Chapter 6
Sophie
It’s been a week since Whiskey changed my tires, and we’re slowly falling into a routine.
I make breakfast in the mornings then he leaves for whatever he does.
He always returns in the late afternoon, covered in dirt and sweat and looking more at peace than when he left.
I think the work is the only thing that soothes him, just like running soothes me.
The ‘ghost’ is still haunting me, probably because I’m sleeping in Whiskey’s bed.
Furniture is always being moved around, and messages are left on the bathroom mirror.
Though the one from this morning told me to have a nice day.
I guess she really is a friendly ghost. Or maybe Whiskey doesn’t hate having me here as much as he’s pretending to.
My mom still calls me every day to check in.
She sounds better with each call, less worried.
I hate that this has been so hard on her too.
I wish I could snap back into my old self.
But since I can’t, I take my pills and do my weekly check-in with my therapist using a video app to meet with her virtually.
After Whiskey comes home, he makes dinner for both of us then we spend a few hours watching TV together.
I’ve been introducing him to my favorite horror shows, and he shares his favorite documentaries.
It’s oddly calming to spend our nights together on the couch with Bella and Tobias between us.
They’ve become fast friends with Bella hovering over Tobias and watching out for him.
“I’m going into town today,” I tell him one morning after breakfast. “Do you want to maybe come with me?”
Something flickers across his face. I could almost think it was longing, but then he shakes his head. “Can’t. Too many trees to cut down. I’m about to go into the busy season.”
It’s the first thing he’s really told me about himself. “So you’re a lumberjack. It’s nice to know what you do.”
“We can’t all be freeloaders,” he says but the words have no malice, and he grins at me, something sparking in his gaze.
“Did you make a joke?” I clutch at my chest. “Miracles still happen.”
“Yeah, don’t let it get around,” he tells me as he slips into those big, clunky boots of his. I know I’ve only been here a week, but I love the sound of them. I spend my entire afternoon looking forward to hearing them against the porch boards.
“Your reputation is safe with me,” I promise as I follow him out the door to my car.
I have four new tires and a new transmission.
When I mentioned the funny noise my car makes, he had the problem diagnosed and fixed within two days.
He wouldn’t let me pay him for the work or the parts either. Crazy pants mountain man.
As I leave, I give him a little wave, surprised when he returns it.
I drive into town slowly. I could never get tired of this view, all these colorful trees with their red and orange leaves are breath-taking.
If more people knew about this, tourists would flood Courage County every autumn.
The realization is enough to keep me from posting the pictures online.
I want this place to stay my secret treasure.
Before I get to Emma May’s grocery store, I spot a dress in the window of a store called, Sew Cute. I gasp because it’s so perfect. I didn’t even know I wanted to do this until I saw it. But now that the idea is in my head, I know I have to do it.
I park my car in the lot and hurry inside, eager to grab it before another customer does. As soon as I step inside, I hurry to the counter. There’s an associate who smiles brightly and welcomes me to the store.
“I love the dress in the window! Can I get it?”
It might not be my exact size, but it has to be very close.
“Sure thing! I’m Mallory, and this is my shop.
The dress you’re looking at is a vintage piece.
Most of the designs are mine, but that one was a secondhand find that just needed some loving.
” She rolls out from behind the counter, and that’s when I notice her wheelchair.
She rolls to the front of the store with a grabber tool.
While she goes to retrieve it, I see Emma May across the store. She waves enthusiastically and hurries over to me, grinning from ear to ear. “I’d hoped I’d see you again soon. How’s the cabin? Is it everything you hoped for?”
“It’s come with some interesting surprises,” I say. For a second, I was going to tell her about the gruff mountain man, but I decide not to. Whiskey wants his privacy. It’s not right for me to tell the tiny town about him if he can’t face them.
“Good surprises?” She asks with a twinkle in her eye.
“Yeah,” I agree, feeling myself smile. I wish I could talk about Whiskey. I’d like to get someone else’s opinion of him. For one, is he always so grumpy with everyone? And for two, is it possible that he likes me back?
“Do you have time for coffee now?” She offers. “You could tell me all about it.”
“Let me just pay for my purchase,” I say as Mallory wheels back to me. She passes me the dress.
Emma May swallows hard. Her chin wobbles, but she holds her composure. “Are you getting married?”
I shake my head. “Not really. It’s kind of a long story.”
“I’d like to hear it one day,” she says softly, a wistful note to her tone.
I pay for the dress and follow her to Courage Cookies. They have a delicious sugar cookie with apple pie frosting that’s probably the best cookie of my life. It’s another hidden gem in Courage County that I’ll have to leave behind in three weeks.
I push the thought away and tell Emma May about the running trails near the cabin I’ve rented. I tell her about the scenic lake and how much I love feeding the ducks that have paused their migrations long enough to rest.
In return, she tells me how things are going at the grocery store and about the cats that roam on her property.
She shows me pictures of them, and I show her pictures of Tobias around Whiskey’s cabin.
We’ve spent two hours talking about our lives, and it barely feels like it’s been more than two minutes.
Talking to Emma May is so easy. I think my mom would really love her. She’d love to film an entire episode in town.
The bell for the door rings, and Emma waves to a woman who looks about my age. She has a baby on her hip and a radiant smile on her face.
“This is Missy and her daughter Daisy,” Emma explains.
Daisy lunges for the older woman, and she catches her easily.
Missy turns her bright smile on me. She’s practically glowing she’s so happy. “You must be new to town.”
I nod. “But if all the other cookie flavors are as good as this one, then I might just stay forever.”
“Tell me about it. This is my favorite place to come after lunch. My husband loves spoiling me.” She says the word husband softly, like she’s savoring it.
She must be a newlywed. She certainly has that blissed look.
“If you do decide to stay in Courage, let me know. We have a spicy book club, and we’d love to have you join us. ”
I don’t have time to ask her about what a spicy book club is because she’s waving someone else over to the table.
Deputy Griffin approaches. He’s out of uniform today. His wavy hair is a chaotic mess on his head. He greets Missy with a kiss that’s filled with passion before he ruffles Daisy’s hair.
Missy swats playfully at his chest. “Stop it. We have a new friend here today.”
Griffin glances my way but holds his poker face well. He tips his head toward me. “Nice to meet you.”
“I have to go, or I’ll be late for the Mommy and Me yoga class,” Missy says, taking Daisy back.
When I look at the time on my phone, I’m surprised to find that most of the afternoon is gone. I had so much fun talking with Emma May. She’s an amazing conversationalist, and no one tells a story quite like her. But I still want to get home before Whiskey does.
I exchange phone numbers with Missy and get an extra tight hug from Emma May before she leaves. I’m alone with Griffin who’s still waiting on the coffee he ordered.
“Why didn’t you tell them that you know me?” I ask him now that we’re alone.
“A man goes off to war and wants to come home deserves a little peace and quiet. I can’t fault him for that,” he explains.
“So, Whiskey is an ex-Marine,” I muse. It’s the second thing I’ve learned about him today. That explains why he’s so neat and orderly.
“There’s no such thing as ex-Marines. Once you’re in, you never truly leave,” Griffin says with a hint of admiration in his voice that tells me while he’s never served, he admires the heck out of those who do.
“Your family seems very nice,” I tell him. It was so obvious from the way he and Missy kept looking at each other that they’re in love.
A smile lights up his face, softening the hard edges. “She’s amazing. Met her at the diner across the street and asked her out that day.”
“And she fell into your arms right there?” I ask, imagining the scene. This town does seem to have an usual number of happy couples. Maybe it’s all the good food they’re surrounded by. Hard to be sad when you have cookies like these.
“Nope. I had to stalk her for a while.” He says it so casually that I can’t tell if he’s joking or not. Before I can ask him, the woman at the counter calls his name to tell him his order is up.
“Take care of him,” he tells me before leaving.
After the bakery, I go to the pharmacy to gather more supplies for my surprise. Then I stock up on groceries from Emma May’s store. She gives me the employee discount again despite my protests.
I find myself smiling when I arrive home. Whiskey should be here in about an hour, and that’s plenty of time to do what I need. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he comes home tonight.