Page 13 of Back to You

“I think you might have more luck with Deputy Skye who was on the scene and Camden Ross who will be reviewing the woodworking.”

“I love D-Skye. She gives the girls self-defense classes every year and she’s killer.”

Before either of the ladies could comment, Kelsey was up and out the door, shoutingthanksover her shoulder.

They both sat there, taking in the craziness.

“You know that’s just the start, right?” Lyra looked at her with sympathy. “I now recognize when crazy is coming for you, and, honey… it has you in its sights.”

“Why isn’t it coming for Ms. Angie?” She couldn't help but whine a bit. “This isn’t my doing.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Lyra shook her head in sympathy. “It came for Ms. Angie decades ago and realized it might win the battle but would lose the war. That woman would out-bonkers the devil himself.”

Before Vivian could decide just how much she agreed with that sentiment, her phone beeped.

“Town manager’s office. Apparently, they want to talk. I hate talking. I just want to bring this thing to the garage and get it on a lift.”

“Poor Vi. People wanting her to be social and stuff.”

Vivian swept her crumbs onto her plate and stood to stack everything in the bus bin.

“Lyra, just because people like you—people being me—doesn’t mean they’re above soaping your windows in spite for some things you might say.”

Before Lyra could make a response, Vi was out the door, thrilled to get in the last word with someone today.

6

Cam

Cam walkedthe four blocks to his parents’ house, glad for the thinking time.

This had to work. He hadn’t realized he even had a plan when he made his plan. Maybe he’d been considering this for a month. Or years.

But he had realized after she left, it was Vivian or nothing. He knew there was no way he could stay here—especially sharing a yard with them—if he couldn’t be more than just her neighbor or friend. He kept trying to keep his mind on the problem at hand—the sleigh—but his heart kept deciding its problem was more important and taking over.

By the time he got to his childhood house, he had if not a plan, a desperate idea to set into action. He had not only a need to make this work, but an opportunity to spend time with Vi—try to win her back—and there was nothing she could do about it.

He didn’t even have to kidnap her or anything.

Not that he’d considered that.

Well, crap. When did he become a stalker? She was the one who had moved into his bailey. Jamie had accused him after she moved back to Starlight Harbor of buying that building for his shop and apartment because of the garage. If she ever came back, of course she’d need a garage.

Cam wasn’t stupid. He hadn’t consciously made that decision, but once Jamie said it, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had done it subconsciously. When Lyra had finally shared where Vivian was and what she was doing, he’d found himself pondering it often. Then, two years later, there she was.

Of course, there weren’t a lot of spaces like what he needed for his shop and it allowed him to walk wherever he wanted.

Justify, justify, justify.

By the time he’d convinced himself he had been given this chance to win back Vivian by fate, he was walking up his parents’ front walk and wondering if he should send Captain Jack a special biscuit for arranging a second chance at his best future.

And also a stern talking-to about touching art.

“Hello, Frank.” He gave the cat a scrub before letting the door fall shut. Fat Frank, his mother’s cat, barking at him as he did.

He’d make a million bucks overnight if he’d just get a barking cat Instagram going, but his mother wanted to “protect Frank’s dignity.”

“Camden, honey. Don’t annoy the cat.” He glanced to where she was transplanting some of her herbs into outside containers. They’d had a late frost and he was sure she was feeling that with her garden still.

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