Page 184 of Fly's Path

I sink down into a chair next to her drafting table. “There’s nothing really to tell. It was a vacation romance.”

“You don’t get tattoos for vacation romances. I mean, some people do, but not you.”

Fine, that’s probably true. “He was more than that. He was everything. You’ve met him. You can understand what I mean.”

“I can. I felt the same way when I realized I loved my husband. You’ve only been gone for a short while. This must have been a whirlwind love affair.”

Wait. What? “How do you know how long I’ve been gone?”

“You know how this town is. They’ve been talking since Jimbo kicked you out. He’s been chewed out by half the ladies in this town. There has been a group looking for your car to see if you were there, but even that, no one was able to find. They’ll be shocked to find out you were in Silent Valley.”

“I’d prefer no one know about that.”

“They won’t hear it from me. I so get not liking to be the topic of conversation around here. If you’re looking for a place to stay until you find a new place, we have a spare room. It’s yours as long as you need it.”

What? “Um, thanks. I’m good.”

“They said that you’d say that. But I still thought I’d offer. Sometimes a safe space to land is more important than our pride. That was a hard lesson for me.”

“Who said that?”

“The Ladies’ League. Gertie said she’s never met a stubborner woman than you. And that one day you would find a man who wouldn’t let you get away with hiding from him. She’s right…no one hides anything from Fly.”

I did. I hid the truth about who I am. “Why does she think I’m stubborn?”

“Because you are. You’re going to sleep in your car rather than accept help from anyone. Don’t tell me you weren’t planning on it. I’ve been there, done that. Only on a shorter scale.”

“Accept help? People hate me. They stare at me and point at the poor thief.”

“What? Is that really what you think the town thinks?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Not at all.” She lifts a paper off her table. “What do you think?”

The crown is hard but soft, and it works perfectly with the butterfly. “I love it.”

“Well then, let’s get you prepped and ready, and I’ll tell you all about what the town thinks about you.”

***

“Thank you so much for the tattoo and for the talk.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll bring the books by the shop tomorrow for you to sign them.”

“Thanks.”

“And the room is there if you change your mind.”

“I probably won’t, but thank you.” Warm air greets me as I step outside into the afternoon sun. It’s odd being down here.

You’ll get used to it.

Just like you’ll get used to the fact that Fly never called. Though he could have called while I was in the shop. I forgot my phone in the car.

He might have just slept in…

“Excuse me, are you Sheridan Wholes?”