CHAPTER FIVE
W hitney was currently in a dream sequence from a Hallmark movie. She strolled arm-in-arm down Main Street in Pinegrove with Daisy, gabbing like a couple of teenagers. Birdsong echoed around them, the air scented with pine. She hadn’t been this carefree and smiley in, well ... far too long.
After the best breakfast she’d had since getting her first training bra, Whitney and Daisy piled into the pickup to explore the town. While Daisy drove, Whitney texted Winnie proof of life so she didn’t worry.
All is well in Pinegrove, Win. Spending the day with my gracious hostess. I’ll call tonight.
Winnie responded with a thumbs-up emoji, as well as a screenshot of a background check on Daisy Mays of Pinegrove, Georgia. Don’t be pissed, but I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be tied to a porch post and forced to play the banjo.
Whitney snorted and replied with I think you’re referencing too many movies ... but thanks for caring. With a few hearts, and an eye-roll emoji, added at the end.
“Everything okay, sugar?” Daisy asked as she turned onto Main Street and parked in front of a charming little café. The storefront had a scattering of small tables and chairs, where a group of young mothers congregated. A half dozen baby strollers flanked the women, with a variety of babies and toddlers cooing and being adorable. One of the women recognized Daisy and waved before handing a juice box to a kid with a finger up his nose.
“Everyone is so friendly here,” Whitney marveled, loving the feel of small-town life again. Savannah was hardly Manhattan, but it was still a city to her.
Daisy tugged a straw hat on and closed the car door. “Oh, that’s Pinegrove for you. There’s a reason Nick and I stayed here after high school. It’s relatively safe, the cost of living isn’t bad, and we wanted the kids to feel like they grew up in a postcard.”
“I’d say you succeeded,” Whitney agreed as she hiked her purse up her shoulder and followed Daisy into the first store.
It was a women’s boutique with two gorgeous picture window displays. Whitney wouldn’t admit it to Daisy, but the fashions skewed toward the over-fifty set. “We won’t stay here long, but the owner is holding a new blouse for me. You met her last night, it’s Kim.” Daisy held the door for Whitney, and they were greeted by a stout woman with gray hair and a warm grin.
“Daisy, how good to see you again.” The older woman pulled Daisy into a hug before turning toward Whitney. “And it sure is nice seeing you again. Winnie, right?”
Whitney held out her hand and smiled. “Good guess, as that’s my sister’s name. I’m Whitney, ma’am. Ms. Daisy is nice enough to be showing me Pinegrove today.”
Daisy draped her arm around Whitney’s shoulder when the other women were done shaking hands. “And she’s staying with me through the festival. It’s nice to have guests again.”
Whitney hoped she didn’t come across as a free-loader, but she forced a wider smile.
“Well, isn’t that perfect? I’m Kim, the owner of Kim’s Creations, and I’m sure glad to meet you officially, Whitney.”
“Same, Kim.”
Kim motioned around to the store. Save for a few shoppers, their little trio was alone. “Please, make yourself at home. Poke around, have a drink, whatever you’d like!”
Daisy steered them toward a drink station at the counter. “You help yourself to some lemonade while I check on my blouse. I won’t be a minute.”
“Take your time,” Whitney urged, helping herself to some lemonade in a charming paper cup covered in wisteria flowers.
While Daisy and Kim gossiped and tried on her new outfit, Whitney strolled around the shop inspecting the jewelry section. There were necklaces her mother would adore, long chains with charms and rhinestones. A choker caught her eye, and she pictured Winnie pairing it with one of her power suits. Glancing at the price tag, Whitney quickly realized she’d need to watch her pennies during her little road trip from reality. Without a job, she’d need to make every dollar count.
“What do you think, Whitney?” Daisy asked as she stepped onto the main floor. The blouse was fitted at her waist but had short flowy sleeves, the fabric a mix of red and blue stars.
“It’s lovely and perfect for the Fourth of July.”
Daisy twisted to see herself in the three-way mirror before nodding and turning back to Kim. “She’s right, I’ll take it.”
Kim beamed and pointed to the register. “You get changed, and I’ll meet you up there. I need to help these ladies over in shoes.”
Daisy and Whitney waited at the counter while Kim flitted around the shop. There was a pair of women roughly Daisy’s age with shopping bags looped around each arm, and an elderly couple browsing the jewelry counter. Whitney watched with a frown as Kim tried to serve everyone at once, even as the bell over the door chimed another arrival.
“Is she usually shorthanded?” Whitney asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shaking her head, Daisy grimaced. “Never like this.”
“Excuse me, do you work here?” One of the customers asked Whitney. She held a stack of clothes and motioned toward the dressing rooms with her free hand. “I’d like to try these on.”
Whitney was about to shake her head when she had an idea. “Follow me,” she said, taking the clothes and striding to the fitting area. She’d noticed a key chain hanging from the counter and snagged the keys then let the woman into a room. “You leave what you don’t want right there, and we’ll take care of it. There are some gorgeous bracelets out there if you like that orange dress. It’ll match your skin tone beautifully.”
Before Kim reacted, Whitney strode over to the older couple looking at necklaces. The husband’s hands shook as he attempted to latch the tiny clasp. “Let me help with that, folks.” She smirked as she deftly secured the chain and stepped back to admire her handiwork. “That is a great length, isn’t it? It draws the eyes to your gorgeous smile.”
The woman rested a hand on her chest and giggled; her husband nodded. “She’s right, isn’t she, Frank? What do you think?” She turned her head this way and that before Frank pulled out his wallet.
“I can’t argue with that smile.” He turned to Whitney and handed her his credit card. “We’ll take it, miss.”
By the time Whitney was back at the register, the woman from the dressing room was ready with all the clothes, Kim hot on her heels. “These all worked out great, thank you. Could you show me that bracelet you mentioned?”
Kim checked out the older couple while Whitney paired a ring and bracelet set with the customer’s new dress. “And think, these will work well into fall when you’re ready for those pumpkiny outfits,” she suggested and found the woman the proper ring size.
Ten minutes later, and the shop was empty. Whitney leaned on the counter to catch her breath. “I’m so sorry, Miss Kim. I hope I didn’t overstep.”
Kim was incredulous, her eyes bugging out from behind her bifocals. “Are you kidding, honey? You sold over five hundred dollars’ worth of merchandise in the time it took me to help one person. Are you looking for a job?”
Whitney’s jaw hung open so far, she feared she’d catch flies. “A job?” The irony wasn’t lost on Whitney, as all she really needed was a job and stable income, but they were hours from Savannah. “I don’t live here, and you don’t even know me,” she said with a frown.
Kim waved away her concerns as if a six-hour roundtrip commute was standard. “I’m not worried about that. I’ll take what I can get at this rate. If this one here vouches for you,” she said, hitching a thumb at Daisy, “then that’s good enough for me. I need all the help I can get this month, especially with the festival growing at the speed of sound. Pinegrove is hopping.”
“Oh, well.” Whitney chewed her lip, struggling to decide the best way to let this sweet woman down.
Daisy had other plans. “You’ve shocked the poor gal, Kim. Why don’t we swing by on our way out of town? I promised Whitney lunch and a tour of Main Street.”
Kim nodded, satisfied. “I’m here all day.” She turned back to Whitney and pulled her into a brief hug. “Thank you for your help. You saved my bacon this morning.” Another customer entered the shop, and Kim got back to work.
Daisy held the door for Whitney, and they headed toward the bookshop. “That was very nice of you to help Kim like that. Most people step back and watch the chaos.”
“Oh, it was nothing. I don’t mind helping,” Whitney said, pleased she was able to do something.
“I don’t know about nothing. Do you want to think about Kim’s offer? I know she won’t make you a millionaire, but she would be fair.” She peeked at Whitney from under the brim of her hat. “I never did ask you, are you working now?”
Whitney shook her head and strived not to look too depressed. Discussing her career goals was about as much fun as unplanned oral surgery. “Well, actually, I’m in between things at the moment.”
Gesturing back to Kim’s Creations, Daisy said, “You clearly have retail experience.”
With a shrug, Whitney agreed. “Yes, some. I’ve been a temp for years, hopping along to various jobs in Savannah. I like the variety, but I know it’s time to make a plan and put down roots.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she flinched. The truth had come out, and Whitney wasn’t ready to dissect what it all meant, especially with Daisy.
The other woman hummed to herself while they walked past the bookstore. “Why don’t we postpone our book browsing and grab lunch now? There is a great sandwich shop up on the corner, and we can beat the rush.”
Despite eating breakfast fit for an army, Whitney’s stomach grumbled at the suggestion. “Why not?”
At the counter, Daisy ordered a Reuben and a side salad while Whitney settled on the chicken salad with a side of coleslaw. When the cashier gave the total, Daisy quickly handed her credit card to the clerk and shooed away Whitney’s attempts to pay. “Whitney, you’re my guest.”
“Exactly, you’re giving me a place to stay. I should be paying you.”
Daisy carefully pushed away Whitney’s hand as she clutched a fistful of bills. “I know it might not look like it to you, but you’re doing me a favor.”
“I am?” Whitney didn’t believe her.
“You are.” Daisy took off her hat and fluffed her hair with her free hand. “Let’s grab that table by the window, and I’ll tell you my tale of woe.” She chuckled as she walked, proving the conversation would be lighter than it sounded.
“Thank you,” Whitney told the waitress as she slid their plates across the table. Daisy chose a table for two with the perfect view of Main Street. A pair of joggers sprinted past, avoiding a herd of teenagers on their cell phones. She took a greedy bite of her sandwich and savored the tang of the mustard dressing. “This is heavenly,” she said through a mouthful.
Daisy nodded, already tucking into her salad. “I won’t argue with you. This place is perfection.” She chomped on a tomato before speaking. “As you know, I lost my husband a few years ago.”
Whitney finished chewing, eager to show manners. “Yes, ma’am. Again, I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. Nick was a wonderful husband and father. I know a lot of widows say that, but it was true. He was the fire chief, and his heart attack sure came as a surprise.” She lifted her Reuben, which dripped with dressing and cheese. “Granted, after a lifetime of eating these, I shouldn’t be so surprised.” She mused as she took a bite. “Hence, the salad to balance things out.” She laughed at herself and wiped her fingers on a paper napkin.
“Was he the chief at Trevor’s station?”
Daisy dabbed a blob of sauce from her lips and nodded. “He was, but we don’t need to go into all that now. There is time to fall down that rabbit hole.” She smirked and sipped from her iced tea.
Suddenly Whitney wanted to know everything about Trevor, about the man who shaped him. It was already clear from their brief interactions that he cared deeply for his family, and that must be a hard loss to recover from.
Her musings were interrupted by Daisy’s question, which was only fair, since she’d poked into her past. “So, sugar, why are you on the road right now?”
Whitney’s sandwich froze halfway to her mouth, and she swallowed. “Well, how much time do you have?” she teased, buying time by taking a massive bite of chicken salad.
Daisy threw her head back and laughed, the sound as melodic as wind chimes. “Whitney, I like you. Have I mentioned that?” She slid her plate away and leaned back in her seat. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but since we’re two gals gabbing over lunch, I thought I would ask.”
Whitney didn’t want to lie to Daisy, but she also wasn’t ready to open a vein and hope for the best. Eating the last bite of sandwich, she chewed thoughtfully before sharing the abridged version of her life.
“Well, when I said I was in between things at the moment, I meant it. I recently got out of a three-year relationship, and I’ve been temping all over Savannah for a while. I lived with my ex, so right now I’m crashing on my sister’s couch. Winnie insists it’s time for me to grow up and find a career, but I’m not sure what feels right. In case you couldn’t tell, not much is feeling right lately.”
Daisy nodded along as she spoke, giving her time to find her words.
“I suppose a part of me thought I’d have it all figured out by now. But ...” Unsure how to finish that thought, she waffled her hand back and forth.
“But you need a little more time?” Daisy wagered, her smile kind. “I don’t see anything wrong with that. I won’t tell Trevor’s story, it’s his to share, but you two have a lot in common.”
Whitney choked on her Diet Coke. “We do?” From where she sat, he was a sweet man with a career and devastating good looks, while she was a little plump, homeless, with a dwindling savings account, and no job prospects.
Well, that wasn’t true—she had Kim’s offer. It was madness, but Whitney really wanted to accept the job. She had nowhere to live, and her life was back in Savannah, but sitting here in Pinegrove with Daisy ... it felt like where she needed to be.
As she was about to share this new revelation with Daisy, a tall, skinny blonde approached their table. Her hair was swept off her face in perfect ringlets, humidity be damned, and she had a designer purse looped through her arm. The smile she gave Daisy was kind, but the returning smile from the other woman was anything but.
“Daisy, I thought that was you.” The blonde leaned down and air-kissed Daisy’s cheek. The older woman recoiled.
“Good afternoon, Virginia.”
“I was running errands and thought I’d stop by for a salad. Everything here is lovely.” She sighed and rested her left hand over her heart.
Daisy’s eyes bulged for a fraction of a second before she schooled her face. The ring on the woman’s fourth finger was big enough to be classified as a heliport, the diamond catching the light at all angles.
Virginia caught Daisy gawking at the ring and smirked. “Oh! Did you see my ring? Isn’t it divine? Scott only gets me the best.” She fluttered the hand over her chest, which Whitney staked was artificially enhanced.
Shoving her chair back so quickly it squeaked, Daisy collected her purse and held out her hand for Whitney to join her. “I’m sure Scott’s new job helped pay for it. Bless your heart.” If Virginia heard the venom in Daisy’s voice, she didn’t let on.
“Well, thank you, Daisy. I’m so pleased you’re happy for us.”
Daisy tugged on Whitney’s arm, who stumbled to her feet, a fork clattering to the floor. “I didn’t say that. Goodbye, Virginia.”
Virginia frowned, hand falling to her side. “Goodbye? Daisy, I’d like us to try to be friends again.” Her words were strained, the polished veneer of before had melted away.
Whitney stood as still as a statue, squeezing Daisy’s hand for support. “My momma raised me with manners, Virginia,” Daisy said, taking a long exhale, “but I cannot so easily forget how you hurt my son. I won’t wish you ill, but I certainly cannot be your friend.” Gesturing to Virginia’s hand, she spluttered, “And I won’t congratulate your union.”
Blonde hair bobbing, Virginia shook her head. “Oh,” she muttered, gaze locked on the floor. “I, um, understand.”
Daisy blinked rapidly, her clear eyes misting over. “Sugar, I don’t care if you understand. We all make choices in this world, and this one is mine. Enjoy your salad.” And with that, she pulled Whitney out into the balmy late June heat.
“Of all the ridiculous, underhanded ...” Daisy muttered under her breath until they were across the street and at the car. “Friends. She wants to be friends. ” Daisy bitterly spat the last word out. “Do you mind if we cut our shopping short, Whitney? Let’s go for a drive, I need to clear my head before I punch something.”
Whitney shook her head, concern etched over her face. “Not at all. Is there anything I can do?”
Her question shook the other woman from her stupor, and she looked at Whitney for the first time since leaving the café. “Sugar, I have a feeling you’re already doing it.”
When they were safely in Daisy’s pickup, Whitney gathered the courage to ask a question. “Urm, if you don’t mind me asking ...”
“Who was that ghastly woman?” Daisy grunted, turning too quickly at a four-way stop sign. The car to their left honked their horn as Daisy cut them off, but she paid them no mind.
“If it’s too painful to discuss, I’ll mind my own ...”
“That awful woman is Trevor’s ex-fiancée. She broke his heart and is already engaged to that dim-witted, jack wagon Scott Hastings.”
“Oh,” was all Whitney mustered. She had no clue who Scott was, and right now she couldn’t care less.
All her ears heard was Trevor’s ex-fiancée.
Turns out she and Trevor had more in common than she realized. Trouble was, she had no idea what to do about it.