't answer the question." I smirked.
"She didn't think you were serious." She smirked back. "Who are you talking about anyway? Fiona, Holly or Leah?" She planted her hands on her hips and cocked her head, making her blonde ponytail fall to the side.
Hearing her say Leah's name should not have made my body react. I shouldn't even be thinking about the city girl. I should be focused on getting the Frosty Brew organised and planning for next weekend's white water rafting bookings. Thirty city slickers wanted to take on Aurora Rapids and I was here for it. Nothing got my blood going faster than sliding down the water, hoping like hell not to end up smashed against the rocks.
I shrugged and turned my back on her to rearrange the bottles of alcohol on the shelves at the back of the bar. None of which were out of place. "The city girl," I said over my shoulder.
