Chapter 12 #2
A maple cheddar was intriguing, so I added a small block to try. A garlic Swiss made my mouth water in anticipation. Then I saw the cheese curds. I added three of them to try out, knowing I was going to enjoy the hell out of my lunch.
Near the register, I found crackers of all varieties and some packaged sliced meats for a charcuterie board. I grabbed a jar of olives and a slate board that had Mouse Trap carved into the corner. If nothing else, it would be a reminder of my summer with Ashlyn.
“All set?” Elijah asked as I moved closer to the register.
I nodded and set my basket on the counter. “I think so.”
“You picked some good ones. The maple cheddar worries people, but it’s worth it.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t so sure, but I couldn’t resist it.”
“The maple comes from a farm on the other side of the Adirondacks.”
“What farm?” I asked.
“Jones Family Maple Farm. It’s in a small town on the Saint Lawrence River.”
“MacKellar Cove.”
Elijah drew back in shock. “You’ve heard of it? Most people don’t know the town.”
“That’s actually where I live.”
“No way.”
I nodded. “I know Colin and Elise. The owners. Not well, but I used to work for friends of theirs.”
“Well, then I really hope you like it. I’m surprised you haven’t had it. I think they stock it at the farm.”
“I’m sure they do. I haven’t been out there in a while. Since shortly after it opened when Colin took over.”
“Maybe when you go back you can find some of it.”
I nodded, forcing a smile. A pang in my chest made it impossible to answer.
Dammit. I didn’t want to go back.
I paid for my food and told Elijah I’d be back to let him know what I thought of my selections, then took my time walking back to my car.
Could I move to Amethyst Bay?
The thought had been rolling around in my mind since I arrived, but the longer I stayed, the more I wanted to not go back to MacKellar Cove. Even hearing someone speak fondly of my current town failed to make me miss it.
It was no longer home for me.
I drove back to Ashlyn’s with that truth ringing in my mind.
I wanted to drive around a little, looking at more of the town.
Mostly, I’d kept to the areas near the water.
Ashlyn’s neighborhood and the center of town.
There was a lot more to Amethyst Bay, and if I was going to make a choice to move there, I needed to know what was there.
Mindful of my cheeses and my growling stomach, I went back to Ashlyn’s with the idea of exploring more of the surrounding area after lunch.
Until I saw Ashlyn’s car in the driveway.
She hadn’t said she would be home for lunch, so I was worried. I grabbed my bags and let myself in.
She was curled up on the couch. Crying.
I dropped everything and rushed to her. “What’s wrong?”
“I saw Rob with someone else,” Ashlyn stammered, hiccuping as her voice broke. “He was all over her.”
“What a jerk,” I said, pulling her into my arms. “You deserve so much better than him.”
“Why can’t I find someone who looks at me the way he looked at her? Like she was his entire world? He didn’t even notice me.”
“Where did you see them?”
“I went to grab a sandwich for lunch, and they were curled up in a corner booth. He kissed her the way he used to kiss me. But better. He held her face in both his hands and brought her lips to his, completely oblivious to everything else. I saw his lips move when he told her he loves her. A year together and he never once said those words to me. Not once! And he’s with this woman for a week and he’s in love? What is wrong with me?”
“Nothing is wrong with you. This is a him problem.”
“Then why am I the one who’s alone, and he has someone else?”
I wanted to tell her… something, but I didn’t have an answer.
“I’m going to die an old lady, all by myself without even a cat to care when I’m dead.”
“I’ll buy you a cat,” I said.
She snorted a laugh. “I’d rather have a husband.”
“Do they have mail-order husbands?”
“They should. Meek ones who never question anything his wife says.”
“And is always available to service her.”
“Of course,” Ashlyn said, chuckling. “Thanks for making me laugh. I’m going to miss you when you go back to MacKellar Cove.”
She threw her arms around my neck, and I shut my mouth. I would tell her some other time. When she wasn’t crying and upset about Rob and I had a plan for what I was going to do besides sit on her couch all the time and spend money on cheese.
“Ooh, I bought cheese. Do you want to try it?” I said, pulling back from her to reach for my bag.
“I don’t know. I probably should go back to work.”
“You have to eat something. Unless you got a sandwich.”
She shook her head. “I saw them and left.” Her lip wobbled.
“Try some cheese. I found some great options.”
“Did you get anything besides cheese?” Her eyes went wide when I picked up my bag.
“I did actually. I bought a board, some meats and crackers. And olives.”
Ashlyn groaned. “Gimme!”
I laughed and handed over the jar. I carried the rest of my purchases to the kitchen.
I washed the board quickly, then dried it and set it on the island.
I unpacked the cheeses and set them on the board, not bothering to make it pretty as we ate and arranged cheese and meat and crackers and laughed.
I hated seeing my bestie upset. And I hated even more knowing I couldn’t do anything to help her. Heartbreak took time, and eventually, she would heal, but until then, I was going to be there for her.