Lux’s wedding is right around the corner and we’re both in it. The thought of him bringing a date makes my stomach queasy. I’ve never seen or heard about him dating anyone in town, but now I’m wondering if this Paula chick will change that. I shake the thought out of my head, not wanting to go there. I’m getting way ahead of myself, which is something Lux always does, and I have to talk her off the ledge. There’s no sense in me worrying about something that might never happen.
It doesn't take me long to make it to my Grams’ house and I see her in the flower bed when I pull up. She’s right in front of the porch, and when she hears me, she stands up and gives me a giant smile.
She’s so different from my dad that it’s hard to believe he was raised by her. She told me a long time ago she lived in the city, and that’s where she raised him. It wasn't until after she lost her husband that she moved here to Pink Springs. It’s hard for me to see her as a city girl because this is the only way I’ve ever known her.
“Hey, sweetie,” she says as I jump down from my Jeep.
“Hey, Grams.” I follow her eyes when something grabs her attention, and my heart drops when I see Cooper in his patrol car.
He doesn't stop, though. He just slows to a crawl and then keeps on going. I guess I’m not getting arrested after all. He’s all but giving me a free pass around town to do whatever I want.
“I didn't think I’d see you tonight,” Grams says, pulling my attention away from Cooper. I walk over to give her a kiss.
“I still have a few more boxes I need to grab.” Plus I want to check on her. She’s more than capable of taking care of herself, but she’s all I’ve got left.
“It’s going to be strange without you living here anymore, but I’m happy you’re not going far.”
“You know I wouldn’t.” When we walk inside I snag a cookie off the plate on the table then go up to my room.
There are only a few boxes left, so it doesn’t take many trips out to my Jeep to get it all done. I don’t have anything big I’m taking with me, and I ordered whatever furniture I needed. Most of it is still in boxes, but I’ll get around to building it sooner or later. I bet I could trade pie for labor with Luca.
“I think that’s it.”
“Don’t look sad, sweetie. This is a new chapter of your life,” Grams tells me as she holds me close.
“You don’t think it’s silly?” I might flop on my face, but when it comes to the arts, Pink Springs has got nothing, and I’m hoping to change that very soon. Not only to display my stuff but maybe do classes and even some small events.
“It’s never silly to follow a dream.” She squeezes my hand one last time, and I give her a kiss.
On my way back to the center of town, I think about how my Grams always pushes me to follow my heart. If she believes in me, I should believe in myself.
When I pull up to the parking behind the main strip of buildings downtown, I look at my building. It sounds crazy to call it that, but it’s all mine now. The place used to be some real estate office, but they moved out, and it’s been vacant for a while. What’s great about it, though, is the apartment on the top floor, so I can have a studio downstairs while my living space is above.
Taking out the keys, I go inside and put my code in the alarm. After that, I grab a couple of boxes and start carrying them upstairs. Once I’m in my apartment, I stare at all the boxes and wish Lux was here. I haven't told her about any of this even though I told her a long time ago it was a dream of mine. With her falling in love and getting married soon, and of course a baby on the way, it never felt like the right time.
I walk over to the window that looks down at Main Street and see the police station right in front of me. There’s no missing it, but I can pretty much see all of downtown from this vantage point.
Cooper comes walking out of the station right then, and my eyes widen when I see him standing next to a woman I don’t recognize. She must be the woman Lux was talking about. She’s got long, wavy blond hair that somehow goes perfectly with the blue dress she has on. That’s all I can really tell about her from this distance, but there's no mistaking her curves.