Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
WILLOW
The saccharine scent of maple syrup invades my senses as I push the door shut behind me and step deeper into the store. It’s cold inside, but I don’t bother looking at the thermostat. A frown tugs my lips downward as I scan the entire space. My brother’s wasted no time on packing up.
The shelving units that were once on the walls cease to exist, along with all the ones that were throughout the store. The only thing left is the counter at the opposite end of the store and boxes stacked in the center of the room.
Before I realize it, I’m across the room and at the counter. The tips of my fingers leave streaks as I run them over the dust settled there. I can’t help but wonder if they lied about when they actually closed the doors to this place.
There’s no way they just closed the store.
As I walk around the back of the checkout counter, I find an old stool with a plush leather top.
It too is coated in a layer of dust that I brush off with my hand before setting my bag down on it.
There’s a pack of wipes inside the front pocket and I dig them out, pulling one from the packet to clean off my hands before I wipe down the counter.
Next, I pull out a notebook and a pen. I press my thumb against the end of the pen, the click echoing in the empty space as I meander around the perimeter of the store. All the while, jotting down the supplies I know I’ll be needing to get the store back up and running.
I’m not sure what vibes I really want to go for in this space, but I do know that some of the holes will need to be patched on the walls. I’m going to need paint, but I suppose I need to figure out what I want the inside to look like before I can buy that.
I huff a great big sigh as I click the top of the pen and stare down at the list. After doing a full walk around the store, the only thing I have written on it is a container of putty for the wall, a putty knife, and a hand sander. I’m going to need more than this, but at least it’s a start.
Clicking the pen once more, I add the cleaning supplies I should get and then tuck it back into my bag before digging out my wallet. If I can get the holes in the walls patched and the place cleaned up, that at least gives me a clean slate to work with. I can pinpoint the specifics later.
The hardware store is only a short walk across the street and through the intersection. Sugar Hill Hollow isn’t a big town, but it has all the essentials we need here in the center of town. The closest major city is about a half an hour east, just before you reach the coast.
The main trauma hospital is there, although we have a smaller urgent care facility here in the Hollow, along with a dentist office and the family doctor’s office.
As I reach the light, the white walking figure illuminates on the other side and I quickly cross the street, careful to make sure there aren’t any cars coming.
Early in the morning like this, school is already in session and most work traffic has already traveled down the cobblestone streets.
A chill runs through me as the cool breeze drifts across my face, carrying tendrils of my hair in front of my eyes.
Brushing them away, I tuck the stray hairs behind my ears and reach up to tighten the ponytail to keep my long hair back. My hands don’t even make it back down to my side as another cold breeze sweeps around me again, and I gather the collar of my hoodie up to cover my neck to block the wind.
I pass the coffee shop and come to the front of the vet office where I stop along the street, looking both ways before breaking out into a jog across the road to the hardware store.
The metal handle is cool against my palm as I curl my fingers around it and pull against the weight of it.
The hinges groan and the bell above dings as I duck inside.
The smell of lumber wraps itself around me and I roll my shoulders, the warmth inside the store enveloping me. I should get a small heater for the shop. It can come in handy when there’s paint that will need to dry. I tend to always be cold anyways, so it’s not like it will go to waste.
“Hey, Willow.”
Glancing over at the checkout counter, a smile tugs on my lips when I find a young woman standing on the other side. She tucks her hair behind her ears as I lift my hand to wave at a familiar face. “Bella! Hey!”
Bella Howard and I went to school together, although she was a year younger than me. Her father has owned Howard’s Hardware for as long as I can remember.
“How are you doing? I thought I heard whisperings of you being back in town.”
My eyes widen slightly and I shake my head.
“I swear, word travels so fast around here.” I don’t know where the whisperings would have even come from.
I’ve been back for two days and I haven’t really been in town for anyone to catch sight of me.
I did stop by the bakery, so maybe Miss Maggie is the one who’s been gossiping.
There’s no way it would have been Jace, since he just got back in town himself. “I’m good, though. How are you?”
“Can’t complain,” she says simply as she nods.
“I just finished my teaching degree at the University of Portland. I’m on the waitlist for Sugar Hill Elementary and have been taking some substituting jobs in the meantime.
” She pauses, shruggings her shoulders with a smile.
“And I’ve been working for my dad until something more permanent comes up. ”
“That’s amazing!” I say with excitement as I smile back brightly at her. “The world needs more teachers. You have always had the personality for being an elementary school teacher.”
“Thanks,” Bella says. “I’m really hopeful that I will find something within the next year or so.” The phone beside her begins to ring, interrupting our conversation. “I should take this, but if you need any help finding anything, just holler.”
It’s not a big store and I wander down the aisles until I find and collect the few things I need. My basket isn’t full, but the box with the space heater is tucked under my arm making for an awkward walk back to the front of the store.
“Do you need help?”
A soft laugh escapes me as I lean forward, attempting to put the space heater on the counter without dropping it. “No, I think I’m okay,” I say as I stand upright and lift the basket to set it down next to the box.
Bella grabs the items one by one, ringing each one up before setting them to the side. “Your total is $107.62,” she says after hitting the button for the total. “What kind of project are you working on?” she asks as she puts the cleaning supplies, putty, knife, and sander all in one bag.
Pulling some cash from my wallet, I hold it out to Bella. She takes it from me and punches a few keys before the cash register drawer pops open. “Fixing up the maple store.”
“I thought it closed?” Her eyebrows tug together as she counts out the change and hands it to me.
Did everyone know that it closed except me?
“Yeah, it did,” I say, dipping my chin as I tuck the change back into my wallet and slide it into the front pocket of my hoodie. “My brother’s didn’t have the time to manage it anymore but since I’m back in town, I’m going to fix it up and reopen it.”
She raises her eyebrows, another bright smile breaking out across her lips. “Oh, I love that! Give it a good rebrand and make it fresh.”
“Yes, exactly,” I say eagerly, nodding my head. Another customer comes up behind me with an arm full of tools. “I have until Harvest Fest, so hopefully it’s ready by then.”
“Well, if you need any help with anything, you know where to find me!”
“Thanks, Bella,” I say as I collect my bag and space heater, then step out of the way for the man behind me. “I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”
“Bye, Willow,” she says, giving me a wave as the man begins to set his things down on the counter.
I stop by the door and turn back to her, pressing my back into the door as I push it open. “Bye!”
A gust of cold air carries a whirlwind of crisp leaves scurrying across the ground as I step onto the sidewalk, letting the door slam shut behind me.
Just as I turn to the left to head back to the shop, I collide with a solid warm body.
The brown paper bag crushes against my side and I lose my grip on the box in my other arm.
It’s about to tumble onto the ground when a hand reaches out and catches it. Another hand wraps around my bicep, steadying me on my feet.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry,” I rush out, my eyes flashing up to the person I ran into. My breath hitches as I meet familiar green eyes. “Jace.”
His mouth twitches and his eyebrows lift as his fingers loosen their grip around my bicep, but not letting go. “Willow,” he says, my name no more than a whisper. His throat bobs and then he clears it, his hand falling away from my arm. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yes, I’m fine.” I nod, a nervous laugh slipping from my lips. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to run into you.”
“I’m okay,” he says, his voice gruff as he scratches the back of his neck. “It happened too fast for either of us to see the other coming.” He looks to the hardware store then down at the bag in my arm. “What’s all this for?”
“The store,” I admit, shifting my weight on my feet as I adjust the bag in my arm. He’s still holding the space heater. “My brother’s closed it, but I convinced them to let me reopen it.”
His eyebrows cinch closer together and his hand falls away from the back of his neck. “They closed the store?”
Relief washes over me. Finally, someone else who didn’t know about the store closing.
My head bobs and I explain yet again why my brothers closed it and when I’m planning to reopen it .
“Hmm,” he murmurs, tilting his head to the side as he looks past me.
He twists his lips to the side and for a moment, a warmth washes over me.
He still chews on the inside of his cheek when he’s lost in thought, just like I remember.
His mouth drifts back to neutral, his eyes flickering to mine as he releases his cheek. “What are your plans for it?”
“Well—” I pause and swallow roughly as I shrug my shoulders. “I’m not exactly sure yet. First, I need to clean the place and patch some holes in the walls. Finn said they closed the store recently, but I think it’s been longer than he’s let on.”
Jace tucks the box under his arm. “I’ll come help.”
My heart beats a little harder against my ribcage and I quickly shake my head. “That’s okay. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
His forehead creases, but only for a moment. It’s a small movement that happens so quickly, I wouldn’t have noticed if I weren’t staring at him. “I promise I don’t,” he says.
“I’m just going there to clean.”
“I know.” He takes a step away from me, his other arm moving in a sweeping motion. “After you.”
My feet are cemented for a second as my eyes scan his face. I don’t need his help, although it does make the task feel a little less daunting. He’s more than a foot taller than me, so he can also reach the spots I can’t.
The softest sigh escapes me and I’m not sure what emotion is even behind it.
“Let’s go.”