Page 53 of Jasmine Street Blues

“Just a minute?”

“I need to put a sign on the door letting everyone know I’ll be closed for a week. I’m going to be busy moving, decorating your place, making a trip to Florida.”

Mac squeezed her hand. “Telling Carrie she didn’t kill Eddie won’t take any time at all, and I guess that’s the big thing. That will change her life. But how am I supposed to tell her that her mother lied to her about me, and that I found out from Kylie’s ghost? I have no idea what to say, after all this time.”

“That’s ok,” Loran said. “I know exactly what to say.” She looked up at Mac. “One runner to another.”

“Former runner.”

“Yeah. It feels good to have my feet firmly on the ground, for a change.”

His answer to that was to sweep her off her feet. Since the move was unexpected she squealed, then laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I guess they don’t have to be on the ground all the time.”

“I’m not perfect,” Mac said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“I’m well aware,” she teased.

His eyes narrowed and met hers. “You could argue with me a little bit.”

“Why? I’m not perfect either. I love you, flaws and all.”

“Ditto,” he whispered.

His eyes shifted to a spot behind her, and he growled. Loran turned her head to see what had disturbed him. It was Olive, who approached them with a quick step. Her friend was grinning from ear to ear.

“She’ll never let us forget this,” Loran whispered.

“Nope. Might as well give her something to crow about.” Mac stopped in his tracks, there in the middle of the sidewalk, put Loran back on her feet, and kissed her. Not a quick peck, not a friendly kiss, but a soul-searing kiss she felt to her bones.

Loran felt as if she might float off the ground, she was so light, so happy.

A man, a dog, a friend… home.

EPILOGUE

Carrie had been antsy all morning, jumping at every loud noise. This afternoon Lila was going to meet with a potential buyer for the cafe and for her house. She’d known it was coming, but still…

Where would her guardian angel lead her next?

It was silly to believe her mom watched over her, or that she had a guardian angel. Being silly was a luxury she couldn’t afford. It was all just luck, good or bad.

At least she had a phone now. No one to call but Lila, though she was enjoying going onto the internet and finding music and news. Though the news… Ugh. No thanks.

A couple of times she’d gone to a search bar and started to type in Eddie’s name. She could never make herself get past Edd. She’d also started a search for Mac, but stopped herself before she got far. Why torture herself with social media pictures of his new wife, his kids, the life he’d made for himself without her?

Her mom had filled her in on all that news, had made it clear that Mac was a part of their past, not their future.

Carrie stood as far away from Phil as possible as she refilled his coffee cup, then spun away and backed up as his hand slipped out from under the table.

Creep.

“You should let me take you to dinner one night,” he said.

“I work all the time,” she said as she took another step back.

“Everyone needs to have a little fun, now and then,” Phil argued with a smarmy smile.

Be brutal. “You’re way too old for me.”