“This building has housed seven different businesses since it was built in 1923.” Cal again assumed the tone of a tour guide. “The most interesting was a yarn shop which opened in 1965.”

“I remember that yarn shop,” Bryony said.

“Did you ever go in?” Cal asked, dropping the theatrics, sounding like himself again.

“No. I wasn’t interested in learning how to knit or crochet.”

“You should try it sometime. I hear it’s good for the brain. Anyway,” Cal again assumed the announcer’s tone again, “the woman who owned the business tried four different times to open a yarn business, and she failed every time, until she located here. Maybe it was timing, or maybe the location, but she was able to keep the business open in this building until her health failed in the year 2000.”

“I wondered what happened to her,” Bryony said.

“Her name is Cassandra, and she lives in a nursing home,” Cal said. “She said her investment resulted in a profit consisting of ‘lifelong friends and memories to carry me through the hardest of times.’ My student included the quote in the paper.”

“Okay, I see what you’re doing,” Bryony said.

“And the storefront over there”—Cal pointed to a vacant building—“used to be an ice cream place. It moved on to a larger location on the edge of town.”

“Parmiters,” Bryony said. “Their ice cream is fabulous.”

“The people who started that business failed three times before they hit the right recipe.”

“Okay,” Bryony said. “Message received.”

“Most of us fail over and over. Be brave, Bryony. It’s never too late to make your dream come true.”

Nobody except her mother and Lillian had ever demonstrated such clear, unwavering support. “Thanks for being so nice to me,” she said.

“Lecture over,” Cal said. “You have something to say to me, and I have something to talk about, too. Where do you want to go?”

She suggested the diner down the street and led the way. Neither initiated small talk. Whether she matched Cal’s pace or he hers was open for debate, but neither of them seemed to be in a hurry.

Once inside, Bryony sat down at the nearest table. Cal sat in the chair opposite her. Three dead flies lay belly up on the window sill.

A familiar face walked over with her paper pad. “Hey, Bryony. What’s new?”

Gloria’s white polyester button-up top stretched across her pot belly and her short, brown, rolled hairstyle hadn’t changed since high school. Bryony introduced her to Cal, saying they weren’t there to eat.

“So, coffee for two?” Gloria asked.

“Sure,” Bryony answered.

As Gloria walked away, Cal asked, “Another friend of yours?”

“She graduated with Mitch.”

“And she owns the place?”

“Her brother does. Their grandparents opened it.”

Cal wrinkled up his nose and whispered, “I’m open to liking it, but it makes me want to break out the cleaning supplies.”

Bryony smiled and shrugged. “I know. I’ve learned to ignore it. The food is fresh and good.” As was the impact of Cal. Cutting off her feelings for him had required numbing her entire body. She tried to shut down again, but pleasant little tingles and bursts of wellbeing plagued her.

“Seems like you know almost everyone in town,” Cal said.

“I never met Todd before he started working at the shop.” Talking about Todd was safe. It pulled her attention away from feeling back to thinking. “I can’t thank you enough for bringing him to us.”

Cal tilted his head. “So formal. This isn’t a business meeting.”

Her stomach tightened. Being with Cal confused her.

Gloria arrived with the coffee, said, “Let me know if you need anything else,” and left the table.

“I understand you know my friends, Chuck and Charity, and their friend, Susie,” Cal said.

Bryony took a deep breath and noticed she could still breathe, a good sign. “Yes, I know them.”

“That Susie’s a piece of work,” Cal said.

“What do you mean?” What did he mean? He sounded displeased with the wealthy woman who seemed to acquire everything she wanted, never mind the expense.

“I mean she’s kind of a cougar. Whenever I’m with her, I feel like I’m bait.” He shook his shoulders and shuddered. “Wouldn’t want to be caught up in anything with her. Forget what I said about her helping with the pie business. I don’t trust her.”

Warmth flooded through every cell of Bryony’s body. Her face flushed with pleasure. Someone else finally saw the world the way she did. “Sorry about disappearing for a few days,” she said.

“You’re here now.” Cal started to reach across the table, but Bryony withdrew her hands and put them in her lap. He looked puzzled as he asked, “So, what’s been happening in your world, Bryony Green?”

They talked for over an hour. When he asked if her phone had been out of service, she chose honesty. She had needed time to think. And her thinking was she needed to not be dating anyone. She hoped he would understand. She would like to be friends only, not his temporary date while he lived in Fieldstone.

She saw more regret in his face than she had anticipated, but he said he did understand and would be whatever she needed him to be. She didn’t know what he meant by that, and he seemed quieter through a second cup of coffee, but he still showed interest in hearing about her life, like a friend, which is what she had wanted, she guessed.

When she asked about his family, he said she had missed a good party, but didn’t elaborate.

After paying, Bryony walked Cal to his car. He slid in behind the steering wheel, and she saw sadness in his smile, which surprised her, but he sounded upbeat when he said, “Gotta run. Bailey awaits. Have a good rest of the day, Bryony.”

“I will,” she said.

She walked back to the coffee shop and started taking her coat off as the door closed behind her.

Chuck and Charity Henderson sat with Susie Quatman, all three settled in close to the door. Bryony walked over to the table, greeted each one by name, and asked, “Do you need anything?”

“We’re good,” Chuck said. “Nice seeing you, Bryony. Great place!”

Hearing his words and taking in the warmth generated by his smile reminded her of when they had been close. “I heard you had surgery,” Bryony said. “I’m happy to see you’re doing well.”

“Thanks,” Chuck said.

“We were hoping we’d run into our friend, Cal Forster,” Susie said. “He seems to spend a lot of time in here.”