Page 44 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

“Whenever you can. I know it’s hard.”

“I’ll see what next month looks like. When was that festival on again? You know the one with the pumpkins?”

Signs for the Willow Creek festival are in the window of every business on Main Street. I hope she can make it because, from what I’m told, it’s huge. “It’s the second Sunday of May.”

“That could work. You know a long time ago a friend from school raved about it. We were going to take a trip out there one year, but we lost touch.”

It’s been going for that long? “I’d love to see you, so let me know.”

“Okay.” She sighs. “Are you otherwise well? I mean I know you’ve had a shitty start to the week but are you good?”

“I am. Actually, there’s something else I want to tell you. I’ve kind of met someone.”

She laughs. “You kind of have, or you haven’t. You don’t sound so sure.”

“Okay, smarty pants. Yeah, I have, and I really like him. His name is Jerry. Short for Jericho.”

“Ooh, sounds hunky. What does he do?”

Hunky? I laugh. “A bit of everything I suppose. Fencing, and he has a property. An old lavender farm he’s trying to bring back to its former glory.”

“God, I remember the one we used to take you to when you were a kid. It was the most magical place.”

Running through the purple fields, playing tag with Mum and Jean is one of the highlights of my childhood. “Yeah, it was.”

Silence stretches down the line.

“Does he make you happy?” she finally asks. “Treat you well?”

“Yeah. He really does.”

“Well then, I approve.”

“Thanks, I’d better go.”

“Me too. Seize the day, darlin’. You’ve got this.”

---