20. Bliss
Bliss
On Friday morning, Zane and I drive into town together.
It’s a slow day for both of us, which is rare. Since we got married a month ago, and our “honeymoon,” I don’t know that we’ve had a day when we’re not both working all day.
I even put on cute clothes. I’m wearing a pair of paper-bag shorts with a floral tank top and sandals. My legs are painfully white and might blind someone, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Our first stop is the post office, where I’m mailing a birthday package to Addison, who’s turning five next week.
Zane signed the card with me, and there was something really funny about seeing him write Uncle Zane. It brought a strong dose of reality to our marriage that I hadn’t thought about before—he is now part of my family.
When we walk out of the post office, Zane opens the passenger door for me and waits for me to climb in to close it.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
He nods and closes the door, then walks around to his side, climbs in, and fires up the car. “Where to next?”
“Well, I need to go to Henry’s and get a few things, and I also need to swing by Darlene’s. She has a box for me. So, either one works for me.”
“How about Henry’s next, then?” he asks.
“Sounds great.”
Zane makes the short drive around to the store.
The parking lot is packed, and we barely find a parking spot.
It’s the weekend, and it’s summertime, so it’s a busy time in our town.
All the tourists are here. We have lots of great camping and hiking, and while the town isn’t a roaring hub of nightlife, there is a bar and grill.
All ten spaces in Henry’s parking lot are full now that we’re here. We wouldn’t have been able to fit if we had been driving one of the work trucks.
“Oh no, so many people,” Zane groans. “I forgot it was already summer.”
“You like to pretend to be antisocial, but we both know the truth. You’ll probably talk to three different tourists by the time we get out of there,” I tease him.
We walk into Henry’s, and there’s definitely a crowd. He has a grocery section, home necessities, pet supplies, and even a small gift shop.
His store isn’t big, but he likes to offer as much as he can here so that we don’t have to always drive into Bend. He does excellent business during the summer months, so that’s probably how he makes most of his profits for the year.
“I’ll go get my stuff if you want to grab what you need here,” I tell Zane.
He nods, and I disappear to the personal item aisle. I’m out of shampoo and tampons.
By the time I grab my essentials, careful to hide the box of tampons with the shampoo and conditioner bottles, I weave my way past customers toward the front counter. I have to stand in line, which is a rare thing.
There are three customers in front of me, and I don’t see Zane anywhere.
Hopefully, Henry will have a bag for the stuff.
I’ve stopped being embarrassed about buying personal items from Henry because he never comments on it and simply puts it in a thick paper bag for me.
It’s like smuggling a bottle of alcohol out of here, but tampons.
“How long are you in town for?” Zane’s deep voice carries over to me.
I glance around and see him standing in the gift shop section, chatting with an out-of-towner. I’m not even surprised. But this one raises my hackles.
She’s talking to him, and she’s got big eyes, looking up at him like he hung the moon.
Even worse, he’s smiling at her.
Now she’s giggling. Ugh.
There’s a tower of mugs on the shelf next to them, and I imagine toppling it to the floor between the two of them. Shattered pottery would be everywhere, but at least it would interrupt their weird flirting.
I shake my head. Bad idea. I can’t push over a mug display.
“We’re here for ten days,” she says. “Do you live close by?”
“Just outside of town a bit,” Zane replies. “You’ll have time to see a lot of things if you’re here for ten days.”
Shattering those mugs is sounding better and better.
The woman runs a hand through her hair, fluffing it a little. “Do you have any recommendations for me on where I should go?”
I notice she doesn’t say ‘we’ this time. Apparently she wants to make herself as available as possible.
I get distracted and shuffle forward when someone clears their throat awkwardly at me to get me to move closer to the checkout. Only one more person before it’s my turn. I take another big step so the people behind me can move up as well.
“It won’t be the only beautiful thing up there.” Zane’s voice carries over to me.
I’m not sure what he said before that, but I don’t like what it implies.
The woman giggles again—stinkin’ giggles—at his comment, then says, “I just can’t wait. Thank you for the recommendation, and if you have time, maybe you could come hiking with me.”
“You’re going to love it out here then,” Zane replies. I don’t know if he answers her question about hiking because I’m straining for all I’m worth to hear their conversation.
The woman says, “It sounds like I might need a personal tour guide to find all the beautiful spots.”
It almost sounds like Zane responds with, “You sure do.”
Now I’m clearing my throat awkwardly, but I don’t know if he hears me or not because it’s my turn to set my things on the counter for Henry. He glances over them quickly, swipes them all into a bag for me, and rings up the bill.
“Thank you,” I tell him as he rolls the top of the paper bag to seal it.
I tap my card and take the bag.
I pass Zane and the woman as I walk toward the door. She’s resting a hand on his arm now.
He says something like, “Then you’re definitely gonna love it out here then.”
I jerk open the door so that the bell jingles extra loudly.
Zane glances my way, but I don’t pause to say anything. He’s flirting with a tourist, and I’m upset. Outside, I turn the corner down the sidewalk toward Darlene’s, but I’m stopped abruptly when I slam into a man’s chest.
“Whoa, are you okay?” the man asks as he grabs my arms and holds me steady.
I clutch my paper bag to my chest, hoping the tampons didn’t spill out. Everything seems to be tucked in safely.
“Sorry about that. I was not paying attention,” I mutter.
Finally, the man’s eyes meet mine. He’s young, probably around Zane’s or Max’s age, but not young, young. He’s really handsome, and hopefully, he belongs to the woman in the store so that he can go pull her away from Zane.
“Are you okay?” he asks again. “I’m sorry about that.” He releases my arms and steps back.
“I’m fine,” I reply.
“I was looking the other way and simply not paying attention,” he says.
“That makes two of us, and sorry I crashed into you. Hope you have a good vacation.”
I move to go around him, but his voice stops me.
“Why do you think I’m on vacation, and that I don’t live here? Just curious.”
I smile at him. “Because I live here, and I recognize everyone’s faces.”
“That’s fair enough.” He chuckles. “I actually am moving out here.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Yeah, I am taking over Dr. Brown’s practice for him. Do you know him?” he asks.
“Yes! Everyone knows Dr. Brown. Well, in that case, welcome to town.” I hold out my hand, shifting the bag into one arm, so I can shake his. “I’m Bliss Jefferson.” My voice catches as I realize I am not Bliss Jefferson. I’m Bliss Madden now.
But I don’t have a chance to correct my mistake because the man is busy introducing himself.
“I’m Greyson Donovan, but all my friends just call me Grey.”
“Not Dr. Donovan?” I ask with a laugh.
“No, I’m not a real big fan of formalities. I prefer just Grey.”
“All right, nice to meet you, Grey. I run some sheep here, and my dad runs cattle, so you’ll probably get to know us. I hope you’re able to settle in here. I will be calling you soon.”
Just then, someone clears his throat, and I realize Zane’s standing on the sidewalk behind me.
I’m still holding the man’s hand and promising to call him soon.
Not exactly great, but I don’t really care because Zane was in there, flirting with that other woman.
I’m out here, making business deals with the new veterinarian in town.
“You’ll have to meet my mom. She’ll invite you over and cook dinner for you, and she’ll let you know everything about everybody in town.”
Grey chuckles. “That sounds nice.” He passes me a business card from his back pocket. “That way, you guys can get in touch.” He smiles at me and turns to give Zane a nod and then brushes past him.
“Who was that?” Zane demands.
“That was Grey,” I reply. “Who were you talking to in the store?”
He frowns at me. “Her name was Ella.”
“Of course it was,” I mutter and turn around and walk toward the car.
“Why was he holding your hand?” Zane’s voice is sharp behind me.
I stop abruptly and whip around.
I shove my hand out at Zane’s midsection and grab his hand. I give it a firm shake. “See this? This is called a greeting. It’s usually what people do when they meet someone new; they shake their hand.”
I release his hand and stomp over to the car and open the door. I climb in, sit down, and buckle up.
Zane walks around and sits down in the driver’s seat. “Do you have anything else you need to do today?”
I don’t feel like talking to him, so I shake my head. I should go back to the house and check on my ewes. Then I remember I have those goats. I need to make sure they’re still in the field where they’re supposed to be.
“Fine.” He backs out and drives us home.
So much for our lazy day of running errands together.
Now all I wanna do is get out of this guy’s presence before I bite his head off and say something stupid like, Stop flirting with other women. You’re only allowed to flirt with me. Yeah, probably wouldn’t go over so well.
“I don’t know why you’re so mad at me,” he says.
He parks the car in front of the house. I shouldn’t say what I’m thinking, but … I don’t think it’s right that he was flirting with someone else when he’s married to me.
“I’m just busy.” I opt for the standard dismissal answer.
He looks at me, a storm brewing on his face. “Seems like you were busy talking to that guy.”