Page 5 of Wrapped in Winter
My heart is beating double time as I dodge into the diner six storefronts down from the bakery. I’m met with the eyes of everyone eating and try to act like I wasn’t just running from a stranger down the sidewalk.
“Hey, January, everything okay?”
“Yes, Miss Trudy. I’m sorry, it was just so cold out I had to run into the warmth.”
She eyes me with suspicion. I put on a smile and walk to her at the counter. “Can I get three coffees to go and a hot chocolate?”
“You know there’s a bakery down the street, right? There’s nothing like diner coffee, but I’m just surprised to see you here.”
I know she’s pushing for information because that’s who she is. Miss Nosey wants all the gossip and loves to talk. This town has nothing else to do but play a game of telephone. I swear, it’s what makes Wintervale tick. And since my family has definitely had its fair share of drama, they love any information they can get on us.
While I wait for her to brew the coffee, I pull out my phone and check emails. We’re scheduled for a delivery this afternoon, so hopefully it’s more of the Love and Lace collection. I make a note to talk with Lief about a website or some kind of social media page. Maybe it will boost sales if we post new arrivals into the store. I know I’m supposed to consult Jack now that he is a silent partner, but I’m not ready to bring him completely into the fold yet. I know I have to trust that he will do the right thing, but despite growing up together, four years destroyed the trust we had. Two were his fault, two were mine, but in the end, we’re trying to start over, and he’s doing right by my best friend.
Seeing the bar guy has my anxiety spiking. The fact he is still here in Wintervale six weeks later leads me to believe he lives here. People come and go vacationing in this area all the time, so there are always new faces; however, most of them move on quickly. If I’m seeing him now, he must work here in town too.
Though I ran away like a little girl today, and definitely not like the thirty-year-old woman who took control that night, I haven’t been able to get him from my mind since. If I’m being honest, I have considered that maybe I should have stuck around.
But it’s best that I didn’t. The only time I put myself first was when I left Montana. And that turned my life in a completely different direction. If I do it again, there’s no telling what direction it will take me.
You’re better off alone, January.No one needs your complications and you definitely don’t need theirs.
Miss Trudy comes back with my coffees and hot chocolate. “Here you are, January. How’s that shop running?”
“It’s fine.”
“I heard that Fristoni boy has signed on with you.”
I raise a brow and look at her. “Miss Trudy, you’re well aware that Jack and my brother have been good friends for along time, and if Jack believes in us, then we’re going for it.” How this woman always finds out all the information around town is beyond me. She mumbles something about Jack stealing cookies, and I shake my head and tell her to have a good day as I head back out into the cold.
I walk a few doors down and enter our shop, placing the coffees on the counter and checking the calendar for today. Blossom will be in soon, and my mom should be here any minute with Lily. I need these moments in the morning to get our spreadsheets ready for the day and see where our bottom line ended the day before. The few sales we had yesterday were good, but we need more. Jack will be signed on at the end of the week, and by the end of the month, we will be back in the black. On paper anyway.
Being indebted to somebody is the worst feeling in the world, especially when there is no answer in sight for how you will be able to pay it back. I haven’t slept in weeks, and the only thing I did for myself was hook up with that guy at the Range Bar and Grill. And that felt just as fleeting as everything else in my life. The moment I realized what I had just done, I pushed him away, grabbed my shirt, and ran.
It’s not something that can happen for me anymore.
“Good morning, my sweet sister!” Blossom sing-songs as she enters the store.
I groan, “It’s too early for your happiness.”
“It’s never too early!” She swipes a coffee cup from the counter. “You need a little spice in your life, sister, and I think I know exactly where to find it.”
I narrow my eyes at her over my own cup while I sip. I don't like where this is going. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, you’re here on time today, and we have a delivery coming in.”
I roll my eyes and lean against the counter. “You need to stop with this delivery guy. If he’s so hot, you date him.”
“Nope, he’s not for me. Lily has an attachment to him already, so I think it’d be in your best interest to meet him.”
I point at her. “You keep my daughter away from strangers, Blossom. I’m serious. I don’t know why you think any of that is okay.”
She waves her hand at me. “Relax, she’s always right there with me. He’s a nice guy, always brings her a cookie from the bakery.”
“What! If he drives a white van with no windows, I’m going to hurt you.”
She snickers. “He drives a delivery van; relax, it has windows.” She puts her hand on her hip and looks upward. “I did see a box full of puppies in the back. Could just be coincidence though—oomph!” She laughs as she dodges my fist.
“It’s not funny, Blossom.”