Page 8 of Smoldering Nights
He was going to find whatever it was.
Chapter4
Izzy woke to the soft chirp of birds outside Sadie’s guest room window and the faint scent of coffee in the air.For one blissful second, she thought what a wonderful day it would be.Then the incidents of yesterday, the scorched flowers, the charred remains of her dad’s shop, assaulted her brain.It all came rushing back.The weight of it felt crushing.Her breathing came in short spurts, and she closed her eyes and told herself to calm down.
She sat up too fast.Her body protested with aches and sore muscles.Nothing serious, just a reminder that yesterday had really happened.
Pushing herself out of bed, she padded into the hallway.Sadie was in the kitchen pouring coffee, wearing the same oversized sweatshirt from the night before.
“You’re up,” Sadie said gently.“I was just about to come check on you.”
Izzy nodded and wrapped her hands around the warm mug her friend handed her.“Thanks.For letting me crash here.For everything.”
“Don’t mention it.”Sadie leaned against the counter, her face lined with worry.“You really okay?”
“No,” Izzy admitted, her voice cracking.“But I will be.”
They sat in silence at the scarred wooden table in Sadie’s cozy kitchen for a few minutes, sipping coffee.The comforting normalcy of the moment helped.But her mind was already spinning.Orders to cancel.Customers to notify.Insurance to call.And then there was Mitch, who’d somehow managed to be both reassuring and frustratingly protective.
Her phone buzzed on the table.A message from him.
Let me know when you’re up.I’ll come get you, we can go over the footage and talk next steps.
She typed back quickly, with a tingle in her tummy.
I’m up.Give me 30.
Sadie gave her a look.“Was that him?”
Izzy nodded.“He wants to go over the video footage again.He thinks it might help narrow things down.”
Sadie tilted her head.“And what do you think?”
“I think he might be right.”She stared into her coffee.“It just doesn’t make sense.Who would want to hurt me?Or the shop?”
Sadie frowned.“You ever had trouble with the zoning board or city permits?Anyone complain about your deliveries?Parking?”
“Not really.”Izzy rubbed her forehead.“There’s that cranky guy behind me, Mr.Hines.He always thought our back deliveries were too loud, but nothing serious.And Delilah Parker’s been gunning for the corner shop to expand her nail salon into something more, I think to add clothing, but I thought that was just gossip.”
Sadie raised an eyebrow.“Maybe it wasn’t.”
Izzy blew out a breath.“I don’t want to jump to conclusions.But yeah.I guess I’ll have to look at everyone a little differently now.”
Sadie nodded.“Want help drafting a message for your customers?”
Izzy gave her a tired smile.“God, yes.I don’t even know where to start.”
Sadie pulled a notepad and pen from a hidden drawer at the table."I pulled a t-shirt and leggings from my drawer and set them in the bathroom for you.I have a new toothbrush and a travel toothpaste in the drawer.Do you need underwear and a bra?"
"No, I washed mine out in the sink last night and hung them in my room.Thank you."
Sadie smiled, her friend from high school and all her adult life so far, was her rock."Anything you need, Iz, I'm here."
Izzy's eyes watered.She hugged her bestie tightly, then started toward the bathroom to dress as Sadie began drafting a note to her customers.
After dressing and brushing her teeth, she entered the kitchen, ready for the day, she hoped.Sadie smiled and handed her the notepad."How about this?"
She read the draft Sadie had put together for a post on Petal Pushers’ Facebook and Instagram pages.Sadie kept her tone soft but firm while Izzy made sure the message didn’t sound like she was giving up.When it was done, Izzy felt both lighter and raw.
