Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Zander
Lucy grumbles out an unimpressed, disjointed bark.
Her nose is in the grass, eyes focused on the green head of the mallard who pays her no mind.
She prefers a more layered response to her stare downs and loves a good squirrel chase, but there’s something about the ducks in Beaver Creek that fascinate her.
“You know, I really did think she’d grow out of the duck obsession,” Gran says, thin lips in a smile.
“Never. Besides, she loves the duck stuffie you got for her. If she grew out of the obsession, that would be a waste.”
“Well, now that is true.” She glances up at the sun making its slow, summer descent into dusk. “Would you mind taking me to the pharmacy, darling?”
I straighten from my crouch next to my dog and brush grass from my gym shorts.
Gran called as I was leaving the gym, asking if I could help her fix her back deck.
I figured since I was sweaty already, might as well stay in my gym clothes and get even stinkier working outside in this heat.
So I grabbed Lucy and my old carpentry tools from my former job, before I quit to write fulltime, and headed to Beaver Creek.
The whole time I was in the car, my fingers itched to type out a message to Adelaide.
But I kept myself in check. Swapped out several faulty boards before texting her back. Finished work on the whole deck before telling her I was in town. Snapped a photo of Lucy in the park to try and sweeten the deal.
“Sure. Is there something you need? Everything all right?”
I try not to let the edge creep into my voice. Gran is an active seventy-nine year old with minimal medical issues, but anytime she talks about her health, a sharp knife of anxiety cuts me to my core. I cannot fathom losing my only family. I have to remember how to breathe; act like a normal human.
Lucy senses my anxiety and rises from her splayed out position. Her cool nose presses into my palm.
“I am perfect, thank you for asking,” Gran says and bends to collect Lucy’s leash. She adjusts her blue rimmed cat-eye glasses, then taps my cheek. “Sweet boy. I’m meeting up with Maeve. They’re showing The Sound of Music at the Woodland Cinema tonight. You’re welcome to join.”
My lips twitch. I try not to let on that her statement bothered me, but I can feel my shoulders visibly drop in relief.
“Oh, uh, no. I’m sure no one wants me stinking up the theatre. You guys have fun, though.”
“I’m certain we will. I have a long-standing crush on Captain von Trapp, you know.”
I laugh and lead Lucy and Gran from the park. “Christopher Plummer does have a bit of the same look as Papa did.”
Gran makes a low noise, like I’ve wounded her. I stiffen. I should know better than to mention him. Gran lost her first and only love the spring I left Beaver Creek. I never got to mourn him and she mourned him alone. Despite the years, it’s still a raw wound.
“He does,” Gran says absently, then fluffs her head of curls that went grey long ago, but she continues to dye the same shade as my own. “You know Maeve’s granddaughter Eva?”
I make a noncommittal noise in the back of my throat.
I don’t give her any further response. I can feel myself closing up, and Lucy’s nose presents itself in my palm once more.
Maeve has been Gran’s best friend since, well, since forever.
They moved to town around the same time, raised babies together, weathered hardships together.
Gran has spent the better part of the last ten years trying to set me up with Eva.
Eva’s a lovely person, truly. She’s just made it very clear she wants absolutely nothing to do with me. And I respect that.
Maeve, too much of a busybody to retire, still works at the pharmacy. She also functions via gossip through everyone’s prescriptions and what she’s able to pry from patrons at the pick-up counter.
“Eva works at the library.”
“I know,” I say and keep my gaze trained on the pharmacy just steps away from us. Maeve, tall, fit, and white-blonde, waits for us outside the doors. “She’s been working there for over a year now.”
“You should talk to her about doing something for your next book there.”
“I just did a book event at the library.”
I don’t tell her that I was largely not well received. Sure, I made some sales and had some chats I wouldn’t have otherwise, but I knew. There were people I went to school with, and legacy citizens around Gran’s age that looked at me warily. Who wants the problem kid back in town?
“Oh, I know, darling. I just want what’s best for you. I know you’re thriving. I’m proud of you for being able to go full-time writing.”
“Thank you.”
“But I do love having you close. I love seeing your success in person. All your silly events in Toronto are too far for this old lady.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re hardly old, Gran. Did you forget you ran a marathon last month?”
She waves me off, but I catch the smirk on her lips.
Gran might be more comfortable in Beaver Creek, but, in my experience, there’s very little that will stop her from getting what she wants.
Which is why the Eva situation worries me.
I smile as we come under the red and white awning of the pharmacy.
I don’t know who manages the flower beds under the windows on each side of the wooden door, but they always look perfect.
A beautiful mix of wildflowers pepper the garden.
“Hello, Zander,” Maeve says, lips pursed.
I duck my head in recognition, the bill of my grey baseball cap obscuring my eyes. Despite all of Gran’s convincing, Maeve has never taken to me. I suspect one reason why Eva is less than enthused by my presence has something to do with her grandmother’s opinion.
“How’ve you been lately?” I ask. Lucy’s tail bats the back of my knee, tongue wagging. She wants nothing more than to jump all over Maeve and beg for belly rubs, but I learned long ago that Maeve is not a fan of this. “Lucy says hi.”
Maeve simply looks down at my dog. “I’ve been doing well. Better than Paulie Williams, that’s for sure.”
I huff out a fake chuckle while simultaneously tightening my fingers on Lucy’s leash. I know this is Gran’s oldest friendship and I will never do anything to fuck it up…but, really? Why her?
“I should head out,” I say, nodding toward the impending sunset as if that means anything. “Hope you guys have fun at the movie.”
Gran hugs me close, then joins her friend.
I let out a sigh and run a hand over my face as I turn away and head to Gran’s house.
I try to make myself look open and friendly.
No slumped shoulders or frowns allowed. That’ll only reinforce every idea they have about me.
The fact that not even the friendliest dog in the world has made me look good in some townsfolks’ eyes is kind of baffling.
But we live. We learn. We leave Beaver Creek as fast as possible once the crutch of Gran is gone.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I almost don’t take it out. But then I remember her.
Adelaide’s name pops up on the screen with a photo of Bev.
Adelaide
Hey same
My heart skips a beat. Maybe not literally, but it sure as hell felt like it jumped. I’m in danger. Deep shit. If I go back to the park, I’m admitting how much she has a hold on me. Texts are one thing. Intentionally meeting each other is another.
I stand motionless in the centre of the sidewalk. I watch the eight turn into a nine on my phone screen, then suddenly, it’s exactly 7:00 p.m.
I eye the park. Bev beckons with her yellowing tail from years of superstitious good luck touches.
Maybe I should have rubbed her tail like everyone else when I was a kid.
Lucy whines and my eyes fall to hers. She pants and pulls at her leash, edging her way toward the road.
I swallow, glance back at Bev, see a flash of vibrant red and a patchwork of rainbow colours.
Everything in me melts. It’s Addie.