I blinked, unsure of who this woman was, how she knew all of this and how to respond to everything she just said. She didn’t sound bitchy, just overly nosey, but friendly. “Um…” was all I managed before she got started again.
She put her well-manicured hand over her chest. “Now where are my manners? I’m Laura Maye. I own the bar down the street, and after looking in your store, probably your best customer.” She gestured with the shopping bags I hadn’t noticed before, which were a dusty pink with white ribbon handles and stamped with the word ‘Phoenix’. My bags were the shit.
“Got to run anyway doll, I’m late for a facial. I’ll be back real soon though. Want to hear all about last night.” She blew me a kiss, strutting out the door, yelling over her shoulder. “Bye Amy girl, nice to meet you, see yah Rosie!”
The girls both waved back. I stood frozen for a second, in one of those, did that just happen moments. This town was weird. But in a good way. I continued to the counter, dropping the bags of food, turning to see both Amy and Rosie looking at me with smirks on their faces. I resisted the urge to flip them the bird, seeing as they were both with customers.
“Lunch,” I announced. I turned on my heel and stomped into my office before I could get any teasing questions, I ignored the muted laughter behind me.
Another thing I loved about my store was the back office, it was small, but awesome. I had it painted a dusty pink, my white desk sat in the middle of the room. A couple of Vogues were stacked on one side, and a tray of candles sat at the front of my laptop. Behind the desk was a light yellow upholstered swivel chair. To the left of my desk was a pale yellow printed couch, and on the back wall was a huge framed photo of my hometown back in New Zealand. It was taken when Ian had dragged me along with him to go hunting one winter when he was home. I did this under huge protest. The sight of blood made me squeamish, seeing the animal carcasses that dad and Ian brought home on a semi-regular basis was enough for me. I had said as much to Ian, but he laid the guilt trip on me.
“Sis, I’m not home for long, who knows when I’ll be back next.”
I grumbled about it, but I went. I still to this day don’t know why he wanted to spend his short leave hunting animals when his job was to hunt humans. Despite my complaints, I actually enjoyed it, not the killing animals part, but the hiking in the hills, amongst the beautiful scenery with my brother who I missed dearly. I took the picture when we got to the top of the mountain. With the view of the whole valley we lived in, and then some. Our hometown in the winter was magical. Snow capped the hills, temperatures that dropped to well below freezing caused the bare trees to turn white with frost. It had been early morning, the sun had just risen, a soft pink dancing on the horizon, and the street lights of the town still twinkling. It was amazing, our small town nestled among the rough hills, the whole valley dressed in winter white. I loved that picture.
I sat behind my desk and cranked up my laptop, sipping the coffee that was slowly contributing to normal brain function, after half of it had been screwed out of me last night. I heard my phone ringing from the depths of my handbag, I managed to answer just before it went to voicemail.
“Hello,” I greeted nervously, hoping it wasn’t Cade. I hadn’t given him my number or anything, but he was a super badass with super badass powers. Or more likely he got it off his sister.
“Sweetie!” I heard my mum scream, I relaxed into my chair smiling. It had been a while since I had heard from either of my parents, I missed them.
“I’ve been thinking about you, things have just been so busy I haven’t had the time to ring! How was the opening? You getting settled in okay? Making any new friends?” My mum shot multiple questions at me at once, I was used to it.
“The opening was great, I’m emailing you pictures of the store now.” I started typing on my laptop. “We’re settling in fine, Amy did a freaking great job of the house, but I’m sure you’ve already seen it all.”
“Yes, yes Amy sent me pictures ages ago, I had the final say in most design decisions.” Mum told me matter of factly.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you did mother! And yes, we are making some awesome new friends. Amy got us invited to a party the other night. It was heaps of fun and I met some lovely people, one of whom I hired to work in the store. Looks like we are going to need her, things are busy already! I think a clothing store was exactly what the female residents of Amber needed.”
I glanced up to see Amy leaning against the door jamb, munching on a sandwich. ‘Mum’, I mouthed at her.
“Hi Lacey!” Amy shouted, mouth full.
“Amy says hi mum,” I said sarcastically.
“I heard her honey. I’m so happy she’s there with you, you have such a great friend in her,” Mum murmured softly.
“I know, Mum. How’s Dad?” I asked after my father, because, like Ian, he took my attack pretty hard. He felt like he should’ve protected me or something, no matter that he was on the other side of the world and it was my stupid decisions that nearly got me killed, but they were both macho men who blamed themselves.
“He’s doing good sweetie,” Mum answered, voice still soft. “He’s off on some fishing trip, down in Stewart Island, thank god, he was driving me insane.”