Chapter Two #2
I took a moment to breathe. To center myself in the way Aunt Jem had taught me. I picked up a fallen yoga mat instead of making eye contact, buying myself a few seconds. “Sofia,” I said carefully. “How are you?”
She clicked her tongue, the sound both fond and reproachful. “Now, how many times have I told you to call me Glamma?”
“Many,” I admitted. At least a dozen. Possibly more. It was just people who belonged in Ruby River that called her that. Despite living here during the summers as a kid, I wasn’t permanent, and I still didn’t feel like I had found my place here yet.
“I heard you had an eventful morning.”
Slowly, I turned to face her, fully abandoning the pretense of the yoga mats. “How did you—”
“I know everything that happens in my town,” she said serenely, setting Coco down on a short leash.
Bless her for that. After the Great Bakery Cake Incident in November during Ellie Remington’s sister’s cake tasting—when Coco had upended multiple sample cakes—no one let the little menace near baked goods or breakable things. She was a wild card.
“I just stopped in to see Marc,” she added casually, handing Cheryl a large rose quartz to ring up. The stone was one hundred dollars. She didn’t even glance at the price.
“Of course you did,” I grumbled, then immediately regretted it when she smiled at me like I’d just confirmed something she already knew. The idea of her purposely setting the goat to run down Main Street floated through my mind once again.
Her lips twitched. “He said you almost got hit by a truck.”
Cheryl gasped, whirling to face me. “You didn’t tell me that part!”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, waving my hand dismissively. “Completely fine. Not even a scratch.” Likely due to the way Marc had protectively wrapped his body around me.
Glamma lifted a single perfectly-shaped eyebrow, the arch visible above her sunglasses, the gesture somehow conveying that she knew I was full of shit and was allowing me to continue anyway.
I rubbed my forehead, feeling the beginning of a tension headache building behind my eyes. “Marc pulled me out of the way,” I admitted, turning to rearrange incense cones I’d already straightened the day before yesterday. Lavender. Sandalwood. “It’s not a big deal.”
It was an absolute lie.
Because the truth was—I could still feel what happened.
The shock of his hands grabbing my waist. The solid heat of his body, all lean muscle and surprising strength for a guy who spent most of his time with domesticated animals.
The way his arms had wrapped around me, tucking me against him so hard that my breath left my lungs in a rush.
How for one suspended, impossible second, everything had gone quiet.
Safe.
Like the world had narrowed to his heartbeat thundering underneath my palm. The comforting pressure of his banded arms and the way he’d nestled his head protectively over mine.
I’d felt safer in that moment than I’d felt in the last nine months since Aunt Jem died.
Which was a problem.
A big one.
“He saved you,” Cheryl said dreamily, hands clasped together like she was watching a Hallmark movie. “How romantic.”
“Isn’t it, dear?” Glamma agreed, her smile knowing. “Just like in the movies. The moment when everything changes.”
“That’s usually later in the story,” Cheryl said, her nose crinkled in adorable confusion. “Do you mean this is like their meet-cute?
My face burned hot enough to combust. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. There was no ‘meet-cute.’ There was just … meeting. Against our will.”
Glamma tapped her chin thoughtfully, looking far too pleased. “Ah. Yes. Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself.” She turned that laser focus on me.” You’ll be at the town hall meeting tonight, won’t you?”
I froze, my hand halfway to a chakra poster that wasn’t straight. “I—well—”
I had planned to go upstairs to my tiny apartment, put on my most comfortable PJs, eat ice cream directly from the container, and watch trashy reality TV until I fell asleep. Possibly while feeling sad and crying. It was a whole thing I had scheduled.
“Your aunt loved these meetings,” Glamma said gently, her voice softening in that way that made my chest ache. “She always knew when to speak on an issue. She was brilliant at reading the room, knowing exactly what people needed to hear. Just like you.”
Something warm and painful fluttered in my chest. I’d missed having someone who believed in me. My parents loved me, I knew they did, but their belief came with conditions and expectations. Aunt Jem’s love had been unconditional. Solid. Real.
“She really was,” I responded, not able to hide the catch in my voice. “It’s been … hard being here without her.”
Glamma slipped an arm around my shoulders, and I let myself lean into it for just a moment.
She wore a perfume I had encountered only a few times because it was so expensive: Portrait of a Lady.
A delicate rose scent mingled with hints of a woody, smoky, and slightly fruity scent profile creating the most memorable fragrance.
“I know, sweetheart. She’d be proud of what you’re doing here.
The yoga classes, the workshops, the community you’re building.
This is exactly what she wanted for this place. ”
I smiled, feeling tears prick at my eyes, determined not to let them fall. “Did you see the new yoga schedule? I’m adding Sunset Flow on Wednesdays.”
“I did.” Her eyes lit up. “The girls and I are very interested. It’s done wonders for our flexibility. Though between you and me, I think Goldie just wants to show off her latest legging craze.”
I laughed, the sound slightly watery. “I’d love it if you all were there. I have programs I ran at my old studio in Seattle that were really popular. I think the residents of Ruby River could benefit from them.”
“Oh, speaking of Ruby River,” Glamma said brightly, reaching for her handbag—a vintage Gucci that probably cost more than my monthly rent. “I have an idea, and your yoga would be at the heart of it.”
I choked on my own spit. “What?”
She grinned, looking delighted and slightly mischievous. “You’ll find out tonight at the meeting. I think it’s just the thing to get more people to take advantage of what you’re offering. Really put Sacred Serenity on the map.”
I sighed, recognizing defeat when it was wearing designer sunglasses and had a French bulldog as a sidekick. Crap. “Do I need to prepare something? A presentation? A speech?”
“No, sweetheart. Just bring your lovely self and we’ll take it from there.”
Why did those words sound so ominous? Like the universe was setting something into motion that I couldn’t stop even if I tried?
Glamma collected her purchase and Coco and gave me one more knowing look before sweeping out just as dramatically as she arrived.
The second the door closed, Cheryl turned to me with barely contained glee. “You’re going to that meeting.”
“I know,” I groaned, dropping my head into my hands.
“And Marc will probably be there.”
“Why would you assume that?”
“Because you’ve said business owners often attend, and because I have a feeling Glamma will have coerced—I mean convinced—him to go too.”
Oh no.
No, no, no.
“This is a disaster,” I muttered. One meet-cute, ugh meeting, with Marc Kingsley was enough for the day.
For any day.
“This is amazing,” Cheryl corrected. “I need to know what happens. I’m coming with you.”
“You don’t even live in Ruby River!”
“I live close enough. Plus, this is better than anything on TV.” She grabbed her phone. “I’m texting my study group that I can’t make it tonight. It’ll be too good to miss. Will there be snacks?”
I looked up at the ceiling of Aunt Jem’s shop—my shop now, though it still didn’t feel real—and sent a silent prayer to the universe.
If you’re listening, I could really use some help here.
The singing bowl on the counter chimed softly, moved by nothing I could see.
Great. Even the universe thought this was funny.