CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - MELODY
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MELODY
Melody and Christopher had been the only guests who’d ended up coming to Mrs. West’s house for Sunday lunch. Matt had some other obligation and Liz was, of all things, dress shopping with her sister.
“You didn’t eat very much,” Mrs. West commented, looking over her shoulder at Melody’s plate. This afternoon, Mrs. West was in a very different state of mind than she’d been the other day when Melody had seen her. As Christopher had said, she had moments of clarity and others of confusion. Today, she was clear-minded and in good spirits.
“I got seconds, remember?” Melody asked, worried momentarily that Mrs. West was growing confused.
“Yes, that’s right. Well, I always have enough to serve thirds when I invite guests over.” The older woman smiled warmly as she rinsed each dish and handed it to Melody to load into the dishwasher. She’d aged a lot in the years that Melody had been away. Melody supposed that losing one’s husband and suffering from dementia would do that. “Today is the first I’ve seen you in years. How are you, Melody?”
Melody decided not to mention that she’d actually seen Mrs. West last week. “I’m good. I live in Charlotte now. I have a job and an apartment.”
“Mm. Well, jobs and apartments don’t take the place of friends and family, do they? Do you have friends in Charlotte?”
Melody nodded as she took a plate from Mrs. West’s hands. “I do.”
“And are you happy there?” Mrs. West asked.
Melody hesitated. That was a blunt question—one that no one had bothered or dared to ask since she’d been back to the isle. They’d asked how business was and things like that, but no one had touched on her emotional state, which was neither happy nor sad. It was numb, which is what she’d thought she wanted. “Happy?” Melody repeated, stalling for an answer. “I guess so,” she finally said.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Mrs. West asked.
Melody shook her head. “Not currently, no. I had one. We broke up last year.”
Mrs. West looked genuinely apologetic. “I’m sorry to hear that. Break-ups are so hard on the heart, aren’t they? If I recall, your first break-up led you to wanting to become a nun.” Mrs. West chuckled under her breath.
How could Christopher’s mom forget her husband dying, but remember that detail about Melody’s seventh grade year? How did Mrs. West even know that detail?
“It was so sad, but also adorable. You were such a good kid.” Mrs. West looked at her sincerely. “You deserve love, Melody. I’m sorry things didn’t work out with your last fellow.”
“Don’t be.” Melody bent and placed a large casserole dish in the bottom compartment of the dishwasher. “He was lazy. And a bit of a jerk. Not the kind of guy who’s nice to his mama.”
Mrs. West’s lips rounded into a huge O of surprise. “Well, Christopher has always been nice to me,” she said then, adding a little wink after her words.
Melody didn’t want Mrs. West to get the wrong idea. Melody had spent a little time with Christopher, but there was nothing romantic brewing between them. Yeah, Melody was a bit attracted to him, but she was also attracted to Chris Hemsworth and there was nothing romantic brewing between her and Thor either—unfortunately. “To answer your question, yes, I’m very happy in Charlotte. I plan to return later this summer.”
Mrs. West raised her brows and handed Melody another dish. “Why would anyone be in a rush to leave the isle? This town,” she said, selling her point with a nod and extended arms, “is perfect. It’s safe and there’s good food. Good shopping. Good people. You have friends here. And your father is here too, of course.”
Melody’s father was the only family she had left anymore. “Yes, he is. I’m glad that I’m here for a little while to spend some time with him.”
“I suspect he’s over the moon, even if he doesn’t show it.” She patted Melody’s arm and continued working.
A moment later, Christopher stepped into the kitchen. Melody’s heart gave a little kick. There was nothing romantic between them, she reminded herself.
“You asked me to let you know when it was three o’clock,” he told Melody.
“Right.” Melody placed the last dish in the dishwasher and dried her hands on a nearby towel. “I hate to rush off, but I’m opening my thrift store to Liz and her sister,” she told Mrs. West.
“It’s fine, dear. I’m just glad you were able to come. Maybe you’ll have Sunday lunch with me again while you’re here.”
Melody nodded. “That would be nice.”
“And bring your father next time,” Mrs. West added.
Melody felt an unintended grimace stretch her lips.
Mrs. West laughed heartily and pointed a finger. “He’s a stubborn man, isn’t he?”
“And his daughter didn’t fall far from the tree,” Christopher teased. He looked at Melody. “I’ll drive you to the thrift store, if you want.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. How would I get back? If I don’t have a car.”
“I’d stay and drive you home afterward.”
“You’ll stay while I help Rose find a prom dress?” Melody asked.
Christopher shrugged. “Sounds like a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon to me. Maybe I’ll find something to wear to prom too.”
Melody cocked her head to one side. “You?”
“I’m one of the chaperones. Only the cool teachers get to chaperone, so it’s quite the honor,” he told her. “I’m also allowed to bring a date.” He looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to answer.
He hadn’t exactly asked her anything though, which was good because she wouldn’t have known how to respond. He’d turned Alyssa’s promposal down all those years ago. Even if she wasn’t holding that against him anymore, it would still be awkward if Melody went to a prom with him now. Wouldn’t it? Since he hadn’t asked, she pushed her reservations away and focused on the present moment. “I’d love for you to drive me to Hidden Treasures. Thanks.”
After hugging and thanking Mrs. West again, Melody and Christopher stepped out of the house and got into Christopher’s truck. Within a few minutes, they turned onto Seagull Street and headed toward Hidden Treasures Thrift Store. Melody spotted Liz standing with Rose outside the shop as Christopher pulled up to the curb and parked.
“You think there’s anything in my size?” Christopher asked as he turned off the ignition.
“To wear to prom?” Melody clarified.
“Well, I wear the same boring suit every year. I wouldn’t mind finding something with a little more style.”
“Anything you could ever want is in that store. I don’t know where Jo found all that stuff.” Melody’s mind flashed to an image of her aunt dumpster diving but she shook it off, preferring to block that part of her aunt’s life out. “I’ll help you look while Liz and Rose pick through the dresses.”
“Sounds like a plan. I wonder if Matt has asked Liz to be his date yet,” Christopher said as he stepped out of the truck. He walked around and met Melody beside the truck.
“Matt’s chaperoning too? I thought he works for the police department.”
Christopher grinned. “This is a small town, Mel. The high school likes to have a good relationship with the PD. The department takes on student volunteers and the school invites officers to all their events. Matt just happens to be the lucky one because he’s my best friend and I insist.”
Melody smiled. “And what makes you so sure he’s planning to ask Liz to be his date?”
“Because he asks her every year. And every year she says no.”
Melody wondered again if Christopher was going to ask her. If Liz could turn Matt down, she could turn Christopher down. And she should. He was a nice guy and all. Handsome too. But even without the added weirdness of his history with Alyssa, she wasn’t staying in Trove.
“Thanks for meeting us,” Liz said as they approached. “Rose didn’t like anything at the Classic Woman Boutique.”
Rose huffed. “I mean, just think about the title of that store. I’m not classy, and I’m not a woman. There was never going to be anything for me in there.”
Liz shook her head and looked at Melody. “There were lots of overpriced, beautiful choices. But maybe there’s something even more special here.”
Melody pulled the keys to the store out of her pocket, found the one to the front entrance, and poked it into the lock. Then she turned it and the door sprung open. “If you find the perfect dress, it’s yours. Jo’s gift to you.”
Liz smiled warmly, her gaze bouncing between Melody and Christopher. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
“Not at all. We were finished eating with my mom. We needed the distraction. Otherwise, my mom would have handed over a lengthy to-do list for me to complete. She always does.”
“It’ll wait until tomorrow,” Liz said with a laugh, her gaze trailing after Rose. “I better go help her.”
“And I’m going to help Christopher.” Melody pointed to a small section of men’s things. “Your next prom wardrobe awaits.”
Christopher headed in that direction and she followed, watching as he went through the racks. Two funky purple suits caught his attention.
“Those are dreadful,” Melody said as he held one up. Maybe he hadn’t outgrown his nerd phase after all. “And why are there two?”
Christopher shrugged as he lowered the suit and held it against him. “I don’t know, but it’s my size. The other will fit Matt, I’m pretty sure. I’m going to buy both.”
“You’re going to wear a purple suit to prom?”
“It’s cool.” Christopher cast her a teasing grin. “We’ll be the only ones there with suits like this.”
“With good reason.” Melody leaned against the wall beside the rack. “He might not agree.”
“Oh, he’ll agree.” Christopher checked the tag. “Fifteen dollars each.”
“I said it was all on the house.”
“Maybe for Rose, but not for me and Matt. I’ll pay. Now we just need to find you a dress,” he said, turning to her. “That is, if you’ll go to prom with me?”
“Oh, I-I’m not sure,” she stammered.
“Why not? You’ve decided to stay for the summer. What’s keeping you from saying yes?”
Her hand absently went to the bracelet. She looked at the purple suit in Christopher’s hands instead of at him while she considered which choice to make. It was just a dance, that’s all. She’d never made it to her own prom so maybe she was overdue to see what the big fuss was about. What was keeping her from saying yes? “Do I need to wear a matching purple dress?” she finally asked, looking up at him. “Because that might be hard to find.”
“In my opinion, it’s better if our attire clashes. I love to give the kids something to roll their eyes at.”
Melody smiled at this. “Okay,” she said, still holding onto the bracelet at her wrist. “I guess I need to join Rose in looking for a dress.”
To: Bri Johnson
From: Liz Dawson
Subject: Okay
Bri,
You will be okay. Everything will be okay.
This is short, but I fully expect you to read that line over and over again until you believe it.
xx,
Liz