Page 13 of Finding Silence
I don’t think this woman will ever cease to surprise me. Fishing?
“You like fishing?” Stupid question, since it’s obvious. She’s got some nice fly rods too.
“Love it. It’s so peaceful and relaxing. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with this place. These views and a good-sized creek in the backyard, what more could you want?”
What more, indeed.
I study her for a moment, her purple hair and boldly printed shirt, but with eyes aimed at what I know to be a gorgeous view, and wearing that perpetual smile on her lips.
Who’d have thought she and I would have some things in common?
“Mayfly.”
She startles and looks at me with wide eyes.
“Sorry?”
I point at her rods.
“Brook trout in the creek; they’ll go for a mayfly.”
Chapter 5
Phil
* * *
I’m huffing by the time I get back to the Toyota.
I just walked away from Silence’s weekly farmer’s market with two large grocery bags loaded with food. I’ll never be able to eat all this stuff, but I felt compelled to buy a little something from every vendor.
My neighbor told me about the market earlier this week, when he stopped by to drop off the Cosabella underwear he insisted on buying for me. I had a hard time not laughing at his pained expression when I opened the package. I do feel a little guilty though—those panties aren’t exactly cheap—but the man had been adamant he intended to replace them.
Anyway, he ended up coming in for a coffee and, although he didn’t stay long, it was a good little visit. Long enough for me to learn about this market, and the fact Silence’s former sheriff isn’t the A-hole he almost had me believe he was. Surprisingly, we discovered we had at least one interest in common; we both love fishing.
We chitchatted a little. Well, it was mostly me talking, since Brant doesn’t say a whole lot, even when he’s not being a grump. I did mention I’d met his lovely daughter but was hesitant to ask any personal questions, even though I was curious as hell.
I get the sense from the man he wouldn’t appreciate prying, and I totally get that. It’s not like I’m that forthcoming with information, although I did let it drop to Rowan I work in the music industry. It happened when I took her out for a celebratory dinner after the sale of the house went through, and I ended up imbibing a little too generously.
I have no illusions the information isn’t going to come out at some point in time, but I would prefer for folks to have a chance to get to know the regular me first.
The biggest drawback of having a public career is not being allowed a private life. You become public property and people treat you differently. It’s like walking around with a giant spotlight on you wherever you go, exposing even the tiniest of flaws and sometimes creating ones that aren’t there. There is zero privacy, unless you create a secure bubble to live in, which I did for way too many years.
Here, in Silence, I’m able to walk into the grocery store or shop at the farmer’s market. Sure, people are curious, but that’s because I’m new in town. It would be the same for anyone else who moved here, but at least they’re not automatically judging me. Although, I’m not so sure about that woman I bought a jar of strawberry jam from. She gave my hair a good look before I got the full body scan, and she was barely civil. She was definitely judging.
Closing the gate on my SUV after I dump my bags in the back, I happen to notice a hair salon next to the coffee shop I promised myself I’d check out after the market.
I’ve been waiting for the purple I dyed my hair for the charity concert to grow out, but maybe it’s easier just to get the last few inches cut off. Maybe I’ll pop in after I grab myself a coffee at Strange Brew.
The chalkboard sign out front draws my eye.
* * *
First drink the coffee…
Then do the things.
* * *
