Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
OKAY, I’LL SHUT UP NOW.
Blair
I’ve settled into a good routine here now.
I’m slowly becoming obsessed with all of Bluestone Lakes.
I can say this confidently because I’ve learned my way around through my early morning runs. The weather when the sun rises is my new favorite time of day. There is runner’s high and there is seeing the sun peak over the mountain early morning high. Both of which I experience daily now. If I time my runs just right, I get to see that view when I get back home after each run.
Of course, Reginald is always waiting for me at the front door.
I’ve picked up some shifts to help Lily out at the bakery too since the crowds were picking up, and she needed the extra set of hands.
“It’s crazy how busy you guys get with very little information on the website for this town.”
Lily rolls her eyes. “Tell me about it. Nan has no idea how to work technology. If she would just accept the help I’ve offered over a dozen times, it would be a much cleaner and more inviting website. ”
“I heard that,” Nan interrupts.
Our heads snap to the front door, and she stands there with her hands on her hips, but a smile stretched across her face. It hasn’t been that long since I last saw Nan, but whenever I do, I feel like she ages backward. As if each passing day she’s a year younger than she was. Nan is goals, honestly.
“Speak of the devil.” Lily laughs.
“Who, me?” Nan gasps with a hand to her chest. “I’m no devil. Now come here and give me a hug, Lovely Lily.”
Lily shakes her head but offers her a smile before she embraces her.
“What brings you in this afternoon, Nan? It’s later than usual.”
“I’m making my rounds to see if anyone would be interested in starting a karaoke night at Seven Stools.”
“Oh.” Lily claps her hands together and bounces where she stands. “Yes. I love that idea. Let’s do it.”
“We just need to work on the details,” Nan says, rounding the counter like she works here and taking a seat by the register. “We can’t do Mondays because that’s when the book club meets.”
“Oh, the town has a book club?” I ask, cutting her off.
She nods her head. “I’m not sure you’d like it, Blair. We don’t read the kind of books you’d tell your grandma about.”
I cock my head to the side in question.
“We read those romance books,” Nan adds. “With every single descriptive detail someone could want.”
“Wait, I read those too!” I tell her.
“Well then.” She smiles widely. “You’re invited. I’ll tell you more about it later, but let’s get back to karaoke. It’s very important. Now, Tuesdays we can’t do that night because that’s pickleball night.”
“You play pickleball too?” I ask. “Damn, you’re a busy woman. ”
“God, no. But I like to watch.” She winks. “And then Wednesdays are the night I catch up on my soap operas.”
I giggle behind my hand.
Nan is a unique woman. I really admire her. I’m sure she keeps everyone in this town entertained and active as much as possible. She’s like the unofficial mayor of the place. Even with her Wednesday night activities, it seems like she doesn’t like to sit still for long if she can help it.
“We could possibly do Thursdays or Fridays, but I know both nights are short staffed at Seven Stools,” she continues.
See? She even knows what the staffing looks like at the bar.
“I don’t see why Griffin wouldn’t stay late to help.” Lily shrugs.
“Grumpy Griffin hates the idea,” Nan says right before she rolls her eyes.
I can’t help the laugh that I practically choke out. “Did you just call him Grumpy Griffin ?”
“Yep. I have nicknames for all my town’s children.”
“If you don’t mind me asking…” I raise a brow in question before I speak, knowing this might be a personal question. “Who exactly are your children?”
“No one.” She chuckles. “But everyone.”
“That makes…no sense.”
“We have Grumpy Griffin, Lovely Lily, and Pretty Poppy,” Nan rattles off as she counts on her hand. “Oh, and newly added…Talkative Tucker.”
Lily blushes. “Nan is the best.”
I pause, thinking about the names she just mentioned.
I’ve obviously met Griffin, but who are Poppy and Tucker?
“You have a sister?” I ask Lily.
“Yes. You just haven’t met her yet. She’s the youngest of all of us and a first-grade teacher in town.” Her smile grows as she continues talking about her. “She’s so good with kids. She has the patience of a saint.”
“Why is Griffin the only one with a negative nickname? ”
Nan lifts a shoulder. “I call it like I see it.”
“And she’s not wrong,” Lily adds. “He wasn’t always like that, though. I’d give anything to have my old brother back. The happier version of him.”
My curiosity piques. I wonder what she’s talking about. I want to ask more, but I don’t want to invade his privacy. I’m usually good at reading people. Call it growing up around politicians, and from the first few interactions with Griffin, I knew there was a deeper meaning to his burly, grumpy exterior.
“Thursdays really would be ideal,” Lily continues. “It’s a perfect day for it and a good marketing tactic for the bar. If we pitch it that way, he can’t say no.”
“My thoughts too.” Nan jumps from the stool. “Thirsty Thursday. My only issue is that he needs some convincing. He shut me down an hour ago.”
“Between you and me, we’re very persuasive.” Lily laughs, bumping shoulders with Nan. “Let’s go talk to him quickly.” She turns to face me. “Are you good holding down the fort for a little bit?”
“Yep.” I nod. “I got this handled here.”
Lily and Nan leave to go next door.
I start to organize the display of baked goods to make them look less empty, and I keep replaying that conversation in my head, wondering what happened to him to make him that way.
It makes me want to talk to him more and get to know the deeper version of the man. Only because I know there’s a heart in there somewhere. I know he’s not truly that big of an asshole. I mean, he did barrel down the road to pick me up when I was lost.
The bell chimes for the front door and I look up expecting to find Lily and Nan already back after being shut down with their ideas. But my gaze lands on the pretty woman Griffin was with at the General Store.
“Oh, hi.” She smiles at me. “Lil told me she hired a new girl. It’s so nice to finally put a face with the name. ”
“Hi, yes.” I stumble over my words slightly. “I actually saw you last week with Griffin at the General Store. Sorry if that sounds creepy. It’s just nice to meet a girl who can actually put up with my neighbor. Sorry if that’s offensive. I tend to talk too much. Okay, I’ll shut up now.”
I don’t know what the hell just came over me.
Am I nervous to talk to this woman?
I don’t get nervous, but maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been thinking not-so-friendly things about her boyfriend. It’s hard to help with the way he wears his baseball cap backward and the sleeves of his flannel rolled up, showing off his really freakin’ hot forearms. When I’m letting the dog out late at night, I find myself looking in the direction of his property. Wondering what he’s doing. Wondering if this woman standing in front of me is over there. Then I question if he smiles behind closed doors with her.
“Wow. I like you.” She laughs.
“That makes…” I pause to count on my fingers. “A total of three people in town so far. I’m doing excellent.”
She extends her hand to greet me. “But I’m not dating Griffin. He’s my brother.”
“Well…” I draw out, taking her hand in mine. “Foot in my mouth, I guess. You must be Poppy. It’s really nice to finally meet you. I can’t wait to remember this interaction for the rest of my existence.”
She waves me off, laughing to lighten the mood. “Oh, please. Don’t stress about that with me. You’re funny. It’s nice to have a bright face around here. I was just coming by on my lunch break to grab some treats for the kids.”
I move to the back counter, grab the bag Lily left out, and pass it to her. “I heard you’re a teacher. That’s really amazing.”
She beams with pride. “It’s the greatest job in the world. I hate to cut this short, but I need to head back. Maybe we can get together for lunch one day to chat more. ”
“I-I’d love that,” I practically stutter, in shock that she’s a stranger who actually wants to get to know me more.
“Perfect! I’ll get your number from Lily after school and text you. Have a good rest of your day,” she says with a wave.
“You too,” I tell her and watch as she walks out.
I can’t help but admire her for being able to do what she loves and for having nothing holding her back. It’s a feeling I can relate to, as I’m also finally doing what I love.
It brings an intense feeling of contentment, peace, and fulfillment I never thought I could achieve after my divorce. Maybe it’s the joy of being in a place where no one knows my past. No one’s seen me on a billboard with whiskers painted on my face. No one’s seen me on the news besides my ex-husband waving and looking perfectly put together.
If I hadn’t made this decision to come here, would I still be curled up in my sister’s apartment with no leads on a place to live?
Emotions are fighting to break through to the surface, but I will not cry over him right now. I am choosing happiness, and I am damn proud of myself for holding my head high. It's not easy, but I've found that focusing on the things that bring me joy—like my new job and the friends I've made—helps me stay positive.
It feels like I am becoming the person I have been deep down all along, the person who was buried under the weight of a failing marriage. I'm rediscovering my passions, my strengths, and my independence, and it's a truly liberating feeling.
I have new friends, a new town, and a job that I am obsessed with.
The past feels so far in the rearview mirror that I can’t even see it anymore.
I think I like who I’m becoming .