Page 9 of Forever and Other Lies

“Oh, a girl could only dream,”Jessica sighed.

“Okay, on your best behavior now.”Jamie strolledfrombehind the counter to flip the open sign as holiday shoppers filled the street.“It’s6 p.m. Time to open.”

Midnight Madness ran from six to ten. Why it was called ‘Midnight Madness’ was a mystery to Jayna. However, ‘10 p.m. Madness’ didn’t have the same ring. Despite the inaccurate name, it was certainly popular. The door chimes rang continuously, and the new cash register tape almost ran out.A successful evening for Yesterday and Tomorrow.Their window display had been a big hit as well.Jamie sold all the displayed furniture and more from inside the store.

An unexpected warm front had settled in earlier in the week, dispelling the usual December chill, which likely was the reason for the largest crowdthey’dever seen. At10 p.m., they flipped the“closed”sign, marking the end of a very lucrative event.

“It’ssuch a lovely evening,”Jamie said.“And still quite warm. It would be a shame to waste it. I have firewood in the back of my truck. We should have a winter bonfire by the river.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. I’ll run home while you close and grab marshmallows,” Jessica offered.

“Whatever,” Jayna grumbled.

“Come on, it will cheer you up.”Jamie gently nudged her.“And we did win third place.”

“Third place is not winning,”Jayna pouted. First placewent to Frank again, andLeighton’sstore took second.“Ophelia seriously has it out for us.”

“Iagree.But Frank and Leightonbothhad incredible window displaysas well,”Jamie offered, always the diplomat.“We should ask Leighton if she wants to join us.”

Jayna held in the groan and her breath while Jamie called Leighton, praying that the other woman would decline.

“Leighton’s in too.” Jamie grinned.

“Look what I found.”Jessica came out of the back room with thick moving blankets and a bottle of ice wine.“Here, take these.”Jessica shoved the blankets and wine toward Jayna.“I’llrun home and grab some plastic glasses and extra glovesas well. Meet you there.”

“Great! Ice wine and the ice queen will both be joining us.”Jayna scrunched up her nose at the way-too-sweet wine.“Perfect!”

“Whydon’tyou like Leighton?”Jamie asked her as they walked out the back door to her battered truck.

“Why do you like her?”Jayna shot back.

“She’s nice.”

“Never said shewasn’t.”Jayna pulled open theheavyrusty door.“You made decent money this year. Whydon’tyou buy a new truck to replace this bucket of bolts?”

“Shh, you’ll hurt Bessy’s feelings. She is a great truck.”

Jayna shook her head and hid the smile when it took three tries to get Bessy running.“You have questionable taste in friends and trucks.”

“That’swhat my dad always says every timeyou’rearound,”Jamie shifted the ancient truck into drive and headed to the parking lot beside the bridge where Jayna had left hertruckearlier.“Thanksfor all your help tonight. The display was first-place worthy, regardless of the judges’ opinion.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jayna grumbled.

The unseasonably warm evening air was filled with the sound of crackling wood along with the laughter of Jamie and Leighton. The scent of the burning wood mingled with the earthy aroma of the riverbank. It was pure magic.

Jayna leaned back on the log, staring up at a sky filled with a thousand twinkling stars. In the city, with its relentless lights and smog, the stars were lost.

For years, all she could think about was escaping this small town’s suffocating bubble of familiarity and resistance to change. She had done exactly that, heading to school in Toronto. She’d shared an apartment with Kylie while they both earned their nursing degrees. When school finished, she took a job in the busy ER of Toronto Hospital.

It had been the big adventure she’d always craved, a place where anonymity reigned supreme. However, the novelty wore off quickly, and she found herself missing the simple pleasure of being greeted by name on the street. She even missed the scent of manure and green grass in the summer. It was a stark contrast to the overpowering odor of exhaust fumes and burnt street meat from the bustling carts lining the busy streets.

The sweet smell of Blythe Landing wasn’t the only thing she missed. She missed the silence. In her city apartment, falling asleep had been a challenge, with the constant noise of honking horns and loud sirens. Yet, back in her hometown, with her bedroom window open, she realized it wasn’t silent after all. The country had its own symphony: the sound of crickets in the fields, the rustle of wind through the cornstalks. It was the soundtrack of her childhood.

“Look who I found,” Jessica announced, emerging from the path, waving her arm behind her.

Ben Brennan, Nick Taylor, and—just her luck—Derek the ape-man appeared behind Jessica. What had she ever done to karma to deserve this kind of payback?

Jessica flashed her a knowing smile. Okay, maybe signing Jessica up for the dating app had earned her a little payback.

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