Page 20 of Bed of Roses

He taps his chin. “Are you sure? It was recent. When loved ones pass away, we need time to grieve.”

“I grieve just fine, thank you.”

“Have you thought about seeing someone? In the bigger cities, they have people you can talk to.”

“A therapist, you mean?” Not that it’s any of his business, but I get the feeling he’s nosy. Either that or he actually does care. I can’t tell which one. Maybe it’s both. Anyway, he nods. “I’ve done that already.”

“You see a shrink?”

I pat his shoulder. “They don’t like to be called that. And yes, I did. Not anymore though. If I feel the need to get one, I’ll do so, but thank you for your concern. Really,” I add genuinely. “It’s touching.”

“Any time, Ms. Adams,” he says brightly, enjoying the gratitude with a beaming smile that reveals crooked teeth I hadn’t noticed before. “I’m just a call away if you need someone to talk to before then. Any time of day or night. For any reason. For any problems that should arise.”

He produces a card and passes it to me. I take it, look at it for a moment, and then ask, “Should I expect trouble?”

He raises an eyebrow. “You do know who the handyman is, right?”

I purse my lips. “I’m aware that he was recently in prison, but he seems harmless.”

Crossing his arms, he says, “A trained lion is harmless until he’s not, Ms. Adams.”

“Right,” I say, sliding the card into my purse. He probably isn’t wrong. “Well, I have your number now. Does this mean I get to call you a friend?”

He chuckles. “Call me whatever you like—sheriff, friend, pal, acquaintance. We’re a tight-knit community. I want you to feel welcomed.”

“Well, I appreciate it.”

He looks over and then nods toward the cashier. “Looks like you’re up.”

I glance with him and realize that everyone in front of me is now gone. The cashier who helped me yesterday is standing there, the model of patience. “Right. Well, it was nice chatting with you,” I say before I step forward and give her an apologetic look.

“You too, Ms. Adams,” Sheriff Smith murmurs. I peek over my shoulder and see him returning to his table.

“Same thing as yesterday?” the woman asks.

Surprised that she remembers me, I blink a few times. “Yes.” I clear my throat. “And then I’d like to add another coffee and that berry cream donut,” I add hurriedly with a point at the display case. The clock on the wall says I’m already late. Hopefully, the donut will make up for it.

Chapter 8

Tegan Adams

“Isthat the last of the boxes?” I ask as I stretch my back. There are piles of boxes everywhere in Tori’s shop, but we got each box moved to the spot where it’ll be unpacked. I’m not sure how, but somehow, it has taken us a few hours just to sort through them, and now my back is absolutely killing me. I haven’t done this much bending in a long, long time.

“Besides the ones in my office?” Tori asks as she wipes the sweat from her temples with the sleeve of her paint-splattered t-shirt. She had dressed appropriately for this job. Me? I made the mistake of wearing a light pink, floral sundress. In my defense, I didn’t exactly know what we were going to be doing today. I knew we’d be unpacking, but I didn’t know if anyone important was going to stop at the shop. My goal had been not to look like a hobo, and now I’m paying for that because my strapless bra is digging into the sides of my boobs.

“There’s more in your office?” I ask, exasperated.

She shrugs a little. “Well, yeah. But it’s just office supplies, and I can do that on my own time.”

My shoulders shrug in gratitude, and I look at the wall before us. The floating, light, stained wooden shelves that will go on them are resting against the wall. “Now what?”

“Now, we go next door.”

I frown at her. “Why? What’s next door?”

She squints at me. “You can be so unobservant sometimes.” She flicks a thumb over her shoulder toward the glass front door. “The hardware store. These shelves didn’t come with screws.”

She begins backing her way toward the door, and after huffing to get a strand of hair from tickling my face, I follow her. The day is already warming considerably, and as Tori locks up the shop, I breathe in the fresh, clean atmosphere that only the middle of nowhere can bring.

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