Page 14 of Love In Harbor Falls

Sitting on the island, her phone rang, and when Adalyn got up to see who was calling, she answered it.

“Hi, sis. Can I call you back? Everything is good. I’ll call you back in a few.”

She set her phone down, grabbed her plate and silverware, and took them to the sink. I followed behind with mine.

“I should get going. I need to stop by the bar and check on things. Thanks for dinner.”

“Thank you for your help with the TV.” A light smile crossed her beautiful lips.

“You’re welcome. If you need anything else fixed or hung, give me a call. In fact, let me give you my number. You know, just in case something breaks.”

“Yes. Of course.” She picked up her phone, and I rattled off my number. “All set. I’ll give you a call if I need anything else.”

“Great.” I smiled as she walked me to the door. “Thanks again for dinner, Adalyn. Welcome to Harbor Falls. I know you’ll love it here.”

“I think I already do.” She smiled.

I left Adalyn’s house with a smile and couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so alive. She was like a breath of fresh air, but I got the sense she didn’t move to Harbor Falls because she grew tired of the city life. I could tell by the hesitation in her voice and her reluctance to answer my question. I wanted to ask her more but didn’t want to push the boundaries or scare her off with too many questions. Annie Fricks was already doing a good job at that. I wasn’t worried because I had plenty of time to get to know her better now that she was living here.

“There you are.” Katherine smiled as she was wiping down a table when I walked into the bar. “Where were you?”

“You’re never going to believe it.” I stepped behind the bar and poured myself a draft beer. “I was at Adalyn’s house hanging her seventy-inch TV on the wall.”

“Adalyn? Oh!” Her eyes widened. “You mean the woman that was in here last night? The one you thought you’d never see again?” She smirked.

“Yep, and you’re never going to believe whose house she bought.”

“Whose?”

“George and Louise Waters.”

“Oh wow. Did you tell her I was the interior designer for the house?”

“No. I didn’t get around to it. Annie brought over a chicken pot pie, and Adalyn asked me to stay for dinner as a thank you for helping with the TV.”

A sly smile crossed Katherine’s face. “And how did that go?”

“It went well. I think there’s something she’s hiding or not willing to talk about. I asked her why she left New York to come here, and she told me she was tired of the city life. But I think she left for a specific reason.”

“What gives you that impression?”

“She was hesitant to answer at first. Then her sister called, and I left so she could call her back. And, another thing, she’s opening up an art gallery where the secondhand store used to be.”

“That’s amazing. We could use an art gallery here.” She grinned. “That will save me a lot of travel time for my freelance interior design jobs.”

“Hey there, good looking.” A man came up from behind, grabbed Katherine, and spun her around.

“Hey, baby.”

That man was Scott Barrister. Not only had he been Katherine’s husband for the past five years, but he was also my best friend from college. He showed up in Harbor Falls seven years ago to visit me, took one look at Katherine, and never left. His parents owned a successful fruit market in Charleston. When Mr. Greggs, owner of the local fruit market in Harbor Falls, passed away, Scott’s parents bought it, renamed it Barrister’s Foods, and gave it to Scott to run and manage. I approved of their relationship right from the start. Scott was a good man; I knew he’d always care for my sister.

* * *

Adalyn

After ending the call with my sister, I poured myself a glass of wine, looked around the house's first floor, and smiled as I turned off the lights and headed upstairs. Climbing into my new queen-size bed, I snuggled under the covers and thought about my busy day tomorrow. The contractors were starting the art gallery remodeling, and I still had so much to do. I needed to order more art. Being in the industry for several years, I had a lot of connections. I wanted to make the gallery a special place to visit—not only for the residents of Harbor Falls but also for the many tourists who visit during the year. The gallery wasn’t the only thing on my mind as I thought about Colin, his kindness, and the fluttering in my belly whenever he was around. There was definitely a connection. The kind of connection I didn’t want nor was looking for. It was in my best interest to stay away from Colin Young and solely focus on my new business and the beginning of my new life as a newly single woman.

CHAPTER10

---