7. I’m Moving To Forest Falls
I’m Moving To Forest Falls
Missy
Two Months Later
‘Hey, bestie.’
My smile beams as I meet Cara right where she asked me to, and she grins back just as widely.
‘You’re here.’
Opening her arms to me, she wraps me up in a hug, and I feel happy and excited to see her and decide to pull her chain a little bit.
‘I am. I don’t really know why you have me standing in the street on a cold November morning instead of meeting at your house or the diner, but here I am.’
She smirks, knowing me too well by now. ‘I need your opinion on something.’
‘Okay. Shoot. ’
She nods toward the building behind her and turns toward the door. ‘Come on.’
Walking into the old building, I feel a little confused. Something in the pit of my stomach flutters with the temptation to get excited, but I fight it, not wanting to get ahead of myself.
‘So, we’ve been looking for somewhere we can fix up here in town, and we heard a rumor that the owner of this place was willing to sell.’
‘Um, the whole building?’
She shrugs.
‘No, the business premises at the bottom, and then there’s a two-bedroom apartment above. Well, there are two apartments up there, but one wasn’t for sale as it’s already owned and lived in.’
I glance around. It’s old and unused for a long time but unmistakable. According to the window signs, the business premises are a hair salon and a barbershop.
‘Come on. Let’s go upstairs.’
Cara leads me to the back of the shop, where a stairwell can be accessed from the shop and an external door too, and we head upstairs.
‘Okay, that’s the occupied apartment.’ She points to a door we pass while heading to one directly opposite. ‘So, this is the one that comes with the sale. ’
Inside, I inhale deeply — it’s a huge space. It needs a lot of work and looks as though it hasn’t been lived in for a really long time, but it’s fantastic.
‘It has a wee little Juliet balcony here in the living room and also one in the master bedroom, and they’re just adorable.’
I follow her through the space, curious about what she’s up to. She and Doug have recently set up a house flipping business, but this isn’t the kind of property they’ve been going for. She’s been looking at old houses, not barbershops and apartments.
‘Here’s the master, and there’s a bathroom there that absolutely needs a refit.’
Huh, maybe she is looking to flip this place.
‘There’s the second bedroom — still a great area.’
I check out the rooms in turn and they are all fantastic sizes. The place could be amazing with a little love.
‘So, what do you think?’
Cara stops and turns to me, an anxious expression on her face.
‘It’s amazing. I love the balconies, and this living space is huge. It is so versatile. The bedrooms are great, and the shop is a great space, too.’
‘So, you like it?’
I laugh. ‘Yeah, Cara. I just said that. Why do you look so worried?’
‘Because it’ s yours.’ I freeze, unable to take a breath, unable to move a muscle. ‘Missy, you okay?’
‘What do you mean?’
My voice is tiny as I ask her to explain.
‘I bought it for you. Miss, I adore you. You have been there for me literally since I stepped off the plane. You had my back without me needing to do anything to earn your trust or your friendship. Roberta left me a shit ton of money, and I know she left you a bit, too, but honestly, Missy, she should have left it all to you. You were the granddaughter in her life, and you were the one there for her over the years and at the end.’
I feel the tremble of my chin and swallow against the lump of emotion in my throat. I loved Roberta, but I wasn’t blood. I never questioned her leaving it all to Cara.
‘I never expected, I mean, I didn’t ask for…’
‘I know. I know you didn’t do any of it for anything in return, but I love you. You deserve this. It doesn’t make sense to me that you’re up there alone with Jonah when you can be here, with family.’
She reaches out her hands for mine, and I take them, a sob escaping with the contact.
‘I bought you the salon and this apartment. It’s all in your name. Doug is prepped and ready to help you rip it all out and make it as pretty as you want.’
I release her hands to wipe my tears before pulling her into a tight hug.
‘You’re my family, Missy. I want you happy, and I want you close.’
‘Thank you.’ I want to say so much. I want to argue that she can’t do this, that I don’t want her to, but I do, and she already has, and just like that, I’m moving to Forest Falls.