Chapter Elyse
ELYSE
I wasn't at the store five minutes before Grace texted to ask if I had a few minutes to talk.
"My afternoon is wide open," I texted back.
When she walked in, I was helping a customer.
I held up one finger, signaling that I would be with her shortly.
She waved me off and headed toward the romance section, probably looking to see how her own books were selling.
She'd had a surge in sales since her seventh book was published a few months before.
Mrs. Benjamin, a regular, looked up from sorting her tall stack of books on the counter.
"It seems as if Jenna's bakery is doing well," she said, tucking a strand of straight brown hair behind her ear. She was about my age, but loved to gossip as if she were still in high school. She had good intentions, so I usually just humored her with a few mm-hmms and head nods.
"Yes, she's doing quite well," I said. "People are coming in here all day long with her bags. It makes me so happy to see her succeed at something she's wanted to do her whole life."
"Well, she's got a real knack for it," said Mrs. Smith. "And I'm in there at least twice a week picking up baked goods for the kids or for PTA or members of my club. I've been handing out her business cards like crazy. I'm hoping that they're working."
"Every little bit helps," I said. "No business succeeds in a vacuum. It takes all of our support to make sure that a new business succeeds. And I'm sure she appreciates everything that you're doing."
"She just seems so much happier since Craig went to jail. I just can't believe how that whole thing went down."
None of us could, but in the meantime, Jenna had been growing more confident by leaps and bounds.
She had spent the last few months proving everybody right, which made us happy to no end.
Starting over was the best thing that she had ever done.
We had helped her get her bakery started, and she had received a scholarship grant from a local organization that helps women who are starting businesses, going back to school, or re-entering the workforce after taking care of their families.
"Yes, she's really coming into her own," I agreed. "We're finally seeing the Jenna she could have been all along. And who knew she had such a wild sense of humor?"
"I have a feeling that has something to do with the company she keeps these days," Mrs. Benjamin said with a laugh. "The six of you are quite the team. Wherever you are, there's laughter heard for miles."
I finished scanning her books, and as she opened up her purse to search for her credit card, she looked up with a familiar expression. I was about to learn the secondary reason for her visit.
"I've been seeing her around town with Adam from the security company."
"Oh, they've been friends since they were in school," I said, trying to deflect any kind of gossip she could be angling for.
"It looked as if they were headed out of the friend zone," she said. "But what do I know? I just want her to be happy."
"And she appreciates that, I'm sure, Mrs. Benjamin," I said, tucking her receipt into the bag.
"Will you be here for Paige Rhiann's book launch?
" I asked. "We're trying to get as many people from the community to attend.
She's been writing that book for five years before she came here, and we're all so proud of her. "
"That's incredible and quite noteworthy what she has done with those writing retreats. I've heard wonderful things about them, and the neighbors have all reported that there isn't too much noise coming from her house."
I had to stifle a laugh because I could definitely see Mrs. Benjamin making the rounds with Paige's neighbors, hoping for some juicy tidbits about what could possibly be going on over there.
"Yep, they're going pretty well. Hopefully, you can make it to her book launch party," I said.
I took a postcard from the stack on the counter and put it in her bag on top of the books.
"I slipped a reminder in here. If you wouldn't mind telling some of your friends, I would sure appreciate it. And I'm sure Paige would, too."
"Absolutely, dear," she said. "I'll be there, and I will make sure some of my friends from the tennis club are there as well."
"Thank you, Mrs. Smith," I said as she took her bag off the counter.
"Thank you, Elyse. I'll be seeing you soon. I'm headed over to the bakery."
"You have a great day," I said.
"You bet I will," she said and walked out the door. Moments later, Grace was standing in front of the counter.
"You have such a knack for deflecting gossip," she said.
"It's a gift," I said with a smile, knowing that Grace was as prone to gossip as the next person. "What can I do for you?" I said. "Are you looking for the new horror book?"
"Ha ha," she said. "It looks like my books are selling well."
"Yes, since your new book launched, they've been flying off the shelves. I had to place another order this morning for the last three books in your series."
"The sell-through on this series has been great," she said. "Much more so than my first series."
"I'm so happy that they're doing well," I said. "Now what can I do for you? I know you're not here to check on your sell-through."
Grace didn't have it in her to look sheepish. "I just came in to see if you were doing okay after our meeting."
"You mean intervention."
"Call it whatever you will, we're concerned. Cat is one of the more liberal thinkers of our group, and I know she is worried sick about you." She paused, probably noticing the expression on my face. I had no interest in listening to the same song and dance twice in one day.
She cleared her throat. "But I'm not here to lecture. I really am just here to make sure you're okay."
"Yes, I'm doing okay, and I really am just not wanting to talk about it anymore for today," I said.
"Understandable." Grace was the maternal figure of our group. These check-ins were common, but she was also good about taking the hint when the subject was closed and didn't push it any further.
"So I heard what Mrs. Benjamin said about seeing Jenna and Adam around town. I was thinking the same thing. I saw them headed out of the cafe a few minutes ago, and they looked to be pretty cozy."
"Their friendship is really growing lately," I said, "and he has been a huge support for her as she navigates her new single life. I know he checks on her often and brings her lunch at the bakery whenever he can."
"He's such a thoughtful young man," said Grace. "When she's ready, I would love for her to end up with someone just like Adam."
"Who knows what the future holds," I said. "I'm not going to push one way or another, but if Adam has his way, the two of them will be dating before too long. I'm thinking she wants to take some time since her divorce was just final a few months ago."
"I think that Jenna has learned a great deal from her experience with Craig and the things that she has experienced since he has gone to jail.
It's good that she has a male friend like Adam so that she isn't jaded when it does come time for her to be ready to date.
I want her to know that not every man is like her parents or Craig.
That there are people out there that will have her best interests at heart and will put her first. And support her. "
Grace and I chatted a few more minutes, but when she left, it felt like she'd left something unsaid. It hung in the air where she'd been and I couldn't help but wonder what would ever make Grace think twice about sharing.