Marigold by Melissa Brayden

Author:Melissa Brayden [Brayden, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2023-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Alexis had woken up three times the night before. Her brain was too active for any kind of effective sleep. She was worried about her path, her trajectory in life, and her career. She had a little money put aside, but it would only last so long. She had a dream that night that she’d applied for a job at a library and was told by the librarian that nobody liked her and she should stop applying for jobs in general. Of course, her sister had money, but in no plausible scenario could she imagine asking her for financial help. Aspen would delight in either turning her down or waving the favor over her head until the end of time. In the meantime, she was aware of the ticking clock. She’d need a plan soon.

With Carrot snoring nearby, Alexis spent the second part of her night thinking of Marigold. Her smile. The annoying tenacity that never quit. The gentle heart underneath. A part of Alexis searched her brain for where all of it was going, and how she could have so many overwhelming feelings for one person. Thoughts of Marigold carried her to Violet and the scary episode at The Lavender House. No matter which way she came at it, she knew what she had to do. And that was loop Marigold in, which meant breaking her promise to Violet. There was no other possibility.

After banking maybe three hours of sleep, Alexis made the decision to tell Marigold on their walk. With two creamy coffees in a cardboard tray, she approached the footbridge where they’d agreed to meet. Oh damn. She paused when it came into view to simply take it in. The bridge was absolutely beautiful. Rustic and serene just like you’d see on the pages of a magazine or calendar. Sitting three-quarters of the way down was Marigold, holding a bakery box and dangling her feet above the river below.

“I’m on time,” Alexis called out.

Marigold looked up and smiled in greeting but there was something else there, too. Wariness? Tolerance? She couldn’t decide. Marigold patted the spot next to her for Alexis to sit.

“Bagel with three types of cream cheese because you’re a food person and I didn’t want to get it wrong.”

A thoughtful touch. “I’ll steal the plain.”

“A purist.”

She hadn’t known Marigold for very long, but in that time she’d learned to recognize her most common facial expressions and their meanings. This one didn’t bode well. “You seem like there’s something on your mind.”

Marigold nodded, her gaze trained on the water and the horizon. Alexis followed it to where the two met, ready to listen. “Violet told me about losing consciousness in the store. I’m struggling with why you didn’t tell me. Kind of important. Huge, actually.”

Alexis sighed. Beaten to the punch. It was her own damn fault. “Because she asked me not to say anything. I realize, having had time to push it around, that it wasn’t my best call.” Her voice sounded flippant. A habit.

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