Page 17 of Handling Skylar
I set down my own glass and stood and walked to the screened porch door and leaned against the frame with my shoulder. “It’s complicated and messy.”
“Ought O. Does this have to do with that little scene last week with that Hells Belle, Anna Kate?”
I turned to look at her over my shoulder with a wry grin. “Yes…and Jake Sutton.”
“Jake? Is that supposed to come as a surprise?” She rose and came up to me and nudged my shoulder. Sweetie, it’s plain to see you have the hots for him. Everyone knows. Even blind Mr. Douglas.”
I gasped and nudged her back with a spurt of laughter.
“This is after all a small town. Dish. Now.”
“I kissed…or…um…he kissed me.”
“Where?”
“Here. Last Saturday night.”
“No, not where…on the cheek? Hand? Mouth?”
“Oh, mouth. Definitely on the mouth,” I said my voice suddenly uneven.
Her eyes grew round, and she squealed! “Oh my God. That’s amazing.” Then she looked at my face. “Why isn’t it amazing?”
“Are you forgetting Anna Kate? He’s seeing her.”
Jordan rolled her eyes. “Oh, honey, if there isn’t a ring on the finger, the man is open season. That’s what I say. She’s not right for him. Jake is much more down to earth and grounded than that society bitch. I almost pulled out every strand of hair she had the last time she was in the shop. She is never satisfied, tips are a joke and she never says a kind word. Jake on the other hand always tips well, tells me how nice I look and is always satisfied. I sure wish Hells Belle would go somewhere else. I’m sure she’s got brimstone and sulfur in her future.”
A tug boat floated past, its slow process just like the pace in Suttontowne. No one was ever in a hurry here. On the far bank lush ferns and purple wild iris grew in the shade of hardwood trees dripping moss and willows waving swinging ribbons of green. In brighter spots, the fading of summer, black-eyed Susans and bits of white and yellow daisy fleabane dotted the bank like golden pieces of sun. Small birds fluttered past in flashes of slate blue and bright yellow. Ducks paddled along, several sunning their bodies on the riverbank, the distinctive green head of the mallard prevalent, along with brown, gray and black markings. I’d even seen on a rare occasion a few trumpeter swans, wondering if I’d see any this winter as they migrated down to a warmer climate.
“They are not getting along,” I said. “That is evident and she’s jealous of me.”
“Good. You are serious competition.” She sobered and watched the tugboat for a minute. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing.”
“What? Why?”
“The ball is in Jake’s court. He’s the one who has to decide. I’ve thrown my hat into the ring.”
“Was it good?”
I turned to look at her with a straight face. “Have you seen his mouth?” I sighed, though this time it was pure weakness. “He can kiss.” I waved my hands and went back to the cozy sofa and sat down. “Enough of that. Time to get to work.”
“Oh, before I forget, Mrs. Jennings wanted more of your special salve.” Jordan took one last fleeting look at the scenery and came back to the sofa settling next to me. She picked up her tablet.
I smiled, pleased. I noticed Mrs. Jennings was favoring her hands the last time she was in and complained of dry skin. I’d given her some of my salve and told her to keep the small pot. I had plenty more. The recipe was my mom’s and something I had been making on my own for a while. I got a little lump thinking about my practical mom and how making the salve drew me closer to her. I’d lost so much and left my former life behind, but I didn’t regret the decision. Having dinner with Adam had been surreal, but I didn’t want to relive my last few years in Jasper Gulch. I was relieved my obligatory dinner with him was over.
I’d also gained so much by moving here to Suttontowne and starting fresh. Missing my parents and my brother was a constant and unrelenting ache I would carry always. Especially since we were at such odds right before they died. I couldn’t change the circumstances. My parents were gone as well as my legacy. I would always keep their spirit alive inside me to preserve all that I could of how they had lived and how proud I’d been of them all.
“Noted. I’ll make up some more. That reminds me,” I said and rose, popping into the house and grabbing a couple of my bath bombs, a mixture of essential oils, scent, citric acid and sodium bicarbonate that burst with a fizzy explosion when it hit water. I loved beauty products and made most of what I personally used. Jordan was also my sounding board and benefactor of my experiments.
I came back out onto the porch and set them in her hands. “Oh, I love the little blue coyotes. Where did you find the mold?”
“Online when I was searching for those salt and pepper shakers, eBay is fantastic. I just added blue food dye.”
She brought the round pink ball to her nose. “Oh, God. What is this?”
“Sexy bath bomb. I call it: Have Your Pink With Me. I thought you and Mason might try it out for me.”
