Page 51 of Unforgiven in Cheshire Bay

I sighed, after inhaling the floral scent myself. “What are you up to for the afternoon?”

“I’m going to finish painting downstairs and start putting together the paperwork. With school having already started, I want to make sure I have everything ready to go. I plan on hanging up signs in the main entrance.”

“Post in the Bugle as well.”

“Yeah, but that costs money. Personal interaction I can do for free.”

She had a point.

“I have a free website to set up, and I’m posting some pictures. I’ve been trying to connect a social media account to it all, but I’ve been struggling. So, I’m meeting with Lily this afternoon. She’s a tech genius apparently.”

“Genius – code for very expensive.”

“She’s not ridiculous, but she said she’d do it for a swap. Ten free drop-ins for her son Henry while she runs to her midwife appointments and attends to some errand running.”

Fran was a smart girl, and I was immediately proud of her for swapping services. It’s exactly what I would’ve done as well. “Let me know how things go with Lily. I may look into swapping with her too.”

“Oh, you going to rework your website?”

“Sure. Yeah, of course.” It could use a refreshing, or attention for that matter.

An idea suddenly brewed. Maybe she could help me wipe out all my comments and negative reviews on Birch Bay Burgers. There were a lot, and I couldn’t remember all the places I left them, but if she was a tech genius, she’d be able to find them and wipe them all away, right?

“I’m heading to my room for a nap.” Francesca hung off the door frame in the kitchen. “Like you, I had a late night too.”

“What? With who?”

“Jeremy.”

I shook my head. He was new.

“I’m seeing him again tonight too.” She walked a few steps. “Wake me by three, if I’m not back up.”

“Hey, Vera,” I called out her name, signing, “Want to come and play with the wood?”

She shook her head and let her hands do the talking.Video games?

“Didn’t you play enough last night with Uncle Adam?”

“Star Wars.” She spoke slowly and then yawned.

Although he said they only watched the first one, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d watched at least part of the second one too. That would’ve put her way over her usual bedtime. But that may have also worked to my advantage. If she stayed up too late, she’d likely crash early. If she crashed early, I could properly thank a certain Mr. Good in Bed. And with Fran going out tonight, it was too perfect.

“For now, you can play one hour of video games.” She’d grabbed her iPad before I’d even grabbed my phone from the depths of my pocket. “I need to make a call first.”

I dialed David’s number, and he answered on the second ring.

“I have an embarrassingly large bouquet of flowers in my house. Thank you so much.”

“Ah, good. You got them. I didn’t want to show up again unannounced.”

“It’s all good. Thank you.” I gazed upon them with growing love. David really was the sweetest. “Why don’t you come over tonight? You can see the work I’m doing on your mural.”

Please sense the hint in my voice.

“Love to. When?”

I hope he heard it. “Six-thirty?”

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