Page 29 of A Small Town Spring

“Oh absolutely,” Ivy agrees, “but who’s going to pay for it?”

“I was thinking we could get local businesses to underwrite the costs in exchange for signage.You know, like ‘this bike rack provided by Wine and Roses,’ sort of thing,” he says.

“I love it.Hello, Toby,” Ivy says smoothly.“Do you know Charlie?”

The man offers me a hand.“Charlie Linden.”

“Toby Wheaton,” I reply.The name jogs my memory.This is a good friend of Jack’s.“You just opened the bike shop, right?”

“I did,” he says.Fixing me with a keen eye, he asks, “Do you ride?”

“Ah—not as such,” I say, feeling inadequate.“But maybe I should get into it?”

I trade a glance with Ivy, who looks entertained.A fellow with messy dark hair comes up and stands next to Charlie.“Are you proselytizing again?”he asks, the fond note in his voice taking away the sting.

“We were talking about the shocking lack of bike parking in downtown Rosedale,” Charlie says a hair defensively.“But we can talk about something else.Drew, this is Ivy Miller; she just joined the Art Center board.And this is Toby.”

I wave at Drew, who I’ve never met but know of from conversations with Jack and Pete.“I lovedDessert First.Great film.”

“You work in the movies?”Ivy asks.

“Film editor,” Drew says.

“That is fascinating.”I knew Ivy would be intrigued.She quickly pulls Drew away and starts peppering him with questions.

It’s odd to be here with her, but notwithher.It doesn’t feel awkward, but it doesn’t feel normal, either.

“You should come into the shop sometime.I could get you fixed up with a starter bike.”

I tune back into Charlie.“Uh, maybe when I’m a bit more stable.I’m living in a friend’s guest room for the time being and I already brought in a cat.I don’t think I can add a bike to the mix just now.”

“Fair enough.We have a cat,” Charlie says, nodding at Drew, who seems to be answering Ivy’s questions graciously.“But we’re thinking about getting a dog, too.”

“Dogs are a lot of work.I grew up with one.”Darwin was a high-maintenance poodle that I remember causing a lot of arguments between my parents when they were still together.Looking back, maybe Mom was more pissed about Dad running around on her with other women than about the fact he’d forget to take Darwin for walks when Mom was busy getting her Ph.D.“Cats are much easier.”

“But you can’t take them for a run,” Charlie counters.

“You could try.I knew a girl in London who took her cat about on a lead.Not sure if the cat really enjoyed it, though.”

“Cinnamon would never,” Charlie says.“So, what do you do?”

“I’m a painter.”

Charlie’s interest sharpens.“Really?Drew and I have been looking for someone to do our house.”

I’m taken aback by the coincidence.“That seems to be the theme of the summer,” I say.“I just did Jack and Pete’s.”

Now Charlie looks confused.“I didn’t know they’d had their house painted recently.”

“I haven’t shown it to them yet,” I say as Pete and Jack come out on the patio, each carrying a large platter of food.“In fact, I better take care of that now.”

I leave Charlie behind, tap Pete on the shoulder after he sets a tray of watermelon slices onto the table.“Happy birthday, man,” I say.“And I have something for both of you.”Jack joins us, looking excited as a puppy eyeing a tennis ball when I retrieve the painting.

I flip it so the picture faces out, to legitimate oohs and aahs from the nearby guests.“I hope you like it.”It’s a sincere statement and not a plea for compliments.

Pete and Jack just stare at it in silence, glance at each other in unison, then both burst out talking at the same time, so fast that I can barely keep up.

“Incredible, gorgeous.Do you see the light in the trees?”

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