by Eryn Scott
It was the first time I think I really saw him as my boyfriend's father instead of the serious Detective Valdez. I mean, it was still by far the most reserved embrace I'd ever received, but it was an embrace nonetheless.
We said goodbye and headed out into a sunny May evening. Alex threaded his fingers through mine. "Want to take a walk?" he asked.
I pulled in a deep breath and blinked up at the blue sky and the still-white-capped mountains just beyond Pine Crest.
"Yeah."
We strolled through downtown, smiling at and chatting with the townspeople who were also out enjoying the sunshine. Just as we passed the quilt shop, my new phone buzzed with a text message—Isaac had completely ruined my old one. It was from Liv.
"Dinner in 30. Yum Rosetti. Carson, me, you, and Alex."
It wasn't a question. I laughed and showed the screen to Alex.
"Well, it sounds like an order. I guess we'll have to." He shrugged and we turned in the direction of the restaurant.
Liv and Carson were already there when we arrived fifteen minutes later. They both wore huge smiles as Alex and I took our seats.
"Hey." My greeting was wary as I watched Liv.
"Hey," she said, smiling even bigger. "Thanks for coming. A celebration wouldn't be complete without you two."
I gave her a sidelong glance. "And what are we celebrating?"
Carson picked up his water glass. "Our new jobs."
My heart fell. Oh. It wasn't that I didn't feel happy for Liv. Her job in Seattle was going to be great for her. I was just going to miss her. But—wait—I turned to Carson.
"I knew Liv had something lined up, but what job did you get?"
He met my confused gaze. "When both of the Garrisons resigned once word got out about their affairs, I applied for Mrs. Garrison's job as the head of student services. I've worked there since I started here at NWU and—well—it's kind of my dream job. So I applied a few weeks ago and had my interview today. I just got the call that I got it."
I blinked. "That's awesome, Carson! But you're okay being hours away from Liv?" My heart ached for her. She was in the exact opposite situation I'd found myself in during so many relationships in the past. She was leaving and her boyfriend wanted to stay in Pine Crest.
He licked his lips and smiled. "That's the surprise." He looked to Liv.
Eyes wide, I watched my best friend as her cheeks turned a light pink. "It was killing me not to tell you, but I didn't want to say anything until it was a sure thing." She paused. "I turned down the job in Seattle and applied for the Assistant Director of Accounts here at the university."
Taking in a quick breath, I asked, "Did you get it?" I scooted to the edge of my seat
Liv smiled. "Why do you think we're celebrating?"
I squeaked and jumped up, then ran around to her side of the table. Liv stood and we smashed together in a hug.
"I can't even—that makes me so incredibly happy!" Letting go of each other, we sat back in our seats.
Right as my butt hit the chair, my eyes widened. "Wait! That day you were all dressed up… you weren't doing another mock interview, were you?"
Liv shook her head, biting her lip. "That was the real deal. Nothing mock about it."
Our waitress came over and we ordered our drinks. And when she brought them to the table, we held them up.
"To Liv and Carson," I said, deviating from our normal foreign cheers.
We all clinked glasses, but Liv didn't put hers down.
"And to Pepper. For saving me." Liv's eyes locked onto mine. We brought our glasses up again, the guys nodding in agreement.
Liv and I hadn't talked too much about how close she'd been to being another one of Isaac's victims. It was still pretty fresh, still too difficult.
Setting my drink down, I watched my best friend. "Well, I had to. What would I have done without my Hot Watson?" I asked.
Liv burst into a loud laugh and the rest of us followed.
22
Weeks later...
Liv and I threw our graduation caps into the air and shrugged when they were lost among the hundreds of others flying high in the blue summer sky. She smiled at me and pulled me into a tight hug.
When we let go, she turned to her right where Carson stood in his gown, brown hair mussed and a huge grin pulled wide across his face. They hugged and then started making out.
I wrinkled my nose at them, but laughed. Turning away, I looked around, grinning when a pair of lips landed on my neck. I reached back, finding Alex's neck, then I ducked and twirled around to face him.
"Congratulations," he said, pulling me into a kiss which would definitely help us give Liv and Carson a run for their money.
"Hey, you two. Get a room," Liv called behind us.
I pried myself from Alex's lips bent on shooting her a dirty look, but couldn't seem to do anything but grin when my eyes met hers. Today was no longer about goodbyes, like I had been expecting it would be this whole year. Now it was only a celebration.
Liv and Carson went to find their families just as Maggie and Josh walked up. Brooklyn sat atop her dad's shoulders and Hudson was strapped to his chest. I pulled them into tight hugs.
"Making Josh carry both kids?" I asked, teasing Maggie.
"She said she needed to be free to clap and yell and jump up and down," Josh said with a chuckle.
"And?" Maggie said.
I laughed. "Oh, we definitely heard you."
My mom walked up behind my sister, pulling me into the warmest hug I think I'd ever gotten from her. "I'm so proud of you, Pepper. I know your dad is, too." She wiped a few tears from her eyes and then kissed me on the cheek. Mom tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and smiled at me. "There's someone who wants to see you, when you have a moment."
I frowned and looked around, unsure who else might be here. Mom took my hand and walked me over toward the parking lot. Maggie, Josh, and Alex followed. As we rounded a row of cars, I spotted Simon Schultz, Heidi's dad. His brown hair was a mess and his eyes were red.
Upon spotting him, I ran over and wrapped my arms around him. His shoulders shook for a few seconds, but then he pulled away and cupped my face in his hands.
"I'm glad you came," I said. Tears welled in my eyes as I saw him crying.
He pulled his mouth into a smile, but it did nothing to hide the pain and sadness etched deep into his face. "I wanted to come for the memorial," he said in a wobbly voice.
Our class had done a presentation and had taken three minutes of silence for Isaac's victims during the ceremony today. There wasn't a dry eye in the place, or outside the stands, it seemed.
I nodded as Simon took my hands, just as he used to when he had a new book he couldn't wait to tell me about.
"Pepper, I wanted to let you know I'm leaving Pine Crest, for good." He looked around, memories and tears filling his eyes. "It's too painful to be here right now, too many pieces of Heidi for me."
Pressing my lips together, I tried to hold in the sob that was crawling up my throat at the memory of the women who'd been killed. I was also sad at the prospect of our town without him in it. I understood his need to leave, of course, but couldn't begin to picture Pine Crest without Simon's Books.
I pulled him into another hug. "We'll miss you so very much."
He nodded and then took a deep breath, pulling away from me. "Your mother and I have been talking, and…" He looked at Mom.
She stepped forward. "I heard a rumor Simon was looking to sell the bookstore and—well, I know how much you love it, Pepper. So…" The corner of her mouth quirked up into a smile.
"What?" I searched her face, and then Simon's, for any signs that this was a joke. "You bought it, Mom?"
"For you, Peps." Mom stepped forward, taking my hand in hers. "Happy graduation."
Simon nodded, his face bright for the first time since Heidi died. "We are just waiting to sign the final paperwork and then it's yours."
My mouth dropped open. I couldn't believe it.
I nodded, emphatically. "Absolutely. This won't get in the way."
Simon put a hand on each of my shoulders. "I hear you are the one to thank for bringing that awful man to justice and I don't think I've gotten a chance to thank you for that yet." He patted my arm as his eyes teared up again. He looked around at all of us. "Well, I have a plane to catch. Your mother has my new address and my number if you need anything." He smiled and turned to leave.
I waved goodbye and turned slowly to face my family. Mom's smile was big and bright and from the look on Maggie and Josh's faces, they'd known about this, too. Alex was mostly unreadable, as always, but he gave me a wink.
He gestured to his truck with a tip of his head. "Come on. Let's go check out your new nerd palace."
I snorted and walked over to him, wrapping my arms tightly around his torso. "I don't think Nerd Palace would be a very good name for a business." I bit my lip for a moment as I thought. "I think I'll call it Brooks’ Books."
Maggie smiled. "Dad would be happy with that."
Pulling in a deep breath, I said, "Isn't it wonderful to think so?" and we walked to the car in the summer sunshine.
<<<<>>>>
Also by Eryn Scott
Don't miss the next installment of the Pepper Brooks Cozy Mysteries, Literally Gone.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that an overly inflated ego must be in want of the spotlight.
When Mr. Darcy is found murdered in his dressing room, Pine Crest’s annual AustenFest is derailed. Pepper Brooks must set her pride and prejudice aside to differentiate between rumor and truth as she searches for the killer.
Between running her new bookstore and trying to decide who’s a Darcy and who’s a Wickham, Pepper quickly finds that her story might not end as happily as those written by Jane Austen.
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About the Author
Eryn Scott lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their quirky animals. She loves classic literature, musicals, knitting, and hiking. She writes women's fiction and cozy mysteries.
www.erynwrites.com
[email protected]
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