“You own the house?” May asks, surprised.
“I do. And I’ll be selling it.”
“Hmm.” She raises her brows as she pauses to think. “And is that what you want to do? Sell?”
“I’m not attached to Grady. But I also don’t want to live in that house any more, either. I’m happy to move on.”
“You can let go, just like that?” May lifts her coffee to take a sip.
Shit, how do I answer this? “I…”
“If you have to think about how to answer, then it’s obvious. You and this Grady person weren’t destined for each other. Because I can tell you, if you truly loved him, and he truly loved you, neither of you would walk away so easily.”
I see the hurt in her eyes, and the way her shoulders slightly slump forward. She has a story, and I hope she tells me. “You loved someone once?” I ask as I lean on the counter, moving forward.
“Not loved, still love.” She takes a deep breath and smiles. “But that’s a story for another time.” She shifts in her seat awkwardly. “Tell me, what had you all flustered outside?”
“A ghost from my past. And not Grady.”
“Oh, this is getting good.” She rubs her hands together. “Who is he? Or she? I’m one of these new-aged women who believes love is love and as long as it’s consensual, then love whoever you want. You can be a lesbian, or a bi-sexual person.”
I lift a hand, stopping her from continuing. “Tried that once, not for me,” I admit.
“Oh, good for you, girly. That’s a story to tell over a few ports, not now. Continue though, who did you see?”
“Just a guy I knew. But it doesn’t matter, I won’t let myself get involved again.”
“Oh, ‘again.’” May is quite invested now.
“Actually, not again. Not exactly. It’s a bit complicated.”
“The more you go on, the better this gets. Well, come on, details! I’m not getting any younger.”
I start laughing. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. I’ll hire him to work on the house, and when I’m done, I’ll pay him, sell the house and move.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s an electrician.” Shit. Why did I tell her? She probably knows him. Nah, she can’t know everyone in the town. He said he’s just on the other side of Hope River. I’m probably safe.
“Oh, River Lockwood. How long have you known him?” You have got to be kidding me.
I shake my head. “Nah, it’s not him.”
“No?” I keep shaking my head. “Then it must be One-eyed Billy Mason. He’s got to be pushing eighty-five, he’s deaf in one ear, and walks with a limp since he had his knee replaced near ten years ago.” Great, only two electricians in town.
Closing my eyes, I let out a long sigh. “It’s not Billy Mason.”
“No, girly, I never thought it was. That River Lockwood, he’s a good boy. Came out here to help me wire up some things in the stable. Actually, in the room you’re in. Didn’t charge me a single cent. Said he heard I make the best lemon iced tea, and said he’d take that as payment.”
Yeah, that sounds like River. A genuinely nice guy. “Did you pay him in form of lemon iced tea?”
“I made some calls, got him work,” she responds before lifting her coffee mug, and finishing it. “He’ll be helping on Old Roger’s house?”
“I’ll probably contract with him to do the electrical work.” I want to ask questions about River, but I also don’t want to get involved and get my heart shattered again. “Anyway, thanks for the coffee May. I’ve got to look at what I’m going to do with the house. My brother thinks I should torch it.”
“You’ll do no such thing. That house has meaning, and belongs in this town,” her voice cracks with passion.
“But it sat abandoned for how many years before I came along? And in the meantime, no one wanted it, but no one wants me to tear it down.”
May stands and takes her mug over to the sink. “Yes, that’s right. Because small towns want a say in everything.”
I shouldn’t take it out on May. “I’m sorry,” I say.
“Huh, girly. No need to apologize. Now, get out.” She points to the door. “You do have work to do, and that house needs you to make it perfect again.” She leans against the counter. “We all need you to make it perfect again.”
“Thanks for the coffee, May.”
“You’re welcome. Get out.”
As I leave May’s house, I have a feeling Old Roger’s house means a lot to everyone in Hope River. That just opens up a whole new world of pressure and responsibility to make Old Roger and the town proud.
Walking back to the stable, I can’t get two things out of my head.
One; Old Roger’s house.
Two; River Lockwood.
Why did he have to show up looking all sexy? Ugh, this is going to be difficult. But I refuse to get involved with him again.
Nope, not gonna happen. I’m not going to remember the way he used to hold me in his arms. Or the way he used to kiss me. Or even the way he…
Stop it.
“Are you ready for the flower festival today?” May asks while I make us a coffee in her kitchen.
“Do I have to do anything special for it? Am I dressed okay?” I look down at my jeans and t-shirt.
“You’re dressed fine. Is my coffee ready, girly?”
“Pushy much?” I bring her mug over to her. She lifts it to her mouth, and winces. “Oh come on. You can’t say that was a bad coffee.”
“Meh,” she lifts one shoulder. “It’s fine.”
“Do you want to ride with me? Or…”
“Or what?” she near snaps.
“Is my truck too high for you? You are, you know.” I gesture to her petite height.
“I may be sixty-nine years young, but I can still get around and do things.”
Shit, she’s sixty-nine? I thought maybe late fifties, but no way in her sixties. “I didn’t mean to disparage your age; I meant your height. You’re a midget,” I say being as sassy to her as she is to me.
May looks at me, her face stoically cold. She nods, pushes off from the stool, picks her mug up and finishes it all in one go. “You’ll keep,” she says and adds a smile. “Rinse your mug out. I’m not your maid.” She grabs her cup, takes it over to the sink, and rinses it.
“I take it I’m driving.” I don’t mind. It’s stupid to take two cars when we’re going to the same place. “I’ll be in the truck when you’re ready.”
“I’ll be there in a moment.”
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I see Charlie’s been trying to call me. As I head out, I call his number. “Hey,” I say when he answers. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just checking in. Have you worked out what you’re going to do with the house? I hear Hope River has a great fire department,” he says while chuckling.
“I’m not burning it. You’ll love the house.”
“After I level it, I’m sure I’ll adore it.”
“Nope, not happening. I’m trying to work it so we can have a more functional space. You’ll be here Monday, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. And I know. Bring our tools.” Charlie huffs and there’s an awkward silence between us. “Grady’s been trying to call you.”
“Good for him.” Charlie knows what happened, but I don’t want to recap it anymore.
“Although I already knew, he told me what happened. So, I smashed him.”
“You did what? Jesus, Charlie.” I run my hands through my hair as my knee bounces. “I don’t need you to fight my battles, I’m pretty good at taking care of myself. Anyway, it’s over. I told him to get out because I’m listing the house.”
“You moving to Hicksville?”
“No, I’m flipping it and moving on. Like I always do. I think Hope River is way too small for me. And it’s not Hicksville, even though that’s what I thought when I first got here.”
“Small town living, huh?” I can hear the mirth in his voice. “My littl
e sister loving Hope River.”
“I’m not. Anyway, there’s something else.”
“Shit, what now, Hope?” his voice drops.
“You remember River Lockwood?”
“Um.” He huffs. “Oh, I think so. You and he were friends in high school, right? His mom is military or something?”
“His dad, yeah.”
“What about him?”
“He lives here. And he’s an electrician. And I’m hiring him to work on the house.” Charlie starts laughing. “What’s so funny?” I ask.
“What are the chances of that. Hope and River in Hope River.”
Yeah, I’ve been asking myself that since I arrived. “I know.” This has got to be fate’s way of telling me I have to do this house, and River has to be part of it too. “Anyway, I’ll see you on Monday. May and I are going into town for the flower festival.”
“Flower festival? Jesus, Hope, you’re already turning into one of them.”
“Whatever.” I look to my right and see May approaching. “Talk to you later.”
“See ya Monday.”
May opens the truck door, and places an aluminum covered tray on her seat. I grab it so May can hoist herself up. She does okay for sixty-nine. She easily got up into the truck. I thought I might have needed a stepstool for her; obviously not. “My sister called, and told me my niece will be arriving on Monday.”
“Tabitha, right?”
“Yes. She’ll be staying with me until at least the end of summer, maybe even longer,” May says, her tone quite flat.
“You don’t want her to be here that long?”
“It’s not that. I adore the girl, but my sister ships her off to me whenever she wants.”
“How old is Tabitha?” I’m kind of fitting all the pieces together.
“She’s about to have her twenty-third birthday.”
“When?”
“Next weekend.”
“Huh,” I murmur. How bizarre. Shipping your daughter off to your sister’s house for her birthday.
“Yes, I know what you’re thinking. What type of mother sends their only child off out of their house when the child is about to celebrate a birthday?”
Nodding, she’s pretty much hit the nail on the head. “It’s not my business.”
“Because my sister is the most self-centered person I’ve ever known, who doesn’t give a rat’s ass about that child,” May angrily spouts. She huffs, as she holds the dish in her lap, making sure it doesn’t slide off as I drive. “That poor, poor child.”
“Well, look at it this way. Obviously, you want Tabitha here, so maybe we can give her a great party.”
May turns to look at me. “Knowing Tabitha, she’ll want it to be just her and me. She’s very low-key, and doesn’t really like being in the limelight.”
I already feel for Tabitha, and I don’t even know her. It just breaks my heart.
When I arrive in town, I can’t help but notice the cars parked as far off as a mile from the town center. “Is it always like this?”
“Whenever we have a festival. It feels like the entire town comes together. Of course, some don’t. Like Madge who lives over on Leyburn; she’s a patronizing old bat. Or there’s Arthur who lives on Delta, he’s a flat-out ass. He refuses to have anything to do with Hope River. But when he needs help, he’s always the first to put his hand out. There’s a few others I don’t have time for, but generally speaking, most people come together for the festivals.”
“My parents used to take Charlie and me to the state fair once every two years. They used to be heaps of fun. I loved every moment of those fairs, just being with Mom and Dad and Charlie, and going on rides. And eating funnel cake, and cotton candy.” My soul is smiling just from the memories.
I drive past all the cars parked on the side of the road. I’m trying to be mindful of May’s age. “I can drop you off and double back to park.”
“Well, that’s a waste of gas, isn’t it? Park wherever you find a spot. I can walk, I’m not useless, you know?”
Man, May has a sharp tongue about her. She’s not scared to say what she thinks. “Yes, ma’am,” I reply as I see a spot ahead. I pull into it, jump out, run around to May’s side and take the dish she’s made. I don’t offer to help her down, because I honestly believe she’d smack my hand away.
“See, it’s not too far to walk.” She leads the way while I carry the dish and fall into place beside her. “There’s going to be a lot of people here who don’t know you, but know of you. If anyone is bothering you, point them out to me.”
“I’m okay, May.”
As May walks, she gives me a sideways glance. “Hmm,” she mumbles as she smirks.
The walk takes us only a few minutes, and when we get to the town center, I’m in complete awe. Just as May said, there’s one long table down the middle of Main Street, made up of smaller tables joined end-to-end-. There are dishes, platters, bowls with salads and dips all scattered in the middle. There are a few chairs, but mostly people are standing around. May places her dish on the table, looks around, finds a chair, and drags it over.
“Hi, Gran,” someone says as they rush past. She gives them a brisk nod.
Then I see the flowers. There are half-barrels everywhere, and they’re overflowing with so many different flowers. “Wow,” I whisper as I look around, taking in the enormous number of hues.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” May asks.
“I’ve never seen anything like this.” Down at the bottom of Main Street, there’s a stage set up where a band is playing. “This is crazy.” The atmosphere is buzzing, there are people everywhere and kids running around. “Even at the fairs I went to as a kid, it was never like this. There’s so much interaction. Everyone really does know everyone.”
“You’ve got that right,” May replies.
“Would the pretty lady like a balloon animal?” someone dressed as a clown asks. He holds up a balloon, waiting for me to say yes.
“I’m okay, thank you,” I reply.
“Scoot along, Joe. Go entertain the kids,” May says as she flicks her hand at him.
“Looking good, Gran,” he replies as he traipses past.
“I know,” she calls after him.
“Hope, you’re here,” Eleanor says as she comes out with a mug of coffee for May.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have missed this for anything. This looks like crazy good fun.”
“Down at the bottom.” Eleanor points toward where the band is playing. “There’s a mini Ferris wheel, a bouncy castle, and a few other games for the kids.”
“I’ll take a walk down and have a look.”
“I’ll come with you. Gran, are you okay? Do you need anything else?” Eleanor asks May, placing her hand on the older woman’s shoulder.
“Go and have fun. I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself.” May clutches her bag to her chest as she sternly glares at Eleanor.
“Thanks, Gran.” Eleanor leans down and gives May a kiss on the cheek. “You have to see the night festivals. They’re something else.”
“Hi Elle. Hi Hope,” some random kid says to us.
“Hi,” both Eleanor and I reply.
“I have to ask,” I start saying.
“What?”
“Everyone seems to be calling May ‘Gran.’ Why?”
Eleanor smiles. “Everyone knows her as Gran. But she doesn’t allow anyone to call her Gran until they’ve proven themselves to her.”
“Proven themselves? Like how? Scaling an active volcano?” I joke.
“Nah, she’ll let you call her Gran if she knows you’re not just passing through. If she thinks you’ll put roots down here, then she’ll let you call her Gran. Took her near a year to tell me I was allowed to call her Gran.”
“Hi Elle, Hi Hope,” another random townsperson says.
“Hi,” we both reply.
“Everyone calls you Elle.”
“Because my name’s Eleanor.”
“What do you pr
efer?”
“Elle’s fine.” The sheriff approaches us, and Eleanor’s eyes widen. “Hi, Sheriff,” she says in a small voice with a slight break in tone.
“Elle. Hope.” He tips his head as he walks past. He looks different in civilian clothes. He looks more buff, but he still walks like a cop.
I can’t help but notice the goofy smile on Elle’s face, or her flushed cheeks, or her stiffened shoulders. “Ask him out,” I say.
“What? Who?” There’s that squeaky voice again.
“Come on, you’re into him. It’s so obvious. Ask him out.”
“What? No, I’m not.”
“We’re back to this, are we? Okay, you don’t like him.”
I turn, and catch the sheriff checking Elle out. Oh man, these two have to get together. “Come on, let’s go in the bouncy castle.” Elle grabs my hand and rushes toward the big, inflatable tower. She’s already taking her shoes off, and about to jump on it. “Come on,” she calls.
“I’m wearing tight jeans; it might not be the best idea.”
“Don’t be a party pooper. Come on.” She turns to the guy manning the jumping castle. “She’s with me, Jerry.”
He flicks his hand at her, and gives me a ‘hurry up’ look. “Why not?” I say to myself. Toeing off my shoes, I put them to the side, and go toward the castle. “I haven’t been in one of these in years.”
Elle’s bouncing but slows it down and holds her hands out to me. Her large smile highlights her laugh lines, but nothing compares to the joy in her eyes. “Hurry up,” she urges as she thrusts her hands toward me.
Grabbing onto them, she pulls me up, and I go flying into the bouncy castle. I stumble but find my feet before I face plant. Man, falling on the hard-plastic-slash-rubber material of a jumping castle could probably cause some serious burns. “Jeez, lady. Were you a body builder in a previous life?”
Elle smiles. She narrows her eyes, and jokingly says, “I’m one now.” Then flexes her arms to show me her non-existent muscles.
We’re jumping around, having the time of our lives. There are some younger kids in here, giving us sideways glances. A little girl bouncing around us, says, “Hi Hope. You’re really pretty.”
I have no idea who this kid is. “Aww, thank you. I love your dress. It’s so pretty,” I reply.
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