Page 49 of The Promise Of You

“Let’s meet up at The Growler when we come back,” Haley says to Grace.

Our plans set for the next day, we stack our dishes and bring them back to the kitchen where Trevor and Ryan are manning the commercial dishwasher.

Then I slide out to my car, both relieved and disappointed that I've managed to avoid talking to Justin again.

The next day, Haley, Kiara, Autumn, and I pile in a pickup truck Haley borrowed from her parents’ farm. Kiara feeds us scones, and I make them stop at Easy Monday on our way to buy us all a round of Road to Heaven.

The nursery is having a sale—all their annuals for a dollar each—so I splurge. Autumn helps me select them according to orientation (morning sun only), shape and color. We combine English ivy, impatiens, fuchsias, and a couple little white trailing things I promptly forget the name of. It’s romantic and colorful. “It’s so… chic and laid back at the same time,” I comment as we load them in the truck bed next to the big bag of soil I purchased. Just looking at the flats of plants, I get a happy feeling deep in my gut.

“Grange now?” Kiara asks.

“Grange now,” Haley answers.

“Last time I was there, they had these adorable metallic window boxes that would look stunning for the restaurant,” Autumn says. “What do you think of metal?”

Metal would look awesome. “Oh, whatever’s already there is fine, but thanks. That was a great idea.” I’ll put a coat of paint on the chipped wooden boxes affixed under the windows. It won’t look stunning, but it will look clean. It’ll blend in.

Of course, it won’t stand out like metal. Won’t make a statement.

But it’ll cost almost zero dollars.

Five minutes after we pull into the place, I get lost in the alleys, gaping at treasure after treasure. Haley follows me, occasionally taking pictures of things for sale. The Grange only sells items salvaged from old buildings. No knickknacks or piles of refuse from estate sales. Instead, pedestal sinks, antique claw-foot tubs, children’s school desks, antique lamp fixtures, antique doors, stained glass windows, mantels, and even cast-iron radiators. The occasional set of furniture from a hotel. Kiara disappeared in the upper level.

Autumn slides next to me. “You getting a vision now?”

“Totally.” Just, not doable by me. But I know how I could sell the place to potential buyers. I know how the restaurant could look. “Where are those window boxes you were talking about?”

“They’re gone,” she says with a shrug.

“Oh. Alright.” I shouldn’t get so excited, so quickly. Over a concept. An idea. A vision.

I need to tamp things down. I’m only here to run the restaurant for a while. I’m not in charge of giving it the new life it deserves.

“Found an awesome mirror for my place. I loaded it in the truck,” Kiara says, her forehead blackened.

“What do you think of these for the sidewalk?” Haley is pointing to a set of round metallic tables with matching folding chairs.

They would be perfect. They’re cheap. But they’re rusted. “I guess I could throw a coat of paint on them.” I’m not sure how good I’d be at that. That would require sanding, I suppose? I don’t have a sander. I can’t buy a sander, that wouldn’t be a wise expense. And what do I know about painting metal? I’d need pillows for the chairs. That’s an additional cost. And the time it’s going to take me? I have more pressing things to do. I’ll have to settle for some standard issue restaurant furniture. “I’ll think about it.”

We pile back into the truck and stop at a small café alongside a brook. We order sandwiches and eat them sitting on the grass, our bare feet dipped in the cool water rushing down the hill. Then we lie on our backs, the hot summer air getting the best out of us while the hum of insects acts like a lullaby, at least for me. I close my eyes, the sound of Kiara cleaning herself in the brook the only thing occupying my thoughts. Turns out, her arms were dirty too, all from the mirror.

“How is your space coming along?” Haley asks her.

“Ugh. Slowly. It’ll be awesome. Someday,” her voice drifts to me.

“Are you doing a float this year?” Autumn asks her.

“It’s up in the air at this point. What with Chris being closed.”

A float? “A float for what?” I mumble, half asleep.

“The parade.”

The parade? I lift my head and squint at Haley.

“On the Fourth? There’s a parade on The Green,” she informs me. “With floats, the high school band, and carriages. It’s awesome! You should come and check it out. It gets crowded, but I’ll talk Justin into letting you go to his rooftop, since you’ll be closed anyway,” Haley says.

I sit up straight. “Not anymore I’m not.”

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