Page 46 of Butterfly Sisters
“Need anything? I could get you something.”
“Thanks, but I don’t need anything.” It was obvious that Mama was still pensive about the conversation with Meredith.
Leigh sunk her fork through the eggs and into the flaky crust at the bottom of the casserole and scooped it up. “Maybe after you get home from work, the three of us could do something today—you, me, and Meredith.” She popped the bite into her mouth, savoring the buttery taste of it.
“I’d love that.”
“Me too,” she said, and she meant it.
The farmer’s market was a mass of brightly decorated stalls and tents, the sellers advertising their wares with A-frame chalkboards in colored lettering and adorably decorated banners. Rows of farm-to-table vegetables and mason jars full of preserves sat on blue-and-white tablecloth-covered tables; bakers waved to customers from behind stacked boxes of pecan pies and peach cobblers.
Rosemary Peabody’s stall was still the first one, her table full of handmade necklaces and earrings that sparkled in the sunshine. Her husband Thomas was at his cooler nearby, handing out popsicles to a group of kids who’d gathered. The whole place was festive with the buzz of early morning shoppers. Leigh took in a deep breath, as if she could breathe in the down-home feel of it all and save it for later. She grabbed a basket, waved to Rosemary who was busy tending her stand, and began making her way down the first aisle, her plan to snake along through each one so as not to miss a single thing.
Stopping at a table full of jugs of elderberry elixir, she picked up a bottle to read the back while the owner of the stall chatted with a customer. “You be you!” was printed above the directions. She smiled, setting it back down, and carried on to the next stall of hand-poured beeswax candles, the lavender one catching her attention. She closed her eyes and leaned down, inhaling the flowery scent.
“Whatcha doin’?” sailed softly into her ear, raising the hairs on her right arm and making her smile. She turned around to find Colton with a basket of vegetables and a peach cobbler.
“Hi,” she said, unable to hide her happiness at seeing him. “I’m considering this candle,” she said. “It smells divine.” She lifted the jar to his nose and he took a whiff of it.
“Nice. You should get it.”
“I think I will.” She flagged down the merchant and paid for it, dropping it into her basket. “I’m glad I ran into you.” She walked to the next stall and fiddled with a hand-embroidered towel and dishrag set. “You were totally right about Meredith.”
“You talked to her?” he asked, his dark eyes sparkling.
“Mm-hm. And it made all the difference. So, thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything. I just mentioned it.”
“But had you not said anything, I wouldn’t have known how to approach her.”
He smiled, the gesture reaching his eyes.
“I think the three of us might do something together later today, but I have no idea what,” she said, hoping to bait him into joining them. She’d love nothing more than to spend the day with him.
But before she could rope him in, he’d turned at a female voice calling his name.
“Hold that thought. I’ll be right back,” he said, leaving Leigh and jogging over to the same blonde Leigh had seen at Harvey’s Marina.
The woman said something to him, leaning in and putting her hand on his bicep. Leigh turned away, focusing on a jar of preserves, feeling intrusive for staring. She was glad for the diversion because it had helped her to realize that she was relying on her childhood connection with Colton a little too much. If she were being honest with herself, she didn’t know him anymore. He’d had a whole life without her, just as she’d had without him. It was a little too easy to fall back on the memories.
Trying not to catch sight of him, Leigh meandered down the next aisle, slowly perusing the tables. She fiddled with a pair of beaded earrings.
“Sorry about that,” Colton said, coming up to her again.
“Totally fine,” she said with a polite smile, keeping her focus on the jewelry as she walked along the extensive table.
Then he stopped walking, causing her to follow suit. “You said you, your mother, and Meredith were going to do something together, right?”
She finally made eye contact. “Yes.”
“Why don’t the three of you come fishing withmeout on my boat today? Maybe you can throw me off the side for payback or something.”
Leigh laughed, the lighthearted remark like music for her soul.
“I’d planned on catching dinner and grilling out tonight.”
She considered the idea that having Colton among her family might ease the tension a little. “You could ask your parents over too,” she suggested, wanting to put as many people between her and Colton as she could so she wouldn’t get caught up in her old feelings for him. That wasn’t doing either of them any good.
