Emma looked around at the crowd of happy neighbors and friends hanging out in her mother’s backyard and felt a mingled sense of pride and envy.
Rosie was so good at this. She instinctively knew how to make everyone feel comfortable, no matter their circumstances. Right now, she was talking with a group of teenagers, and they all seemed to be engaged in what she was saying. She could chat as easily with older people, children, those Emma’s age. Everyone.
Emma hadn’t inherited the same skills. She liked to think she was pretty good with people, after years working in the service sector, but she could never interact with the same ease as Rosie.
She kept her eye on Olive, who was playing with a small group of children on the swing set. Her daughter was also having the time of her life, making new friends in that unselfconscious way of young children.
Even Sylvia seemed completely comfortable with this crowd. Emma was the only one who felt out of place, wondering if people were talking about Rosie’s wild daughter who had returned to the fold.
She was relieved when she spotted her friend Josie arriving with her husband and kids in tow. When she spied Emma, she beamed brightly, handing her baby to her husband. He shepherded both kids to the food table and Josie headed straight for her.
“Hey you.” Josie hugged her and Emma felt her nerves relax. Josie had been so kind to her since she returned to Wood Briar, going miles out of her way to make Emma feel welcome here.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Emma said.
“We went to dinner with Brandon’s parents tonight. I can’t believe after everything we ate at dinner that my family is still heading to check out the potluck offerings.”
“There’s some good stuff over there. Somebody brought macadamia chocolate bar cookies that are sinful.”
“Probably Nina Patel. That’s her specialty. And you’re right. They’re delicious. I’ll have to grab one before we leave, if there are any left.”
“Here,” Emma said, picking an untouched square from her plate and handing it over.
“You are a true friend.” Josie grinned, took a nibble and closed her eyes in ecstasy. “The absolute best. So have you seen any of the old crowd here?”
“A few people. I saw Jake Holder and Lucy Carmichael together. I had no idea they were dating.”
Josie grinned. “Engaged, actually. As of a few months ago.”
Emma shook her head in surprise. The two struck her as complete opposites. Jake had been part of the wild, hard-drinking crowd Emma had started running with after her dad died, while Lucy had been straitlaced and stuffy, even as a teenager.
Still, they seemed to work together.
“How are things at the bookstore?” Josie asked. “I’ve been meaning to ask how you are liking it but we never have a chance to chat when you come to pick up or drop off Olive. She’s always so happy to see her mom when you pick her up, and I’m usually in the middle of chaos with my own kids.”
Emma was deeply grateful again that Josie had offered tobabysit her daughter. She found it heartwarming to see Olive interacting with Josie’s children.
“It’s going, I guess. Sales still aren’t super great but I’m planning a big renovation project. I hope it will brighten up and refresh the place to bring in more shoppers.”
“That’s awesome! Do you need any help? I’m sure we could get the old gang together to help you paint or whatever. We love projects.”
Emma could feel her cheeks flush. “Actually, this is an official renovation of Lucas Construction now. Bryce is helping me.”
Helping her be filled with turmoil and angst and want things she couldn’t have, anyway.
“Oh, that’s terrific. You won’t find anyone better in town.”
She nodded. “He’s already been a big help.”
“What all do you plan to do?”
She told the details to her friend, who seemed genuinely interested.
“I love all of this. I can’t wait to see it! You can bet I’ll be bringing the kids in for story time once you get those started and I’d love to participate in a couple of book clubs.”
“Follow us on social media,” she said, which was becoming her mantra these days.
Emma really wanted to make The Rainy Day Bookshop a town gathering space while she was working there. Yes, Wood Briar had a small library but it kept sporadic hours and the offerings were pretty sparse. She would love to see the bookstore fill in the gaps.