Page 42 of All Because of You

“Dating Evan Walsh.” But instead of the grin Madison would have expected to slick across Ashley’s face at the statement, she couldn’t miss the way her friend bit her bottom lip.

“That too.”

“Madison, are you sure about him? About all of it?”

“Where is this coming from?” Madison tugged at the sleeves of her sweatshirt. “I thought you said he’d changed. That he was a good guy.”

“I think he is, but I just want to be sureyouthink so. The last time we talked, you didn’t seem so certain.”

Funny to think there was ever a time when she hadn’t been completely sure of him. “I do think so. In fact, I know so.”

“And all of this—the store, Evan, staying in Walker Beach—it’s what you really want? Because I know a little something about regret, and believe me, you don’t want to live with it.”

Madison studied her friend who always seemed so positive. What did Ashley have to regret? But the way Ashley’s hands curled into fists told Madison that maybe now wasn’t the time to ask.

However, shecouldanswer Ashley’s question. “The only thing I know for sure is that I would regret not staying and trying. I have regrets too—mostly, that I didn’t come home, that I wasn’t here when Aunt Chrissy needed me. And you’re right. Regret is a terrible thing to live with.”

“I guess all we can do is live with our decisions and learn from them, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Madison stroked the once-intact cover of the book in her hands, now crisp and brittle from the floodwaters. She frowned. Not even her desire to save all the books could rescue this one from the toss pile.

Chapter 12

If she hurried, she’d be able to catch Evan before he left the office.

Madison flipped the sign on Hole-in-the-Wall’s door to Closed, locked up, and doused the lights in the front of the store then strode to the kitchen to grab the cookies she’d made and bagged last night. Her eyes caught the time on the microwave—7:01 p.m.—and she picked up the pace. Evan had mentioned he’d be staying late at work most nights this week, and Tuesday would be no exception.

As she left the store, Madison skipped down the boardwalk. A smattering of late-winter tourists dotted the beach, most donning sweaters and jeans rolled to mid-calf as they walked barefoot in the sand. Still, there were fewer than usual this time of year, when all the cold-state residents sought out the warmth of the California beaches. But if Evan’s festival were a success like he thought it’d be, she hoped by this time next year things would be back to normal.

Pride swelled in her chest as she made her way toward City Hall. She hadn’t seen much of him since the town council meeting just over a week ago, but that was only natural when he was in the throes of planning. Even though she’d filled her evenings with book sorting and a few other library-related tasks Ashley had for her, Madison was surprised how much she missed him. All day she’d been anticipating this moment, when she could come by and show her support with cookies and a few kisses.

Madison’s phone trilled from her back pocket, breaking the peace of the setting. Gripping the bag of cookies in one hand, she grabbed for the phone with the other and saw a number she didn’t recognize. Before owning the store, she’d have ignored it, but it might be one of her suppliers or someone asking for information about the store’s offerings—though she had to admit, it was an unusual time to be calling. “Hello?”

“Hi, is this Madison Price?” The woman on the other end spoke in a brisk, business-like tone.

“Yes. And who is this?”

“My name is Carol Davenport. You inherited Chrissy Price’s store on Main Street in Walker Beach, correct?”

Madison scoured her memory for the woman’s name but couldn’t place it. “Yes.”

“I’m your landlord, then.” No warmth emanated from Carol’s tone, only frigid professionalism.

“Oh. Wonderful. I’ve been meaning to call you and update you on the situation.” Just one of the many things that had fallen by the wayside when she’d decided to reopen Hole-in-the-Wall. She did know she had at least a few months left on the lease, so she hadn’t worried about the details just yet.

“Do you have a moment right now?” A clattering of computer keyboard keys filled the space between them. “There’s something we need to discuss.”

This sounded like it might take a while, and she was only about a minute from City Hall. Madison veered off the boardwalk toward the ocean and plopped onto the sand. The full moon was huge tonight, pushing the stars out of the way like a diva on stage. “Sure. What’s up?” Madison cleared her throat. “I mean, how can I help you?”

“Your lease is up in sixty-three days, and I regret to inform you that I will not be renewing the agreement that I formed with your aunt.”

Waves crashed onto the sand just beyond Madison. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said. I am required by law to give you sixty days’ notice if I am not renewing the lease, and I am choosing not to renew it.”

Goosebumps popped all over Madison’s arms, as if the ocean had doused her. “But my family has been renting that space for fifty-some years.”

A pause. “Yes, well, I’ve decided to end that agreement. And while it’s unfortunate for you, it’s fully within my right to do so.”

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