Page 83 of This Memory
“Great, talk to you then,” Evelyn said. “Enjoy your day, everyone.”
A round of goodbyes rang out, and Evelyn quickly exited Slice, Slice, Baby.
“That felt weird,” Aurora stated.
Brystol exhaled. “Yeah. We had a bit of a…fight…I guess you could say.”
Cadie put a hand over Brystol’s. “You’ll get it all worked out, and everything will be fine. You’re almost at thirteen weeks, right?”
“Yeah. I think I’ll just tell her tonight she can go ahead and tell people. Maybe that will ease things between us, if she can start to tell her parents and family and such.”
Harper reached over, and she placedherhand on top of Cadie’s. “You’re a good friend, Brystol.”
Trying to smile but failing to do so, Brystol slowly shook her head. “I’m not so sure about that.”
I pushed open the door to Memory Lane Toys and smiled when I saw the crowd. I knew how much this time of year meant to businesses like Brystol’s, and I was thrilled that she’d been busy these last few weeks. But today was the day after Thanksgiving, and the toy store waspacked.
I was also glad that Brystol and Evelyn worked things out a couple weeks ago. She’d given Evelyn her blessing to tell her friends and family. Word got around quickly, and Brystol had a lot of people stopping by the store simply to say they thought she was doing a wonderful thing.
Making my way through the crowd, I saw Brystol talking to an older couple as they stood in front of the Lego kits.
“So you think our little Malcolm will like this set?” the older woman asked the man I assumed was her husband, who nodded. “We haven’t been able to find this particular one back home,” she said to Brystol. “We no longer have toy stores, which is a shame.”
Brystol nodded. “Thatisa shame, but you can always order off my website. I’ll ship anywhere.”
The older woman’s eyes lit up. “That’s good to know. I think we’ll get this now, since you have it in stock and my husband’s been looking everywhere for it. Leonard, be sure to get her card.”
He smiled. “I will. Now, is there anything else you want?”
“Let’s look at that tea set over there.”
“I’ll let you both shop. If you need anything else, be sure to let me know.”
She turned and smiled when she saw me. “Why, hello there, Officer Quinn.”
I leaned down and brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “Hey. How’s it going?”
“It’s been a busy day.”
“That’s a good thing, though, right?”
“A very good thing. My mother even came in to help for a few hours earlier. I’m exhausted, I can tell you that much.”
The sound of a cat meowing caused me to look down and see a gray kitten and a white kitten. “Where did these little fellows come from?” I asked, as I swept up both cats up into my arms.
Brystol petted both of them. “Theyjust showed up today and were in the back room. I think they snuck in. Pretty sure they are both girls.”
I lifted each one and laughed. “Yep, both are little girls. Are you going to keep them?”
Shrugging, Brystol kissed the white kitten on the head. “I am. I think they will be store cats. My mom already went to the pet shop and bought them each a bed, bowls for food and water, a scratching post, and a kitty condo.”
She pointed toward the front window, where said condo sat.
“Wow. What are you going to name them?”
“I don’t know,” she said, looking up at me. “I was hoping you’d help me.”
Turning the gray kitten so I could look into her little face, I smiled. “What about Ashes?”
