Page 114 of When In Doubt

I feel that pit now, feel it filling in at the edges, getting smaller. Here in Oscar’s arms, my big cuddly man, grounding me where once I would have fallen away, I’ve never felt so safe.

Chapter Thirty-Six

FREYA

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come down there?” Elsie asks down the phone. “Or you could come stay with me?”

“Honestly, Els, I really am fine.” I hold the phone with my shoulder as I finish my closing routine.

“Okay,” she draws out, “but it’s an open offer.”

“I know.”

“And hey, it sounds like things are going well with Oscar?”

I roll my eyes, even as warmth spreads through my chest. “I can’t believe that gossip made it all the way to you.”

“You’ll get used to it,” she says good-naturedly. “But it’s good, he’s treating you well?”

“He is.” I think back to a few nights ago and grin. He’s been working since, so we haven’t been able to spend the night together again, but we try to make time to see each other whenever we can. “I really like him.”

“I’m so happy for you, Little Peach.”

“Thank you.”

“Alright, I’ll let you go, but we’ll speak soon okay? I want all the details.”

I scoff. “Absolutely not.”

“We’ll see,” she says, her voice sly. The line clicks off and I pocket the phone just as I step out the front door. Across the street, I see Becca wiping down tables in the diner. I cross over and give the door a knock before pushing it open. We haven’t had a chance to chat since the workshop and I’m finding I really miss her.

“Hi!” She grins at me, stacking a chair onto the now-clean table. I grab the one opposite and do the same.

“Hey, is it just you closing up?”

“It was pretty quiet, so I let my servers head home early.”

“You need a hand?”

She laughs. “I will not say no to that.”

I follow her as she cleans tables, stacking the chairs and slotting menus back into their holders.

“It seems like tourist season’s starting early,” I say.

She scoffs. “It’s crazy in here. I think that resort a couple miles north is still open for spring skiing. Everyone’s trying to make the most of it before it closes.”

“It’s nice though, kind of feels like the town’s waking up.”

“It’s my favorite time of year. And not just because business is good.” She smirks. “Hey, are you going to run another one of those classes?”

“Oh, definitely!”

She clears the last table and goes behind the counter to start closing down the register. I slide into a seat nearby. “Good, I need your wisdom.”

“What are you working on?”

“I thought that I could make some of those little toys for my nephew, but they’ve turned out looking like demons.” She slides her phone out of her apron and pulls up a picture. As she holds it up towards me, I have to stifle a laugh in my hand.