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I gulped.More than that, I’ve spent time with him...“Yes, I have. He’s nice.”
The most meaningless adjective ever, it was a nonanswer to her question. Also, it was the about best I could do. I needed to keep my emotions in check, and I was afraid if I said more, I’d be off and running, things tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them—kind of like at the restaurant with Robert.
“Good to see people moving back here,” Gwen said, her expression unreadable, her voice flat. I wasn’t sure how to take it.
“The chamber of commerce has certainly wanted that,” I replied. “Look at all that’s happened with the Fourth of July parade.”
“You deserved first place last year. I know I only saw the photos, but what you put together with those students was amazing.”
“Thanks, Gwen. That’s kind of you to say. I reached out to a few of them this week.” My cheeks warmed at her praise. “I hope they’ll agree to do it again this year.”
“What’s the parade theme?”
“Lady Liberty.”
Her eyebrow shot up, adding creases to her weathered face. “That’s a fantastic choice. Lots of room for creativity.”
“I hope the AP art students will come up with some innovative ideas. They did so well with the historical reference last year.”
Gwen nodded, and then her expression changed into one I couldn’t read again. “You know, as far back as I can remember, there’s never been another bookstore in the New Burlington city limits.”
“Never?”
“Not even during the heyday of downtown, when we had the pharmacy and the grocery store, and all of that.” She flared her nostrils and shook her head a few times. “People had to drive to Eastside Mall if they wanted to go anywhere else besides The Green Frog.”
I snorted. The days of people going to that mall were long gone. I hardly remembered what going to one felt like, much less an upscale one with a bookstore and beyond. Now, the cavernous space was mostly a shell, anchored by a Walmart on one end and a clearance Dillard’s on the other.
“It’s going to be fine,” I said.
I didn’t know who I was trying to convince more—me or her. The truth was, we both wanted things to turn out okay for the store. I needed the job and wasn’t sure I’d find another one I liked as much as managing The Green Frog. She had to have the income. Being retired came with navigating constant landmines. One enormous medical bill could set a person like Gwen back significantly, and The Green Frog gave her the extra cushion she needed. Going without it would be devastating.
“I hope so,” she replied, her voice firm. “I’ve always been able to trust you, Anya. And if you say it’s going to be okay, I’ll believe you.”
I reached across the table and took her bony hand in mine. “The Green Frog has always managed to survive. This is only a new chapter for the store. And it’s going to be a good one. You’ll see.”
I sounded like I knew what I was talking about. Like I had a way to see the future. Like I was resolute and strong.
But I wasn’t sure I was any of those things. All I could think about was Robert’s smirk on the cover of the magazine. Why the heck did he have to come back to town now?And why do I have to keep noticing how good-looking he is?
