Page 132 of Truly, Madly, Deeply

Marni laughed. “That won’t be necessary. We’d be foolish to pass up a chance to have your posh pastries in our village. You fit right in with our clientele.”

“I can have a kiosk?”

“No. I’m afraid there’s a limit to the number of food carts we can have in the town square.”

“Oh, then, what are you thinking? Pastry chef at the lodge?”

“We have one of those. But with the digital market surging, our bookstore can’t sell enough paper and hardbacks to stay in business. They’ve just given their notice. Today.Thismorning. So, before I pull out the waiting list to see who’s next—”

“Give it to me.”

“I can do that, but do you want to hear the rent first?”

“Yes.”

“It’s fifty-five hundred a month.”

Grace’s heart sank. She mouthed the number to her brother. But a fierce sense of purpose took hold. “How big is the space?”

“Oh, it’s huge. It’s been here since the beginning when bookstores were a thing.”

“How about I split it with them? We don’t even need a whole wall between our spaces.”

“That’s actually a brilliant idea because it’s got a large, underused kitchen. I think you’ll make her day. She’s really sad about closing.”

“So, this is happening?”

“I’ll bring it up with her, see what she says. I also have to do my due diligence, but I feel good about this. How soon can you get out here?”

“I can be there tomorrow.”

Marni laughed. “A woman of action. I like that. Come by my office as soon as you get back in town. Let’s see if we can get this done.”

ChapterNineteen

With her phonepressed to her ear, Grace stood on the slate patio behind the Bowie’s bunkhouse. Sunlight played hide-and-seek with the mountain as clouds sailed across the August sky.

Am I really here? Did I just make this my life?

Sage scented the air. “You have to come out here.” Her brother would love it.

“Yeah, I’ll visit.”

The patio hosted a huge grill, a firepit, and outdoor tables and chairs.

She’d considered driving to Calamity, so she’d have her car and a trailer of her belongings, but the priority was meeting with Marni and securing her spot in the village. She’d wound up only bringing two suitcases with her, but her parents would ship everything else.

Were they happy with her decision? Hardly. She’d probably never forget the look of fear in her mom’s eyes as she’d walked away from her at the airport. But she’d make sure to text and FaceTime with her regularly so her mom could be assured she wasn’t losing a daughter.

“So, what’s it like?” Romeo asked. “Are there lassos and spurs and shit lying all around?”

Grace smiled. “Not even close. It’s actually amazing. It hasn’t been an actual bunkhouse since this place was a working ranch. Now, they’ve turned it into an awesome man cave. It has game tables and an industrial-size kitchen. The guys rent it to a film studio for a cooking show, but that’s only in April. They said I can have it as long as I need.”

She’d left the French doors open, so when bottles rattled, she whipped around to find a little girl rooting around in the refrigerator. “Oh, someone’s here. Let me call you back.” As she headed inside, she checked but didn’t see any adults.Is someone else staying here?“Hey, there. What’cha looking for?”

“I’m thirsty.”

The girl had to be about the same age as Kinny, and she got a twist in her heart for what she’d lost. For a while there, she’d imagined taking a role in her life, being a mother figure. The three of them becoming a family.

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