Chapter 15
The moment Serenityreturned to Wishing Well, Jo was swept up in a whirlwind of appointments. With the wedding fast approaching, there wasn’t any time to waste, and Jo couldn’t disagree. After spending the last two days following the bride-to-be all day long, Jo walked into the Wish and Roast to grab some pastries. Once she had those, she’d head home and crash.
“Hey, Jo,” Lucy said as she looked up from behind the counter. “How’s the wedding shaping up?”
“I think it’s going to be beautiful, and the food is going to be fantastic.” She gave a knowing smile since Lucy would be the caterer for the event.
Lucy exhaled. “I sure hope so. I had to hire a few more people, which is good.” She pulled out a muffin from one of the cases and placed it on a plate. “I really appreciate Serenity using businesses in town.”
Jo brought the notebook she was carrying to her chest and hugged it. “I do, too, and once this article comes out, I suspect business will pick up even more. As with all my articles, I’m making a list of all the vendors she’s using to include with it. Which, before I forget, would you email me all of your contact information?” She reached into her bag and pulled out a business card. “That has my email address.”
Taking the card, Lucy looked it over. “I’ll get it sent over today,” she said and looked up. “So what brings you in?”
“I thought I’d treat Grandma and myself to something sweet and tasty,” Jo said, laughing.
Lucy eyed her, a sly grin spreading on her lips. “Grandma… or Jack?”
“Grandma.” She gave her voice a little more oomph to emphasis it.
“Are you sure? Rumor has it that you and Jack are getting pretty cozy.”
Shaking her head, Jo waved Lucy off. “Oh, no, we’re just friends. He’s working on Grandma’s house, and I’m helping.”
Lucy rounded the counter and pointed to a table in the far corner. “I know that look. Go, sit, and I’ll be over there as soon as I deliver this muffin.”
Jo scoffed and went to argue.
“Go!” Lucy gave her a playful nudge toward the table.
It was a stare off. They’d been so close as kids, and Lucy had known her so well—and seemed to still know her.
“Fine.” Jo stomped over to the table and flopped down in the chair facing the wall. She didn’t want to talk about it. Well, she did, but she didn’t. Oh, she didn’t know what she wanted.
So lost in thought, Jo jumped when Lucy set a cup of something smelling of vanilla and caramel in front of her along with a streusel blueberry scone. “Oh, this looks delicious.”
Lucy wiggled in her seat. “Thanks, that is a Wishing for a Latte Caramel and Blueberry Wishes scone.”
“Cute names.”
With a shrug, Lucy replied, “I wanted to play on the name of the town. My hope was that tourism would pick up one day, and it’d make me stand out.”
Jo took a bite of the pastry. The buttery, tart pop of flavor exploded on her tongue. She groaned, and with her mouth still full, she said, “Lucy, this is fantastic. I’d definitely wish for another one.”
“Thanks.” She leaned forward with her arms on the table. “I’m glad you like it. Now, talk.”
Dusting off her hands, Jo lowered her gaze to the table. “There’s nothing to talk about. I—” She didn’t know what to say or think or feel. She opened her mouth to give the statement that she’d been giving for days, and instead, she began pouring her heart out.
Over the next couple of hours, in between serving customers, Jo and Lucy reignited their friendship. An hour ago, she’d closed up the café, and they’d continued talking. It hadn’t taken long to remember why Jo called Lucy her best friend in high school.
Lucy was the girlfriend who would listen to listen, not listen to fix. She didn’t take sides unless it was called for, like in Jo and Craig’s case. Lucy still held Jo somewhat accountable for what happened, but it wasn’t fifty-fifty, more like seventy-thirty.
Jo learned that Lucy decided to follow her heart and her passion for food during her first year of college. She’d dropped out, attended culinary school, and went on to running a catering business in Phoenix. Then she’d received word that her dad’s health was declining. She’d sold her business, packed her things, and returned home to take care of him. Six months later, when his health had recovered, she’d decided to buy the café and stay in Wishing Well.
Before Jo knew it, they were laughing like no time had passed, and they’d never lost touch. As the evening and conversation went on,Jo felt like a weight was slowly lifting from her soul and made her realize just how much she’d missed Lucy’s friendship.
“Principle Gardner was livid when that beach ball began soaring across the auditorium.” Lucy snickered.
Jo barked with laughter. “His face was so red, I thought he’d pop.”
They laughed a little harder, and then it slowly died.
“I’m so glad you came home. I didn’t realize just how much I miss you, Jo. I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch better.”
She waved her off. “We’re both guilty. I don’t want to lose touch again, though. It’s been so much fun tonight. Catching up and talking to you. I never felt like I had to pretend with you. I could be myself, and you were my friend despite my weirdness.” She grinned.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I could say the same about you.”
“Oh, no. You were definitely the cool one.”
“I was not. I was a complete and total dork.”
“You were beautiful in high school, and there wasn’t a guy who didn’t want to date you.”
“Which brings us back to Jack Turner.”
Jo sagged against the table. “I like him, I do, but…”
“You more than like him.”
Groaning, she hung her head.
Lucy stretched her hand across the table, taking Jo’s hand in hers. “It’s okay to be confused and lost for a little bit. To not know what you want.”
Jo sighed as she looked up. “Good thing because I am so lost and confused. I’ve been here two weeks, and I like him so much.”
“Then let yourself like him. See where it goes. It doesn’t have to turn into anything.”
“That’s the thing, Lucy. I can see it turning into something, and if I’m honest, I want it to. But I’ve got commitments and a life in New York City.” Commitments to a woman who never kept hers. A life that with even a little introspection, isn’t fulfilling. When was the last time she could truly say she was happy? But did she want to risk what she had, what she knew, for the unknown? What if she moved back to Wishing Well, and things fell apart?
Lucy held her gaze and then patted her hand. “I hear you, and I’ve been there. I never thought I’d leave Phoenix. I loved it there, but I got back home, and I can’t imagine ever leaving again. Just don’t close doors that should be left cracked.”
“Thank you.” Jo heaved a heavy sigh. “I guess I need to get going.”
They stood and Lucy pulled Jo into a hug. “I love you, Jo. I want all the good things for you. All of them.”
Jo leaned back, smiling. “I want the same for you.”
She held out her pinky, and Jo hooked her finger with Lucy’s. “Pinky power.”
“Pinky power.”
Leaving the café, Jo smiled to herself. She’d dreaded returning to Wishing Well, and now she was never happier she’d come back. Maybe she would keep the doors cracked. Maybe… maybe she wanted more…