Page 81 of One More Chance

“I’m doing good. Momma and Daddy took me to Portland on Friday and we went to the zoo. I got to see the cougars and polar bears and otters.” Her words tumble out in an excited rush.

I smile. “That sounds like fun. Did you have a good time?” Carl and his brother Sheldon are walking on the other side of the street. They spot me and wave. I wave back in greeting.

“Yep. Are you still coming to see me on Thursday?” Ashley’s sweet voice asks me.

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

“Okay, see you then.”

She ends the call before I can ask to talk to her father.

35

Simone

“I can’t believe what an ass Craig is being,” Avery grumps on the other end of the phone. Jasper is at war with one of his chew toys. The occasional sound of surrender squeaks in the living room. The living room that is currently a neat chaos as I work on assembling the subscription boxes due to go out this month.

“What did he do this time?” I can only imagine. He was the main reason I quit my job once he got the promotion.

“He made Danielle cry. Who the blippity-hell would want to make that sweet woman cry?”

Good question. For the past year, Danielle has been bringing cupcakes to the office every Friday. Cupcake Friday. Delicious cupcakes that she bakes and decorates.

“Don’t worry, there’s a special place in hell for men like Craig,” I tell Avery.

“I hope you’re right. But in the meantime, that doesn’t solve a problem like Craig.”

I laugh under my breath. “You’ve been watching The Sound of Music again, haven’t you?” I can always tell. I’m sure even the nuns in the movie wouldn’t know how to solve a problem like Craig.

“I might have watched it last night. But in my defense, I really needed to see it after I interviewed someone who I thought would be a great fit as a roommate.”

“I take it things didn’t go so well.” A bolt of guilt shoots through me that I left her without a roommate. But when I originally returned to Maple Ridge, I hadn’t expected to move back here permanently. I still need to retrieve what’s left of my stuff from the apartment. I’ve just been putting it off.

Putting it off until I know for sure what Lucas’s fate will be.

And so far, it hasn’t been necessary for me to drive to Portland to get my things. I’ve been saving that trip for when I go there to buy supplies that I can’t get in Eugene for my subscription boxes.

But soon…soon I will need to go there. Will need to return the city linked to so much heartbreak. Will need to visit my daughter’s grave.

“I think I prefer not having a roommate,” Avery says. “If I can’t find another roommate as amazing as you were, I’d rather live on my own. I should probably start looking for a one-bedroom apartment since this lease expires soon. And start looking for a new job.”

“I thought you loved your job.”

“I do. Or I did. But your business is doing so well, and it made me realize I’m ready for a change.”

“Craig’s ego really has grown to massive proportions, hasn’t it?”

“Godzilla massive. And yes, maybe he’s part of the reason I feel like it’s time to move on to something better. And as soon as I figure out what that is, I’ll be sure to let you know.” Avery sighs, and I can hear the inflated frustration in it. “Oh, well. Break’s over. I guess it’s time to return to that insufferable ass. Love you, Si.”

“Love you, too, A.” I end the call and go back to working on my subscription boxes. My phone pings with a text.

Emily: Clementine Hollis just posted about your subscription boxes on Instagram!!!! She posted a video of her unboxing the one you recently sent out. The comments are going crazy! People love it!

I stare at Em’s text for what could be thirty seconds, shock rendering me incapable of replying. Clementine Hollis is a huge Instagram influencer. She must have…wow. She must have subscribed to my boxes under a different name.

Me: I had no idea. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Emily: I hope that results in more subscribers for you!!!

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