Page 83 of Dear Ripley

“Whatever makes you happy, Freddie. If you’re bringing me chocolate pie, I guess I’m not fighting you too hard,” I said, wrapping their bouquet up.

They laughed. “And it’s plenty big enough to share with a friend. Or a lover.”

I shook my head, making sure they saw the accompanying eye roll. “It’s plenty big enough to keep here in the fridge to enjoy by myself for the next few days, too.”

In truth, I’d probably just share it with Ekundayo when he got in, some small thanks for being around on one of his days off.

They laughed again, handed over some cash, and took the bouquet, smiling softly at it. “Just don’t let true love leave you behind.”

I watched them walking out of the store, cradling the flowers like the most important thing in the world.

For eight years, I’d believed I was fine alone. I’d never wanted anyone after Alicia, never even been interested in the idea. I figured I’d had one big love story, and that was it. One and done. But, as I watched the love Freddie had for their husband in the way they carried the flowers, the way their whole energy changed, and they became wrapped up in the moment and the meaning, I couldn’t ignore the little part of me that wanted that.

Perhaps it was normal to want someone to love you—human. We were creatures of connection, after all. Everyone wanted to be loved in some way. I hadn’t realized I’d been missing romantic love, though.

Maybe it was a fluke—some weird sensation from having Alicia around and remembering the days when I’d had someone who loved me the way Freddie loved Davey, when I’d loved someone like that. Maybe it was the difficulty of trying to find a platonic space to inhabit with her. Maybe it was the fact that too many feelings had been stirred up by her presence and I’d almost written her a letter declaring my love for her this morning.

Whatever it was, Alicia and I hadn’t weathered the storm the way Freddie and Davey had. Theirs was a special kind of love. One everyone probably wished they had. Maybe that was all it was.

The door tinkled again and I looked up, expecting Ekundayo, and momentarily forgetting I was supposed to be on the lookout for someone I didn’t want to see.

When I realized it was her, I cursed myself for getting so distracted but forced a winning grin onto my face, the kind I’d wear for any other customer in this situation. “Hey, welcome back to Petal and Pebble. I’m sure you got my message?”

Ellie stalked over to the counter, clearly irritated but somewhat covering it. “Yes. What do you mean, the bouquet was undeliverable?”

I leaned on the counter, feigning casual relaxation. “Oh, well, when I took it to the address, I was told the recipient had left town and wouldn’t be back for a while.”

“For how long?”

“I’m not sure exactly—I didn’t ask—but definitely several weeks at least, based on what I heard.” My heart pounded at the angriness simmering barely below the surface.

There was something about Alicia whenever Ellie came up that was angry and worried, something I wasn’t used to in her. As the annoyance rolled off Ellie in waves, I couldn’t help but worry what she’d put Harlow through, whether there was more than I knew about. If there was one thing I knew about Alicia, it was that she was fiercely protective of the people she loved—she’d do almost anything for them—and I could only imagine how apoplectic she must have been when she’d heard what Ellie had done.

“She’s not in town anymore?” Ellie said, her eyes barely more than narrow slits.

I shook my head, pretending I didn’t see anything wrong with the energy she was bringing to our interaction. “Apparently not. So, you know, I figured you’d want to know so you can take the flowers yourself, or I can refund you, or whatever you’d like.”

“No. She was just here. She can’t have gone anywhere.”

I stepped back slightly, playing confusion, as if I had no idea what was truly going on. “I’m really sorry. I know it’s terrible timing, but she really is gone for now. So, would you like to take the flowers, or…?”

“No, I would not like to take them. I want you to deliver them.”

“I really can’t do that. I don’t do deliveries outside of Jackson Point unless it’s an agreed-upon event.”

“But you do know where Harlow went?” She watched me carefully. It was honestly unnerving. I wasn’t sure how Harlow had put up with this for so long.

I also totally understood how Alicia must feel about Ellie. She never had liked people this controlling.

I shook my head. “Sorry, I don’t. All I know is that she went to see a friend.”

“Bullshit. Her best friend is here, in town. Who else could she possibly have gone to see?”

I frowned. I’d only just met Ellie and I was starting to really dislike her. I no longer had any questions about Alicia’s expressions when she came up.

Had she isolated Harlow from every friend she had but Alicia? I wouldn’t put it past that friendship to be the one that stood against every test Ellie could throw at it, but Harlow didn’t act like someone who had become completely isolated and friendless. Of course, abusers knew what they were doing. It was subtle, imperceptible, and victims often presented as being perfectly fine and happy because they knew they had to, and they’d been trained to.

I really wasn’t sure where Harlow stood, but I absolutely did know we needed to get Ellie out of Jackson Point and Harlow’s life.

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