by Dylann Crush
“So is that a yes to lunch at the diner, or do you want to go home?” I hadn’t gotten a response.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d rather just go home. This trip into town pretty much wore me out. I think I need to take a rest before I get started on the wash.”
I groaned. “Mom, I’m doing the wash this afternoon. And making pork chops.”
“If you say so, honey.” She reached across the console and patted my arm, a complacent smile stretched across her mouth.
I’d show her. I was going to rock that laundry room and cook the crap out of those pork chops. Just as soon as she told me how.
21
Harmony
“We’ll have a couple of massage rooms in the back and a studio space where I can teach yoga or do classes.” I finished sketching a rough layout of the design Dustin and I had worked on the night before.
Cassie leaned over the counter to check out the drawing. “That sounds amazing. And you’re sure Dustin can do all of that himself before he leaves again?”
“He said he could. Why? Do you not think he’s capable?” A coldness flowed through my heart, leeching outward to fill my limbs with lead. Was there something Cassie knew but wasn’t telling me?
“I have no idea.” She shrugged. “Robbie hasn’t talked to him in years. But if you need help, Robbie can probably fit you in.” She pushed away from the counter. “Somewhere between finishing up the farmhouse remodel he’s working on and revamping the courthouse.”
“So sometime in the next five years?” I asked.
“Eighteen months.” She spun around to finish setting up the coffee monster. “It’s nice his business is going well. There was a time when he thought he’d lose it all.”
“I know. I’m glad the two of you are doing so well. And grateful for you taking Liam and me in.”
“We didn’t take you in, we just happened to be able to help out a bit. Robbie’s dad’s old place isn’t exactly a dream house.”
I let out a laugh. “True. But still”—I paused until she met my gaze—“I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”
Cassie lifted one shoulder then let it fall. “You’re family.”
It was good to have family. Out in LA we’d been on our own. My parents had moved to an active adult community in Hemet, but even though they were only about ninety miles away, it could still take three to four hours to get there due to traffic. So we didn’t see them nearly as often as I would have liked. Being here, in Swallow Springs, definitely had its perks. Life was slower, less complicated, more predictable. I just hoped the good people of Swallow Springs would be open-minded when it came to accepting a wellness center like the one I envisioned.
“Want me to take the deliveries today?” I asked. Cassie offered box lunch service and usually had a standing order from several places around town.
“Sure. I have one going to City Hall. Maybe you can check in on the zoning office while you’re there and find out what kind of permits you’d need to get started on construction.”
“Good idea.” I’d planned on dropping by on my way home this afternoon anyway. That would save me some time. I untied my apron and hung it on a hook. “Where else do you have me going?”
Cassie handed me a clipboard. “City Hall, then a couple of orders at the Cut ‘N Curl. Oh, and the chiropractor on the outskirts of town.”
“There’s a chiropractor in town?”
“Yeah, we’ve actually got two. Dr. Hank is a quack. He’s been around for years. But there’s a new guy who opened up shop about a year ago. He’s the one who ordered the veggie club.” She leaned close and raised her eyebrows. “With a side of fresh fruit.”
Tingles raced down to my toes. “Veggies and fruit? You’re kidding.” Most of the diner crowd preferred their chicken-fried steak with country gravy or a meatloaf sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes on the side. Cassie’s recipes were mouth-wateringly delicious, but even though she sourced local produce and kept everything organic, they still contained a gazillion calories. We offered healthier options but usually the only ones who went for the lighter side of the menu were under strict doctor’s orders. How refreshing to hear of someone who preferred a meal containing all four food groups.
“Oh, and he’s single, too.” Cassie added that nugget of info like an afterthought, but I knew better.
“Is that why you want me to do the deliveries today?” I asked. “This isn’t a veggie sandwich hook-up attempt, is it?”
Cassie rolled a lemon around on the counter, working on a batch of fresh-squeezed lemonade. “Of course not. But he’s kind of cute. And if a sandwich delivery happens to turn into something more…” She smiled as her words drifted away.
I shook my head. “And I thought I’d escaped the fix-ups by moving out here.”
“It’s not a fix-up, I swear. Just take the man his sandwich, will you?” She winked at me as she cut the lemon in two and reached for another.
“Fine.” I wasn’t about to tell her I’d had an almost-hook-up with Dustin. From what I’d gathered, she wasn’t a huge fan of his.
“Y’all can talk about your studio. Maybe he’ll have some ideas.” Cassie didn’t look up as I grabbed the handles of the big brown bag.
“We’ll see.” No promises. With the studio space becoming a real possibility, I felt like I was finally following the path I’d always wanted. I wouldn’t let anything knock me off course, not now.
I navigated the truck around the streets of Swallow Springs, stopping at the Cut ‘N Curl first. Scarlett sat at the front desk, her phone tucked under her ear. She gestured for me to set the food down on the counter in front of her and held up a finger, signaling me to wait.
As she finished up her call, I glanced around. I hadn’t been in the Cut ‘N Curl yet, I usually just trimmed my own split ends and didn’t see the need to spend a small fortune for someone to cut my hair. The inside of the shop made me think it could have been lifted straight out of the 1950s. Light pink floral wallpaper covered the walls. Customers sat in teal vinyl chairs, a few of them under iconic dryers I’d only seen in the movies. While I looked around, Scarlett’s conversation caught my attention.
“We’ve been doing fine so far. Now all of a sudden you think you can come back in town and tell me what I’ve been doing wrong all this time? That’s not fair, Dustin.”
I didn’t want to eavesdrop, but anything having to do with Dustin Jarrett kind of related to me. At least that’s how I justified not walking away when Scarlett continued.
“I’ve got to go.” Her gaze cut to me. “We can talk about this later.”
She jabbed at a button on her phone then tossed it into something under the counter.
“Sorry. My brother is being an asshole.” She lifted her gaze to mine. “Again.”
Not sure how best to respond to that, I nudged the bag forward. “Three meatloaf sandwiches and two bowls of the soup of the day. Utensils are in the bag.”
“Thanks.” Scarlett stood and reached into the bag, then turned to announce to the other women in the shop. “Lunch is here.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Hey, Harmony?”
“Yes?”
“He’s a good guy.”
When I didn’t respond right away, she leaned forward. “Dustin. He’s just being all over protective right now. Thinks he can stay away for years and then come back and tell all of us what we’ve been doing wrong all this time.”
I took a step closer to the counter. “I don’t know what’s happening, but maybe he feels bad for not being here. Maybe he’s trying to fix that by showing he cares.”
“Maybe. It’s just not fair. Mom and I have been doing just fine. Now he’s bitching because she’s been having these dizzy spells. They started right after he got back. Thinks she needs to be evaluated by some hoity toity doc out in California.”
“I’m sorry. But I’d better get going.” I didn’t want to get caught up in some family battle. “I have a couple more del
iveries to make before heading back to the café.”
She nodded. “Thanks for the delivery. See you later.”
Next up, City Hall. Two loaded clubs going to the city inspector’s office. I snagged the bag of sandwiches and made my way into the building.
“Lunch. Thank goodness.” A middle-aged woman stood as I approached. “I love Tuesdays. It’s the one day a week I let myself order from Cassie’s place.”
I couldn’t help but grin as she enthusiastically took the sandwiches out of the bag.
“Boss, lunch is here,” she shouted in the direction of the office behind her.
“Is this where I ask about building permits?” I asked.
“I can help you with that.” A man not much older than me came out of the office. “We can also license your dog, help you apply for a garage sale permit, and sell you a cemetery plot.”
“Wow, you’re a real one-stop shop.”
“Hi, I’m Jake Duncan.” He reached over the counter to shake my hand.
“Nice to meet you. Harmony Rogers.”
“I know. I coach baseball with your cousin, Rob. I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other yet.” He grabbed his sandwich from the desk. “Sounds like you’re going to be making some changes to the building that housed the old accounting office downtown?”
“I hope so. Word travels fast around here, doesn’t it?”
He nodded. “The good and the bad. And you’ll be working with Dustin Jarrett on the remodel?”
“Um, yeah.” He wasn’t kidding. Dustin and I had barely made that decision ourselves.
“So depending on what changes you’re planning on making, we’ll just need some time to go over the plans. Usually we ask for two weeks before construction starts, but I’m pretty free right now so I ought to be able to fit you right in.”
“Well that’s good news. I’ll send Dustin your way once he’s got the plans drawn up.” I left the office, my step a little lighter. At least something was starting to go my way. This had to work out, otherwise I’d end up serving diners at the café until I couldn’t stand straight any more or accidentally burned it down by never figuring out how to work the coffee pot.
My mind wasn’t on the road ahead; I was working out how we’d advertise the wellness center grand opening, what kind of mini tarts we could serve, and mulling over options for a name. So when something large and feathered ran across the road, it caught me by surprise. I veered right, onto the bumpy shoulder and slammed on the brakes. Whatever it was, I’d nicked it. Turning back, I covered the distance to where a large mass of feathers lay in a clump in the middle of the two-lane road.
I approached with caution, not sure if I’d hit a giant raptor, a heron, or some sort of prehistoric beast. It was too big to be a hawk. The coloring and shape wasn’t right for an eagle. As I got closer, it raised its head. Two cloudy eyes gazed out at me, attached to a long, U-shaped neck. Good Lord, I’d been right—it was an ostrich.
“Hey there.” I put my hands out, trying to assure the bird that it was okay.
It made a noise deep in its throat like a mix between a growl and a hiss before swiveling its head around.
“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” I walked around the animal in a wide circle, looking for any signs of injury.
Its beak opened slightly and a clicking noise came out. It made me think of the sound a rattlesnake made right before it struck.
“We need to get you out of the middle of the road.”
The bird might have understood or maybe it was just scared shitless, because it tried to hobble to its feet. Over and over it pushed up on one leg, only to fall down again. The injured leg wouldn’t hold weight. I must have hit it right before it made it across the road. My heart ached to see an animal suffer. What to do, what to do. Considering I only had contact information for a few people in town, my options were limited. The most logical choice would be to call Robbie. But he was working a job all the way over in Springfield and I knew if I reached out, he wouldn’t hesitate to drive all the way back.
That left Cassie, who probably wouldn’t be much help in a situation like this, and Dustin. Reluctantly, I pulled up his number on my phone. It rang twice and I tried to think of what kind of message I might be able to leave.
“Hello?”
The sound of his voice made my core light up, sending heat radiating outward. “Hi, are you busy?”
“No. Just got back from running Mom to her doctor’s appointment. What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure you’ll believe me.”
Warmth filtered through the phone. I could picture him with that smirk on his mouth, a hint of humor in his gorgeous green eyes. “Try me.”
“I hit an ostrich while making a sandwich delivery, and it’s lying in the middle of the road.”
“Is it dead? An ostrich? Are you sure it’s an ostrich?”
I glanced toward the lump of feathers. “It’s a big bird—”
“Is it yellow?”
“Yellow? No. It’s gray and brownish. Why would you ask if it’s yellow?”
“Yellow, like Big Bird. Get it?”
“Dustin, I’m standing in the middle of the highway with a giant injured bird. Are you going to sit around cracking Sesame Street jokes or can you come help me out?”
“Where exactly are you?”
I gave him my approximate location. It was the best I could do seeing as there weren’t exactly any reference points and I hadn’t been paying attention when I passed the last mile marker. While I waited, I squatted down to take a closer look at the bird.
Its head continued to swivel around without stopping to focus on anything. At one point it stared right at me, a vacant look, like it could see right through me. When would Dustin get here?
Fifteen minutes later his truck eased to a stop behind mine.
22
Dustin
“What the hell is that?” I hopped out of the cab and strolled toward where Harmony crouched down in the middle of the road.
“It’s an ostrich. I think it’s hurt. Do you think we can get it into the back of the truck?”
“That’s not an ostrich.” The woman grew up in California but surely they had books. Couldn’t she tell the difference between an ostrich and an emu?
“Then what is it?” Her eyes squinted and she shielded her face from the sun as she turned toward me.
I moved closer, leery of the giant bird. “Looks like an emu to me. Similar to an ostrich but smaller.”
“Are you sure?” Her head swiveled back and forth between me and the bird.
“Pretty sure. There used to be an emu farm west of town. Maybe it’s from there.” How else would we be able to explain the presence of an emu in the middle of Missouri?
“Do you think it escaped? Or maybe it was someone’s pet. It seems pretty docile.” She reached a hand toward the bird. It didn’t flinch.
“I don’t think it’s still around. There for a while people were going crazy over emus and ostriches. We had a ton of farms pop up around town.”
“Then what?”
“Then they all went out of business to make way for the next craze. Bison became the next red meat.” I shrugged. Seemed to be the norm around here. Some know-it-all from the city would get a wild hair and decide they wanted to live the simple life. They’d sell their giant McMansion and move out to the country. After a while they’d get bored and flee back to the city.
“So they just left the birds?” She moved even closer. The emu rotated its head around. That beak sure looked sharp.
“They probably sold them. Maybe this one got out. Whatever happened, we need to get it out of the road.” And her. Sitting in the middle of the blacktop made me nervous. At any moment a truck could come over the crest of the small hill and take all of us out. “Let me see if I have a blanket in the back.”
As luck would have it, I didn’t have a blanket, but I did have a towel. It would have to do.
“Is that it?” Harmony a
sked when I returned. “You really think that’s going to protect us?”
“You know, if you want to call someone else to help you, I’d be all for it.” I knelt down next to her, the hot asphalt burning through the knees of my jeans. “I’ve had more encounters with wild animals in the few days since I met you than I have in the past fifteen years.”
“I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to catch a break here. What’s with all of the crazy animals this week?”
“I don’t know. Some people just seem to be a magnet for weird shit.”
Harmony let out a laugh. Sounded like sunshine to my ears. Why didn’t she laugh more often? “Is that me? A magnet for weird shit?”
“Maybe. I’ve never seen someone get stuck with baby raccoons, a skunk, and an emu all in one week.”
“Have you ever heard of anyone getting stuck with all three ever?”
“Got a point there. Can’t say that I have.”
We grinned at each other, caught up in the ridiculousness of the moment. I wanted to kiss her. I hadn’t been able to get those few precious minutes we’d spent on the stairs out of my head. Before I had a chance to lean over and capture her mouth with mine, the pavement trembled under my legs. Something was coming. Something big.
“Here, toss the edge of that towel over its head.” I flung the corner of the ragged towel toward her.
She pulled it over the bird, pinning down its head. The towel whipped back and forth before flying across the road.
“I’ll go grab it.”
“Harmony, no!” I reached out, grabbing her by the arm as a semi pulling a full trailer rumbled over the hill, heading right toward us.
She struggled to lift the bird. I got my hands underneath and levered it up. The three of us scrambled for the side of the road just as the truck roared by.
“That was a close one.” I shifted the weight of the giant bird in my arms. It didn’t appear to be frazzled at all. Harmony on the other hand, didn’t look so good. She leaned over, her head resting on the hood. “Are you okay?”
