Total pages in book: 198
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
“I was in town; I just got here last night. I was walking around looking for a job, and I figured I might as well drop by and see you.” While we hadn’t been active-active in each other’s lives for a long time, we had managed to keep in touch. We’d texted each other Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday for two decades.
And since I’d split up with Kaden . . . I’d kind of fallen off the face of the planet. I hadn’t felt like talking about anything more than I already had.
“You’re really planning on staying?”
“Yeah. That’s my plan at least.”
Clara looked pretty damn surprised.
I knew how it seemed. No wonder she looked surprised.
But I’d have to explain that I hadn’t really had a choice, even if I saw that it had been the best thing that could have happened.
She blinked again and then smiled a little more brightly before gesturing toward the counter where the younger girl was, looking at us with a curious expression on her face. Her ponytail was lopsided, and she seemed just as tired as Clara. I knew she didn’t have kids, so maybe she was just an employee. They might have been going full speed all day. Based on the time, I’d bet all those rentals would be coming back pretty soon too. “Step into my office,” Clara suggested. “Let’s have a chat. I need to keep an eye out in case anyone else has any questions, and I want to hear about stuff.”
I cracked a smile at her office and nodded, going to stand across from where the teenager was leaning and watching as Clara went around the counter to face the store. “Aurora, this is my niece, Jackie. Jackie, this is Aurora. We were best friends a long time ago.”
The teenage girl’s eyes went a little wide, and I wondered why, but she waved.
“Hi.” I waved back.
“Where are you staying? You said you got here last night?” Clara asked.
“I’m staying closer to Chimney Rock.” That was a national monument on the opposite end of town. “And, yeah, I drove in last night. I came into town to buy groceries and check out some of the shops. I figured I might as well come say hi while I was at it.”
All I knew about Clara was that about a year ago her dad had gotten really ill, and she’d moved back to Pagosa from . . . Arizona? She had been married, and about eight years ago, her husband had died tragically in a drunk driving accident. I’d sent her flowers for the funeral when she’d posted about it.
“I’m glad you did,” she said, smiling wide. “I still can’t believe you’re here. Or that you’re even prettier in person than in your pictures. I’d kind of hoped it was an app with a really great filter, but it’s not.” Clara shook her head.
“I didn’t do anything to deserve it. Anyway, how are you? How’s your dad?”
It was only because I’d gotten so in tune with people’s suffering that I caught a hint of her wince. “I’m good. Really busy here. And Dad is . . . Dad’s doing okay. I’ve taken over running this place full-time.” Her face was tight. “He doesn’t come in here that much anymore. But I’d bet he’d love to see you if you’re planning on staying a while.”
“I am, and I’d love to see him too.”
Clara’s gaze strayed to her niece before returning to me, eyes narrowed. She looked at me a little too closely. “What kind of job are you looking for?”
“What kind of job are you hiring for?” I asked her, joking. What the hell did I know about outdoor activities? Nothing. Not anymore. Just walking through the fishing section had been eye-opening.
Mom would be so disappointed with me. She used to take me fishing all the time. Sometimes it had been the two of us, and sometimes her friends came too from what I remembered.
Yet that was all a blank wall for me now.
I wasn’t exaggerating. I didn’t recognize half of the stuff inside the store. More than that probably.
The last twenty years without my mom had turned me into a city girl. I hadn’t been camping once since leaving here. I’d gone fishing a handful of times with my uncle on his boat, but that had easily been fifteen years ago since the last trip. I wasn’t even sure I could name ten different kinds of fish if I had to.
The surprising part was, Clara looked . . . well, she looked interested. “Don’t mess with me right now, Aurora . . . or do you go by Ora now?”
“Either one.” I blinked. “And I was kind of joking. I don’t know anything about any of this.” I gestured behind me. “If I did though, sign me up.”