Chapter 10
Celine
“You’ve got to come.” Callie begged, snagging a cookie from the tray Stella had baked and left on the table in the teacher’s lounge.
I’d dropped the kids off at music, then come in to refill my water bottle. If I’d known she’d corner me, I would have used the filling station on the other side of the building.
“I don’t have time to read.”
“Doesn’t matter,” she said easily. “It’s No Book Club. Reading isn’t required. But you need to meet people. Trust me. It’ll be good for you to take a night off.”
Socialization wasn’t in the cards for me. At least not anytime soon. “I have no childcare.” And my kids weren’t the type that I could leave with a random teenager recommended by a coworker.
“Sure you do.” Stella waltzed into the room, bringing her sunshiny warmth with her.
“Stell, you have no idea how much I needed this,” Callie said, mouth full of cookie. “The twins clogged the sink with their homemade slime, and I’ve been craving sugar.”
“I’ll babysit,” Stella said. “Julian is already comfortable with me, and I can bring over the new sight word games I picked up for my classroom. He can help me test them out.”
A pit formed in my stomach in response. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
She shrugged. “Then good thing you’re not asking.”
“Don’t you want to go to the club?” I asked her.
“I go sometimes.” She picked up a cookie. “But I know everyone already, and I’m tired of answering questions about you. Trust me, the town would rather you go.”
“But—”
“Looks like the problem is solved.” Callie clapped once. “Good. There are so many people I want you to meet.”
I had full confidence in Stella. She was an educator but also an all-around amazing person, and my kids were fully in love with her.
The problem was me. Was I ready to leave them? And what would I do at this No Book Club? I was the least interesting person in this town. An entire evening of awkward small talk was not my idea of fun.
But Stella left before I could turn her down, and if it wasn’t clear she’d made up my mind for me then, it was when she showed up at six thirty, a wide smile on her face.
A teacher through and through, she arrived with a tote bag full of games, crafts, and ingredients for cookies.
Everyone, including Ellie, was smitten, not one of them looking my way when I said goodbye.
Was it weird to be jealous? And maybe a little hurt that they were so eager to get rid of me?
I started the engine, but rather than drive away, I closed my eyes, engulfed in panic. For so long, leaving hadn’t been an option. A break from my duties would bring either punishment or danger.
With a deep breath in, I rested my head against the seat. We were safe now. The kids were in good hands, I was going out to meet people. It was what I should be doing. And exactly what I’d wanted when moving here. A fresh start. A normal life.
But my nervous system had not caught up. It took another two or three minutes to calm my racing heart. Then with shaky hands, I drove into town.
Parking was easier than I thought, and I found myself lingering outside the restaurant a few minutes before the meeting was set to start, looking down at the sundress I was wearing.
It was a hand-me-down from Chloe. She’d given me a closet full of clothes after I’d left Donny.
Since the time I hit puberty, she’d been smaller than me, but in recent years, I’d shrunk quite a bit.
Stress was to blame for the most part, but the intense workouts played a part too, and I couldn’t give them up.
Running was the only thing that quieted my anxious brain.
The garment was pretty and had probably cost a fortune, but my face suddenly heated and I wished I’d worn something simpler. I couldn’t pull this off. Who was I kidding? But I was here now, so I might as well get this over with.
I hadn’t been to the Drip Line yet, so as I walked into the bar-slash-restaurant off Market Street, I surveyed the sights.
The walls and floors were dark wood, and the lighting wasn’t much brighter.
The windows were fogged a little, and the interior was decorated with pumpkins, gourds, dried corn, and fairy lights.
The chalkboard menu was quirky and cute, highlighting several fall menu items. The place was intimate, the vibe easygoing. Like the kind of bar I would have enjoyed in a former life.
As I wandered deeper, a delicious fried scent filled my nostrils, making my stomach growl.
But that didn’t distract me from locating all the exits, and it didn’t temper the wave of shame that hit me when I registered what I was doing. My paranoia was dialed up tonight.
I wasn’t hopeful that I’d do a great job acting human like I had promised myself. My plan was to stay for an hour. I would give myself one hour to interact with other adult humans.
I was repeating the mantra when Callie bustled my way. Her tall, willowy frame was hidden under an enormous tent of a dress in a bold red print, and she was wearing her familiar perfume.
If it weren’t for Callie, I never would have moved to this town, so I was grateful for her. But while I adored her enthusiasm and support, I wasn’t so keen on being physically pushed into a large group of people.
Yet that’s exactly what happened.
“Everyone,” she called, grasping my arm and leading me to a massive oak table at the back. “This is my dear friend and kindergarten teacher extraordinaire, Celine LeBlanc.”
The table was loaded full, and every eye was on me. As I looked back at them, the desire to run straight to the emergency exit bubbled up inside me.
It didn’t subside when they took turns greeting me. All the smiles, handshakes, and questions were flattering, but also a bit alarming.
From what I’d experienced so far, Maplewood adopted aggressively. With food and hugs and lots of noise.
I insisted on sitting at the end of the long table. Because I wanted to observe and also because being locked in made me uncomfortable. Knowing my potential exit routes and having access if necessary allowed me to breathe easier.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” a woman with jeweled glasses said, holding out her hand. “I’m Nora Hatch. I own the apothecary, though I’m a pharmacist by trade.”
I returned the greeting, conjuring an image of the cute storefront with big windows in my mind.
“She’s so much more than that. You need any kind of natural remedy, Nora is your woman,” Ruby—whom I’d learned was Stella’s sister—added, raising her wineglass high. “She’s a witch.”
“I’m a person who believes in holistic health,” Nora said, her lips twitching a little. “If your kid has an ear infection, I’ll fill the script for antibiotics, and I’ll add some herbal tea to help him sleep.”
Callie grumbled, her face pinching. “Except none of your vitamins or tea blends have calmed my twins down.”
“That’s because I’m not legally allowed to dispense elephant tranquilizers. Sweetie.” Nora tutted into her martini glass.
I bit my tongue to keep from laughing, but Callie herself burst into laughter, with tears rolling down her face.
Amusement threaded through me as I watched her. If there was one thing I loved about my principal, it was that she didn’t take herself too seriously.
“How do you like living on the Lawrence farm?” Ruby asked.
“It’s a lovely home,” I replied, leaving it at that.
“You won the lottery with that landlord,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
I frowned at her, not following.
“He’s one of the good ones,” an older lady wearing a sequined turban added. “If I were thirty years younger, I can’t say I wouldn’t be out chasing that man.”
“Mrs. Fitzgerald. You’re married,” Ruby chided.
“Eh.” She shrugged and stood. “I’m gonna get an order of onion rings.”
“So there’s no, um, Mrs. Lawrence?” I asked, my cheeks heating. I wasn’t asking for any particular reason, just curiosity. And because I wanted to be a good neighbor. Of course.
“Oh God no,” Callie said, straightening beside me.
“My future brother-in-law is very single.” Evie leaned over, giving me a wink.
Head lowering, I studied my glass of soda water to hide what I was sure were bright red cheeks.
Evie was beautiful, with the perfect balance of standoffish energy and blissful glow.
Her sleeveless silk blouse and colorful skirt looked professional and effortless, giving her an air that told the world she was put together. A state of being that I’d never been able to manage.
“I’m so glad I finally get to hang out with you.” Ruby said. “I’ve been ridiculously jealous of Stella. She’s been hogging you..”
“Ruby is brilliant,” Evie said. “She’s in charge of picking out all my outfits.”
“You should come by my boutique,” Ruby chirped. “We just got a shipment of thick sweaters in for winter. You’ll need a few if you’re new to Vermont.”
“I’m actually from Maine.” I cleared my throat. “Northern Maine.”
“Then you get it.” She picked up her glass and took a sip. “You’ve got ice in your veins like we do.”
“This is Basil.” She gestured to a middle-aged man with thick round glasses. “Cheesemonger and sourdough wizard.”
He gave me a bashful grin. “How do you feel about Camembert?” he asked, swirling his glass of red wine.
I had no idea how to respond. Raising children on a teacher’s salary meant I didn’t have many occasions for fancy cheese.
“Good?” I said tentatively. “I feel good about it.”
That appeared to be the right answer. “Excellent,” he replied. He gestured out the dark window across the street. “Please stop by anytime. Have some samples. I’d love to introduce you to Taleggio.” He let out a little sigh. “Life-changing.”
At the other end of the table, a woman with pink hair and an eyebrow ring snorted.
“Leave her alone, Basil. Stop trying to recruit for your curd cult.”
His head snapped her way, and his kindly face transformed into something sharp and defensive.
“Go peddle your pedestrian cheddar elsewhere, Lola,” he snapped.
“Children,” a voice shouted.