Page 44 of Forever and Other Lies

Jayna pushed open the door of TL Village Mercantile, her neck cranking from left to right. Everywhere she looked was a visual pleasure. Hand-painted murals of the Sierra Leone landscape covered the walls, making her feel like she had left Canada and been transported to an African market. Handwoven baskets were stacked by the front door. She picked one up and proceeded to fill it with jewel-toned fabric for a beach cover-up, a large straw hat, and a matching straw bag—exactly what she needed for the upcoming trip to Mexico.

She stood in line to pay. Picking up a brochure for Joe’s Sunflower Farm charity, which raised money for water well installations, she flipped through it. And there, in full color on the second page, was the ape-man himself.

In the full-page photograph, a shirtless Derek leaned on a shovel, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead and his hard chest. Behind him, a stream of crystal-clear water gushed from the new well as local villagers filled bright, colorful containers, their smiles wide and eyes shining with gratitude.

Jayna brought the brochure closer, studying Derek’s face. His usually cool, detached demeanor was replaced by something she had rarely seen—a genuine smile tugging at the corners of his lips. It was undeniable, even to her. This man, whom she found insufferable in so many ways, was making a significant, positive impact. Maybe under that hard chest, there was a heart after all.

She sighed, her fingers tracing the edge of the photo. Jayna couldn’t help but begrudgingly admit it: Derek Brennan was doing a wonderful thing and looked very sexy while doing it.

She’d heard that he was back from another trip to Sierra Leone. How had it gone with Tommy tagging along? Were the brothers finally able to put their differences aside? However, only Derek and Ben had returned. Tommy had stayed to continue working with the TL Village charities. Jessica was there as well, offering her counselling services to some traumatized women.

Jayna stepped out of TL Village Mercantile just as Jamie came out of her store. “Hey Jamie, I got some great things for our trip.”

“Wonderful,” Jamie smiled and peeked in the bag. “Wow, I love the hat.”

“Me too. I want to slip into Leighton’s and grab some of that black soap you were raving about.” She wanted to check up on Leighton as well. How was the woman faring with the news that Tommy had remained in Sierra Leone?

They jaywalked across the road, setting the chimes off as they pushed open the heavy black door.

“It always smells so incredible in here.” Jayna inhaled deeply and then pointed a finger at Leighton. “You’ve been holding out on me.”

“I have?” Leighton turned from the teak cabinet she was stocking.

“You have this amazing new soap and I have to hear about it from Jamie.” She pursed her lips in a dramatic pout. “I thought we were besties?”

Leighton grabbed two bars and gave one to each of them. “I thought we were friends too until you set me up on the blind date from hell.”

“You too?” Jamie gave Jayna a light punch in the arm. “Jayna, you need to take down your shingle. You suck as a matchmaker.”

“I do not!”

“You can’t even find yourself a suitable date,” Jamie countered.

“That’s because I don’t want a suitable date. I like my men slightly disreputable.”

“How much do we owe you for the soap?” Jamie pulled her wallet out of a vintage Dior bag. Jayna eyed it up. When they were done here, she needed to go check out Jamie’s store.

“It’s on the house.”

Jayna pulled out her wallet as well. “Nope, we are paying. This soap is supporting families in Sierra Leone. I’m going to pay double.”

Leighton moved behind the counter. “Okay, then.”

“Jamie is paying double too,” Jayna volunteered.

“Great, I’ll send an e-transfer to Sam Marek. He can see that Mariama gets the extra money.”

“We didn’t just come in for the soap,” Jayna said, handing over two twenties. “We are planning our fall girls’ trip. Mexico is the winner this year, and with Jessica off having her own adventure, we are short a J. You have blonde hair, so we just need to change your name. Maybe Jade or Jewel.”

“Oh no! I couldn’t possibly go. I have the store to run.” Leighton took the money and set it in the cash register.

Siobhan Winston, Burke’s mother, came out from the back room. Leighton had hired the woman about a month ago. “She can get away. Mary Beth and I can manage the store for a week or two.”

Leighton shot her new employee a scathing look. “And the cat. I have no one to watch Tuesday.”

“Shamus can check in on Tuesday. He works in your gardens every day,” Siobhan said matter-of-factly.

Leighton opened and closed her mouth, not able to come up with another excuse. “Mexico is a place I’ve always wanted to visit.”

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