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I’ve been there.
I’m cheering for you.
You can get through this.
Yes, I’ve also had quite a few saying my ex is probably better off without me, I’ll never find anyone better, etcetera. My follower count has dwindled some, which I expected. But for the most part, the people who interact with me are encouraging and supportive, and I’m a tiny bit embarrassed that I felt like I had to keep up the big city girl act for as long as I did.
Like my cheesy boyfriend said—I just had to be myself.
My phone rings, and I peek at the screen. Mom. Probably gunning for that family dinner Hope mentioned. I would appreciate the way she’s wholeheartedly welcoming Grant if that dinner weren’t going to cut into ourdo whatever we pleasetime.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Lila, I’ve got great news.”
Hmm. Not a family dinner push then.
She sounds out of breath like she’s been running somewhere. Makes no sense because she’s the one I got my anti-athletic genes from. “Henderson’s finally got a taker.”
“Really? That is great news. What’s going in there?” She hasn’t mentioned showing it to anyone lately. Oh. “Is it another thrift shop?”
Not that I have anything against them. I’m just holding out for a little more variety downtown. I’m not naive enough to think my Sephora wishes will come true, but a business we don’t already have would be ideal.
“Not a thrift shop. Come down and see for yourself.”
“I can’t, I’m meeting Grant for lunch.” I check the time. “Actually, I need to leave right now.”
“You can swing by on your way.”
“It’s not on my way. Just tell me who it is.” Usually, she crows about new business tenants the minute she’s able to. Her urge to surprise me is weird and poorly timed.
She makes a giddy humming sound. “It’s much more dramatic to see for yourself. I know you’ll be thrilled.”
“I’ll be even more thrilled if you just tell me so I’m not late for Grant.”
“Lila Kathleen, if you don’t come down here right this minute, you will be disappointed you weren’t first to hear the news. I would think as Sunshine’s tourism coordinator, you would want the inside scoop on who’s moving to town.”
I sigh but grab my purse. “Probabletourism coordinator. I’ll be there in five minutes. But you’d better make it quick.”
“Oh, I don’t think you’ll mind a delay,” she says before hanging up.
Okay, that’s not cryptic at all.
Five minutes later, I stroll up to Henderson’s. Mom’s out front staring up the block and clasps her hands as soon as she sees me. She’s absurdly happy for something as simple as a commission and a new business moving into Sunshine.
In fact…the last time I saw her this happy was at Hope’s engagement party.
I slow down as I close in on her. “What’s going on?”
Mom shakes her head, but I swear she has tears in her eyes. Are Hope and Griffin pulling a surprise wedding or something? Seems unlikely, but nothing else explains her reaction.
“Go inside and see for yourself.”
A frisson of nerves skates through me. I stare at the glass door I papered over with Fourth of July themed wrapping. The window next to it still shines in all its patriotic glory. I’ve been in here half a dozen times. It should be no big deal to walk through that door. But Mom’s acting extremely fishy.
“Go on.” She nods at the door. “It’s a good thing. And if you don’t agree, well, that’s okay, too.”
I peer at her, trying to make sense of this, but she’s too giddily mysterious for me to make sense of her. So I pull the door open?—
