Chapter 3 #2
“Oh. Lovely. What does she like?”
“I think I’d like to get her a flowerpot. But maybe something funny. She’s got a really good sense of humor. I like to get her jokey sorts of presents.”
Juniper thought for a moment. “I might have just the thing. Hang on a sec.”
She moved through the beaded curtain and walked over to a table that housed her completed items. She knew Mikayla was watching her, but she refused to make eye contact.
“Is that William?”
“Mm hmm.”
“Is William here? I’ve gotta show him my turtle.” Before she could even draw breath, Billy had slid off the stool, purple turtle in hand. He dashed across the work room, through the beaded curtain, into the shop.
“I saw you at the beach,” he announced upon entering the shop.
“So you did. I saw you, too.”
“Mummy says you’re special.”
“Does she?”
Sweet Jesus, Juniper thought to herself.
“Yeah. Coz you helped me get born.”
“Well, your Mum did most of the work.”
“I made a turtle.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“But I can’t think of a name for him.”
“Myrtle.”
Silence for a moment then Billy’s giggle floated on the air. “Myrtle the Turtle. That’s funny.” Another long, quiet moment. Juniper could just picture Billy standing in the middle of the shop, giving William the once over. “I like you.”
“I like you, too.”
“Will you go to the beach with me one day? I like to build forts.”
A moment of hesitation had Juniper’s heart tightening in her chest. Billy was very sensitive, highly attuned to people. He’d recognize rejection and feel it deeply. “Sure.”
She let out a breath of relief, grabbing what she’d come in for, and rushing back through the archway. “Billy, Mikky’s got some crackers for you.”
“Bye, William.”
“Bye, Billy.”
She held the curtain aside for him to walk through, his turtle clutched tight to his chest.
“How about this?” She placed it on the counter. It was a bright blue flowerpot, with Sometimes I Wet My Plants written on the side.
William laughed. “It’s perfect. She’ll love it. I’ll take it.”
“Lovely. Can I gift wrap it for you?”
“Yes, please.”
“When’s her birthday?”
“May.”
“May? You shop early.”
“Sure.”
She looked up, as something in the tone of his voice caught her.
She knew what came next. He was about to ask her out.
But hot flushes and stuttering hearts notwithstanding, she didn’t want to go on a date with him.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She did want to go on a date with him, but that would be getting into dangerous territory.
Territory that she didn’t have the strength to navigate.
He was just too…everything. “I won’t be a minute.
” She dashed back through the curtain, feeling a little frantic.
Mikayla, seeing the expression on Juniper’s face as she returned, was on her feet in an instant. “What’s up?”
“What? Nothing. I just need some more wrapping paper.”
Mikayla glanced at Leah, studiously painting flowers on her plate and moved to Juniper’s side. “What’s up?” She asked again, in a low voice.
“He’s going to ask me out.”
Excellent! Mikayla thought. Her gorgeous friend deserved a hot date.
“No, don’t look like that. I don’t want to go on a date with him.”
“Bullshit.”
“Mikayla, please.” She was looking edgy, desperate.
“Okay, fine.” Mikayla surveyed her for a moment. “You look like an anxious teenager. Pull yourself together and play it cool.” She pushed through the beaded curtain. “William! Hi! How great to see you again.”
“Hi. It’s great to see you too.”
Holy smokes, he was gorgeous.
Juniper moved to the counter, unfolding the tissue paper and placing the pot in the center. “Sorry about that. Just had to grab some more paper.”
“No problem.”
“Great weather we’re having.” Mikayla leaned her hip on the counter and folded her arms across her chest.
“Yeah, it’s lovely.”
“Getting lots of work done?”
“Sure.”
A long silence dragged out. Umm, what else? “Do you surf?”
“Not really.”
Awkward. He couldn’t have made it plainer that he didn’t want her there, but he was being super polite about it.
He also couldn’t take his eyes of Juniper as he took the gift from her and handed over the cash.
With a spurt of pure mischief, Mikayla said “Hey, if you’re around on the weekend, you should check out the music festival. ”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, you don’t wanna miss it. Lots of bands playing, obviously. But there’ll be food trucks and some stalls and fireworks after the sun sets.”
“Sounds great.”
“So, we’ll see you there?”
He shrugged non-committedly, looking from Mikayla to Juniper and back again. He was trying to play it cool and failing spectacularly. Mikayla loved that in a man. “Sure, if I’m around.”
“Great!” Mikayla said brightly.
“Thanks, Juniper.” He held up the bag. “Mum will love it.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Bye, then.”
“Bye.”
“Bye! See you Saturday!”
“Mikayla!” Juniper hissed once William had left.
She widened her eyes, the picture of innocence. “What? It’s not a date.”
“Some help you are,” she grumbled as they walked back into the workroom.
“Rafael McKenzie! Get your hands off my cheese!”
“I bet you say that to all the boys.”
“Funny.” Mikayla sat down next to him, taking the cheese and cracker he was about to eat and popping it in her mouth. “What’re you doing here?”
He gestured towards the Tupperware container in the middle of the table. “I was just at your Mum’s and she wanted me to give these to Billy.”
“As if Billy needs any more cookies.” She ruffled Billy’s hair as he grinned at her around a mouthful of choc chip cookie.
“A boy can never have too many cookies,” Rafe stated.
“What a stupid thing to say. Of course, they can.”
“Nah —”
“Children, children. I’m trying to run a business here,” Juniper intervened, amused.
“Gotcha.” Rafe got to his feet, looking at Mikayla as he took a handful of cookies and put them in his pocket, his dark eyes daring her to protest.
She rolled her eyes, laughing. “Seeya tonight.”
“Seeya.”
Once he was gone, Mikayla picked up her paintbrush and idly dipped it in the red paint.
She looked up at Juniper, considering her for a long moment.
She knew Juniper was aware of her scrutiny and was avoiding eye contact.
“I’m really looking forward to the music festival.
” She glanced at Leah, with her head bent shyly over her work.
Oh now, there’s a plan. “Leah, you should come with us.”
Leah looked up, startled. “Me?”
Mikayla, in her typical fashion, had taken to Leah on sight and was determined to befriend her. She looked very much in need of a good friend. “Yes, you! Don’t bother saying no. I know where you live.”
Leah laughed. “Alright, it sounds lovely.”
“Excellent. Well, Juniper might already have a date lined up, but maybe you and I can get lucky.”
Leah frowned with confusion. “You?”
“Ah yes, why not me?”
“Oh, because I thought you already had someone.”
It was Mikayla’s turn to frown with confusion. “Huh?”
“That guy that was just here.”
Mikayla blinked at her then burst out laughing. “Rafe? God, no. He’s my best mate but boyfriend, hell no!”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Leah said, a faint blush staining her cheeks. “It’s just that you seemed so…” She trailed off as Mikayla snorted.
“I’ve known him since we were seven years old. I love him to pieces but he’s like a brother to me.” She bit into a carrot stick. “So, now that we’ve got that straightened out, it’s you and me, girl, on the prowl.”
Leah laughed. “I’m not really in the market but I’ll lend you moral support.”
Mikayla sighed, ready to push the point but there was something in Leah’s eyes that gave her pause. There was a flash of pain that immediately piqued Mikayla’s protective instinct. She looked from Juniper to Leah and back again. She sure had her work cut out for her between these two women.