Page 10 of Summer Solstice

Marty’s had been the first friendly face I’d come across when I’d first moved to town. He was always happy to spend time with me, or to help out, and he and Finn got along great. All things which made it even harder to acknowledge the fact that a friendship between us would be a long time coming, if ever.

There were so many things I would have done differently, now that I had hindsight—I would never have agreed to go on a date with him, and I for sure would never have accepted his marriage proposal. The very thought that I’d done just that made me wilt inside. But, at the moment, I’d just sort of panicked and faced with everyone who was sitting around the table and looking at me eagerly—not to mention the hope in Marty’s eyes... I’d just agreed, even as my heart had screamed that I was making a mistake. And all I’d managed to do was just break his heart anyway.

I hated that. The guilt sat in my chest like a lead balloon, pressing my lungs flat. I’d hurt one of my favorite people in the world, and even then, there wasn’t anything I could do to fix it.

He smiled, but it was a small thing, not his usual wide, goofy grin.

“Hi, Poppy.” Not ‘Pops’, the nickname he almost always called me.

I swallowed hard enough that it hurt. “Hi, Marty.”

“Getting lunch?” The skin around his eyes was tight, his face pale.

I tried to fake a smile, but I was sure it looked horrible. Like a dope, I lifted my paper bag. “Just grabbed it. And now, uh, heading back to work.”

Marty ducked his head, looking a bit relieved, and wasn’t that a gut punch.

“Yeah, me too.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets, rolling up onto the balls of his feet. “Well, I guess–”

The door opened behind Marty, cutting off whatever he was about to say, and Lacey, my new neighbor came walking through the door. She lit up when she caught sight of Marty, making a little happy squeal as she took his arm.

“Marty! It’s so good to see you!”

His whole demeanor changed then, relaxing. His smile grew into something genuine, and he was almost the Marty I remembered from my first days in Haven Hollow.

“Hi, Lacey! I’m glad you decided to try the place out. You’ll see, I wouldn’t steer you wrong. Best burgers in town.”

“Alright, but I’m trusting you.” She smiled up at him, looking through her lashes. I could see her interest in him and while I should have been happy for him—that he’d clearly attracted the interest of another woman, my chest hurt, every beat of my heart feeling bruised. And that was more for the fact that I felt so awkward around someone who used to make me laugh without even trying.

Like he’d suddenly remembered that I was still standing there, Marty waved a hand vaguely in my direction. “Oh, hey, Lace. Have you met Poppy yet?”

Lacey froze over faster than a puddle in December. She gave me a downright unfriendly look. “Yes,” she bit out. “We’ve met.”

There was a beat or two of silence where I tried to not let my guilt eat me alive, and Marty looked completely lost, before Lacey smiled up at him again.

“I just need to pop into the lady’s room. Be back in a second.”

Marty watched her go, still looking puzzled as to the obvious ice between the two of us.

I took that as my chance. I’d wanted an opportunity to apologize to Lacey for snapping at her the other day, but I hadn’t been able to figure out exactly which house was hers, and knocking on everyone’s door was something I just didn’t have the time (or the interest) to do. But I really did feel bad about it—yes, she was pushy and nosy, but she’d just been trying to be friendly, if in a kind of over-the-top way. It wasn’t like me to bark at someone like I had. Especially someone who was new to town and probably feeling a bit adrift.

I didn’t know what I would have done if Marty hadn’t come to introduce himself when I first moved to town. The only other person I’d known was the realtor, Ophelia, and she was an actual Night Hag and just as friendly.

Oh my gosh, was I Lacey’s Ophelia? The thought made me feel sick. I had to make things up to her, immediately.

“Yeah, I, uh, have to use the restroom too, actually,” I said, heading after Lacey. “Take care, Marty.”

He gave a little wave as I moved between the table in the center of the bar, heading for the women’s washroom. Maybe I could invite Lacey over for dinner, or introduce her to all the folks in town. She felt human to me, so inviting her to the Black Cat Cocktail Club might not be possible—as all of us got a bit loose-lipped when we were a few cocktails in.

I’d have to ask Wanda to check to see what Lacey was, if anything at all. She was better feeling out supernaturals than I was.

I stepped through the swinging door to the ladies’ room, a dozen apologies on my tongue and a plan in my head.

But the room was empty.

I stopped, perplexed. Both stall doors were open, but no one was in them, and yet I was sure Lacey had walked in. Yes, I’d watched her! So, how was it possible... There was a window up near the ceiling that was propped open a couple of inches, but that was it.

Of course, the window was large enough that someone could have crawled through it, and maybe that was exactly what had happened.

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