Page 18 of Forever To Me

“You’re a lifesaver. I needed this,” Emma say, hugging her.

“I brought a bunch, so everyone enjoy,” Cami says as she sets the other tray on a coffee table and shrugs off her jacket.

“This is Violet. She’s Maggie's niece and staying down at the Dogwood. She learned to play guitar at eight, and Maggie is finally getting the help she needs at the Dogwood, thanks to her niece,” Emma says as she grabs the blow dryer.

“Hi, Violet! Have a coffee,” she says to me, then turns to Maggie. “You heard from Mack? Is she doing okay?”

“She’ll be back in a few days,” Maggie answers. “She’s got a lot going on right now with her school activities.”

I’m trying to follow along with all the stories, and I try to put their names and faces to them. But they’re all fascinating, and I’ve never been around such cool people. They’re going to make it hard for me to leave here someday.

Listening to them talk with Maggie shows me how big of a part she plays in holding this town together. She’s like the glue.She shows up for them all in so many ways. Even me. She took me in when I had nowhere to go.

They chat as my hair gets blown out and styled and it already feels so much better after she gives me a small trim.

“Cami, how are things with you at Steamy Sips?” Maggie asks then turns to me and says, “Cami owns a mobile coffee shop, hence all the delicious coffee.”

I reach for one of the coffees and take a sip, and it’s very good. It has a hint of cinnamon and is rich but not bitter. Damn, the girl knows her coffee. “Thanks, Cami.”

She smiles at me and says, “Business is great, can’t complain. I’m thinking about opening up a brick-and-mortar store, too. I’ll keep the trailer for events, but it would be nice to have a coffee shop for people to hang out.”

“I don’t know how you could add that to your plate and everything else you have going on, too,” Teresa presses.

Cami and Teresa share a look, and she says, “I have a business to run, Mom. A business we need to help pay for the ranch. You can ask Ollie to help more if you feel I’m not doing enough.”

Teresa glares at Cami, and the two exchange a heated look.

“Ollie already works as a firefighter, and he does help,” her mom argues.

“I have a job too, Mom,” Cami glares back at her mother.

“I just don’t think you should add more,” she says, her voice full of disapproval.

Maggie wasn’t joking when she said that you can learn a lot about the town by hanging out at Boots and Bangs.

Cami gives Livvy a pleading look as if willing her to offer a distraction.

“I heard Jack Jessop is back in town and working out at the Jessop ranch,” Livvy says quickly looking around to see if anyone is going to pick up what she puts down.

It works like a charm when all heads swivel to look at her. Cami looks like she could murder Livvy for dropping that information.

“I’m sorry,” Livvy mouths to her.

“What’d you just say?” Teresa’s head swivels around, her voice full of anger.

“Yep, he’s running his family's ranch now,” Livvy remarks as she picks up her scissors, then pauses when she realizes this might not have been the best diversion and she might be sticking her foot in her mouth even further.

Teresa scoffs. “Well, that explains your early morning rides.”

“Mom!” Cami huffs. “I love my early morning rides. Those are for me. And they have nothing to do with Jack Jessop. He’s the devil.”

“Early morning rides?” Maggie grins and leans in for this piping hot tea.

Fascinated by all of this, my head turns to each person during these conversations, and I look at Maggie who is getting her hair dried and grinning like the Cheshire cat. Maggie might not participate in spreading gossip around town, but it seems she has no qualms over listening to it all.

“You want your nails done?” Livvy asks a beautiful blond woman.

Poppy laughs, holding her hands, “It’s pointless to do my nails. They’re mechanic hands. Always getting dirty and beat up.”

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