Just One Look (Castleton Hearts)

This town had a smoothie shop, a Pilates studio, and way too many art galleries for such a small town. I walked into a home goods boutique and almost choked at the price on the sheets. Sure, I had plunked down a lot of money for custom furniture, but for sheets? That I was going to inevitably stain? No way. I did find some silverware that I fell in love with, though, and that wasn’t as outrageously priced as the sheets, so I went ahead and grabbed them, as well as a cute little dish towel with an embroidered lobster on it.

Proud with my purchase, I went to the smoothie shop and paid an arm and a leg for an organic peach mango smoothie that had some sort of magic brain powder in it, and a grilled chicken salad. As I ate, I looked at the other people in the shop. They might be wearing what looked like shabby clothes, but I knew those were shabby on purpose and cost more than you’d expect.

I sipped my smoothie and listened to the woman at the table next to me bemoan that one of her new coworkers had a star chart that conflicted with hers, and she didn’t know if she should go to HR about it. I found it nearly impossible not to comment as her friend listened and said that her friend should probably wait, and maybe it would be okay.

Why she wasn’t telling her friend to get her head out of her ass, I didn’t know. Astrology was all fun and games until you were messing with someone else’s job.

Sometimes I didn’t understand people. I finished my salad and took the rest of my smoothie down the street and toward the boardwalk that ran parallel to the ocean and sat on a bench to finish it.

Once again, that gnawing loneliness hit me. What I wouldn’t give to have someone lovely sitting beside me, to make comments about the passersby with.

Maybe I should put that on my vision board too. Manifest myself a wife. What did I want in a partner? It was something I hadn’t really thought about. I supposed I’d just meet someone, and we’d fall in love and get married and that would be it. Isn’t that what everyone did?

Obviously, my strategy hadn’t worked.

“Memma, help me out,” I said softly to myself. “Give me a sign, something.”

When nothing happened, I got up from the bench and tossed my empty smoothie cup and went back to my car.

Natalie got back to me and asked if I wanted to come shadow everyone the following Wednesday. I told her that was great and agreed. She said I didn’t have to worry about food, but I said I was absolutely going to stop and get breakfast for everyone at Sweet’s and asked for what they might want.

Tuesday was my second training shift at the library, and it was fun, because I helped Beth set up for the Tuesday evening knitting club that met in one corner of the library.

“It’s a really great group, and there are some members your age,” Beth said.

“My grandmother was a knitter,” I said. “I wish I’d asked her to teach me.” Why hadn’t I?

“We’ve got extra yarn and needles and everything if you want to give it a shot. Christa is one of our members and she’s a fabulous teacher.”

“Thanks, I’ll think about it.” I wanted to get my house finished before I took on any hobbies. Oh, and find a career, and maybe figure out dating.

So much of the volunteer job, I was learning, was talking and chatting to the locals.

“You name any gossip, and I know it,” Beth said. “I know just about everything about just about everyone in this town.”

“I don’t know if I want that,” I said. “Sometimes a little mystery is good.”

Beth laughed. “It’s an occupational hazard. And I’m nosy.”

Chapter Six

I arrived at an absolutely stunning white home with blue shutters and doors on Wednesday morning with a box of donuts and a tray full of drinks. There was a child’s bicycle propped up against the porch and it looked out of place with the pristineness of the house.

The door was opened by who I assumed was the owner of the bicycle.

“Hello, are you Kendra?” the little boy said, holding onto the doorknob. He had messy blond hair and a huge grin.

“Yes, I’m Kendra, are you Preston?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Welcome to our home,” he said, holding the door open and gesturing inside. “Please remove your shoes.”

I tried not to laugh as I slid my sneakers off and placed them near the door.

“Hi Kendra, I’m Piper,” said a lovely woman with hair the exact same shade as Preston. “I’m so sorry to run, but I have to get this guy to preschool. Please make yourself at home.”