Chapter Seven
With Eric on her mind, it had taken forever for her to choose something to wear. But since the weather forecast projected warming temperatures throughout the day, Anya had dressed a little more festively than usual before coming into work.
Well, maybe a lot more, according to Jaynie and Wren, two floral designers who conveniently happened to be her best friends. She was closest to Jaynie, who’d endlessly tried to set her up with several different guys living here in town.
The first thing that Anya noticed when she came inside through the back of the shop was that more flowers had apparently been delivered. When she saw the number of orders clipped above each station, she could sure understand why.
“You might have to pitch in with some design work today, Anya,” Wren called out. “We haven’t had many walk-ins, but there have sure been a lot of call in orders. Rog hasn’t taken a break from delivering all morning.”
“I’m sure this year is unusual. Because of COVID, more people are staying at home,” Anya replied. “I don’t remember it being half this busy last year. But then again, we did seem to have a lot of last-minute Christmas Eve orders from what I remember.”
Putting aside a finished arrangement, Jaynie finally turned and looked at Anya and must have forgotten what she was about to say. “Look at you . Wow. He called you back, didn’t he?”
“Who?” she started shuffling through the messages at her desk near the checkout counter.
“Don’t play dumb with me,” Jaynie growled, stomping her foot. “I was standing right behind you and listening last night while he was in the store. He’s your ex-boyfriend, isn’t he?”
Anya rolled her eyes, shrugging. “That feels like a lifetime ago.”
“ Ah hah. That answers one question.”
Anya heaved a sigh. “Yes. I’m meeting him tonight at the Tap.”
“Aw, that’s nice Anya,” Wren said, turning away from her work. “I’m glad you’re finally doing something for yourself.”
Obviously approving, Jaynie nodded her agreement. “You need to take more time away from your research, Anya. What you’re doing has got to be mentally taxing, so you need to find more balance in your life.”
“Maybe go out with us a little more too when the weather gets better. If you’re worried about COVID, we can get together at the beach or maybe get the gang together for a boat ride or skiing,” Wren suggested.
“And you can’t ever be afraid to ask for help from us if you need it,” Jaynie said firmly, taking a closer look at what she was wearing once Anya removed her coat. “I’m reassured to see that you know what looks great on you. I love that maroon suede skirt with those boots.”
“That cream blouse you’re wearing is beautiful too, Anya,” Wren observed. “Take your mask off for a minute so we can see your makeup.”
She did as she was told and gave them a smile. “This used to be my everyday look at the law firm I worked for. I’ve lost some weight so a lot of my clothes don’t fit as well.”
“Your makeup looks perfect. You don’t usually wear it, do you?” Wren asked.
“Rarely,” she admitted. “Just some lip gloss, mascara and powder occasionally.”
“By lip gloss, you probably mean chap stick,” Wren observed.
The three of them laughed.
“You know, Anya. I’m jealous. You’re so pretty,” Jaynie said, giving her a quick hug. “I guess we’d better get back to work, otherwise we could be here late.”
“Yes, I’d hate to see Anya late for her date,” Wren agreed, waggling her brows.
Rolling her eyes, Anya grinned.
* * *
As the day wore on, Anya was beginning to feel nervous.
As well as irritated with herself for putting so much importance on their meeting. It really wasn’t a date . She was sure that Eric was just feeling guilty.
After all, a few days before he’d disappeared from town had been the first time they’d…
Closing her eyes, she drew in a deep breath, feeling like she was ready to have a panic attack. Back then, she’d felt like he’d deserted her after a life changing experience. It had been such a big decision for her to make in the first place. What had felt like giving herself to the guy that she loved had ended up traumatizing her for years when Eric had left town without even saying goodbye.
And then Dad had died. The only thing positive that had come out of that was the fact that no one else had been hurt while he’d been driving drunk. But meanwhile, the car hadn’t been paid off and there were damages incurred that Mom was supposedly responsible for after Dad’s car spun out of control. Not to mention the cost of the cremation.
Mom had started working two jobs to help pay the expenses while Anya had taken over for Mom around the house. School had always come easy, so it hadn’t interfered too much with her studies. But because she’d been feeling sorry for herself, Anya hadn’t kept a close enough eye on Shanna. Anya had worried about the kids she’d been hanging out with, and even though she’d lectured Shanna and had said something to Mom, Shanna tended to disregard authority, no matter who was in charge.
She’d felt a tremendous sense of guilt before finally giving in and going away to school. But at the time, there didn’t seem to be anything she could do to help. It had seemed like the right thing to do after Chief Danielson had reassured her that the investigation into Shanna’s disappearance was still going on.
Despite working two jobs, she’d found ways to visit home. Mom even bought her a car, although Anya wasn’t sure how she’d come up with the money. There were a lot of things that had been helpful during those four years of school that Anya couldn’t explain. The scholarship for one. Supposedly, every few years, it was given as an anonymous gift to one student in the community who showed great educational promise but had little financial support. Only a few people knew the identity of the donor. Anya was the third person who’d received it, she’d been told.
But those weekends and times during the summer she’d come to visit Mom had been worth it. Mom had seemed a little more resigned, but still hadn’t given up on finding Shanna. She was working again and catching up on the bills but had taken out another mortgage on the house, Anya had found out later.
Even when Anya began working in Madison, she’d kept in touch with Mom. Since she seemed to be balancing her job and her life pretty well again, Anya hadn’t worried.
Until Mom suddenly wasn’t. Anya had been working at the law firm for about a year when she’d realized that Mom was no longer returning her calls.
“Anya?” Jaynie gave her a nudge as she joined her at the counter when a customer came into the shop and began looking around. “You seemed like you were miles away.”
Anya pursed her lips. “I was thinking about my mom and remembering how well adjusted she’d become when I was away at school and even for another year afterwards.”
“The question is, would things have been any different with her if you’d stayed here in town?”
“Leave it to you to reassure me,” Anya murmured. “No. Probably not. Her obsession had nothing to do with me but everything to do with the phone call she received.”
“I still think you should go to the cops with it,” Jaynie said, frowning.
“No. Not until I know more. I wouldn’t even have the recording if Mom hadn’t said something to me before she died. I just wish she would have held on a little longer so she could have told me more about it,” Anya said.
Jaynie sighed. “I hear you. Believe it or not, I think we’re caught up. There are a bunch of deliveries going out in the morning. And then there are the flowers that need to be delivered to the Dragonfly Pointe Inn for their online auction tomorrow. It’s a shame they can’t host the regular event like they usually do because of COVID.”
“There were so many people at the event last year,” Anya observed. “Plus, the Inn was booked up. There were people everywhere, even in town. I can see why they felt like they needed to handle it differently this year, even though the financial loss must be significant.”
“If you want to start getting things ready to check out, I’ll go help the man who just came in,” Jaynie said, glancing at her watch. “I’m glad that Penny decided that the deposits should be put into the bank during the afternoon rather than at the end of the night.”
“Yes, I feel much more comfortable walking over to the bank during the day than I did dropping the deposits off in the drive-through at night,” Anya agreed. “Okay. I’m glad I could let Wren go early since she’s coming in tomorrow morning.”
Another fifteen minutes later, after Jaynie had taken the customer’s order for a Christmas Eve flower delivery, Anya was sliding the glass doors closed that led into the shop and locking them up.
After the cash registers were emptied into the safe, and the lights were turned down low, they headed into the restroom so that Jaynie could make sure that Anya looked her best.
Adding some lipstick, she looked at Jaynie, grinning. “How’s that? Have I passed inspection yet?”
Jaynie laughed. “You’ll do. Seriously, you look great, Anya. Plus, it’s nice to see you smiling.”
She grimaced. “I don’t do it often, do I?”
“Hardly ever,” Jaynie admitted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a quick squeeze. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I can’t wait to hear how it goes tomorrow.”
“Truthfully, it might just end up being awkward since we don’t have much to talk about,” Anya admitted.
“Don’t be like that,” Jaynie growled. “Promise me that you’ll have a serious talk with him and try to make peace with the past.”
“You’re right. I need to go in there with a better attitude.” Anya sighed. “I promise I’ll try.”
“Just be confident in yourself. You’ll be fine.”
“I’m so lucky to have found a friend like you,” Anya said softly as they headed toward the exit together.