A Place to Call Home by Callie Hall

Author:Callie Hall [Hall, Callie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-29T22:00:00+00:00

Walking through Redridge was like a dream. Unlike the few times Abby had driven through town herself, this felt different somehow, surreal, as though all of Redridge would disappear the moment she looked away.

So, she didn’t. Determined to see the town for what it was, Abby walked beside Beth, admiring every single building before finally stepping inside. Every shop she and Beth visited had a feel of its very own.

The thrift store Beth had mentioned earlier was full of old knick-knacks, hand-me-downs, and a lightly used stroller that held Beth’s attention longer than Abby’s. As Beth stood toward the front of the store, Abby continued down one side of the shop before turning and going up the other.

“My mom would love it in here,” Abby said, loud enough for Beth to hear from her place beside the register. “She’d buy up half their stock if I let her.”

“Sounds good to me,” a woman said from behind the front desk. “Maybe you should invite her over.” She and Beth chuckled, then went back to their previous conversation.

Maybe I should, Abby thought with a smile, pausing at one of the racks toward the front of the store that had an assortment of jackets and scarves piled on top of it.

Abby took one of the silk scarves in her hand, then held it out in front of her, nodding as the red fabric sparkled in the sun. Her mother still wasn’t fond of the idea of her coming up this way all the time, so perhaps a peace offering would help. If not, then Abby knew exactly where to bring her.

“Just this?” the woman behind the register asked.

“Yup,” Abby said, smiling as she rummaged in her purse for her card.

“Beth tells me you’re working on the inn?”

“We both are,” Abby said with pride, smiling her thanks once the other woman handed her her card and a bag with the scarf inside.

“I’m Chelsee,” the woman said, holding her hand out to Abby. “It’s nice to have some new blood around here. With any luck, you’ll stick around longer than the last one did.”

“Oh hush,” Beth said, gently tapping Chelsee on the arm. “Simon was sweet and a total gentleman.”

“Not to mention a looker as well.” Chelsee winked in Abby’s direction, then continued. “He had big dreams, but his ambitions weren’t the problem. His ramblings were. They became so ridiculous, they sent him out of town.”

“She’s joking,” Beth told Abby, “his dreams just took him somewhere else. It happens.” Beth shrugged, but the way she spoke proved it bothered her a lot more than she let on.

“Does that happen a lot?” Abby asked, hooking her shopping bag over her arm as she looked between them.

“What? Folks leaving town?” Chelsee waved her hand, then smiled. “Sometimes, but not as often as you’d think. Most folks who drive into town leave without giving it a second look. It’s the ones who come back over and over again that you have to worry about.”

“Like me.”

“And Beth,” Chelsee said. “You should’ve seen those two when they first moved in.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.