The Sea Star Bakery: A Willa Bay Novel by Nicole Ellis

Author:Nicole Ellis [Ellis, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leaping Rabbit Press
Published: 2020-05-04T18:30:00+00:00

12

Libby

Libby dropped Kaya off at her mom’s house and got back into the car. For a minute, she sat there, just staring at her hands on the steering wheel. Her mom had offered to take Kaya during the day and would be picking up the rest of the kids after school. Libby had a whole day to herself, something that hadn’t happened in a long time. Now the only question was, what was she going to do?

Her brain filled with images of the overflowing piles of laundry that were an everyday occurrence with four kids in the house, the sticky kitchen floor, and the dog hair that had accumulated on the couch. She turned the key in the ignition and started driving home, then caught herself. Did she really want to waste this free day on chores?

She pulled over to the side of the road and took a good look at her reflection in the rearview mirror. A woman in her mid-thirties with dark circles under her eyes and long, stringy brown hair stared back at her. When she’d been younger, she’d always taken pride in her appearance, but that had changed as the kids occupied more and more of her time. A sharp pain stabbed at her chest, and her breath hitched. Was that why Gabe had lost interest in her? Was he no longer attracted to her?

Libby ran her fingers through her hair, examining the split ends made visible by the sunlight. It hadn’t been cut in over a year. Come to think of it, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken any time out for herself. Before she could change her mind, she called her hairdresser and made an appointment, leaving just enough time beforehand for a trip to Wedding Belles for an indulgent dark chocolate mocha.

By the time she walked out of the hair salon just off Main Street, she was feeling more human. She strolled down the main drag in Willa Bay, taking the time to window-shop and savor the warmth of the summer day.

When she walked past what used to be Edgar’s Bakery, she stopped. A closed sign hung in the window, but the lights were on. She cupped her hands against the window to keep the glare away, and peered inside.

Cassie sat at a small table in the middle of the room. Nearby, two men were reconstructing a counter. Should she bother her friend? Libby made a quick decision and pushed on the door. It swung open easily, and she stepped inside.

Cassie’s head popped up at the intrusion, but her lips spread into a wide smile when she saw who had entered. “Hey, Libby.”

“Hey.” Libby looked around. “Wow. I can’t believe how different it looks in here.” The last time she’d been inside Edgar’s, it had been filled with people, and she could barely see the tiled floor. The space appeared five times larger now, especially with the different counter.

Cassie laughed. “We’ve barely done anything yet. Wait until you see it after it’s all in place and painted.

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