“That’s how I am with the journals you set aside for me. My mom thought it was silly to keep them for so long, but…” She blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, I don’t usually talk like this.”
“It isn’t something you can put in a song,” I said, offering her a reassuring smile. “Not in the way you need,” I added when she didn’t say anything. “I don’t open up very often. It drives my sister crazy. She has to beg me to say anything, so I get it.”
She nodded, then took a seat on one of the sofas in the lounge up front, staring at the ceiling as she spoke. “The journals weren’t mine, but they were given to me when a good friend passed away. Leukemia,” she said once she looked at me again. “I guess I thought reading them over and over again would keep her alive.”
“You remember her,” I said, sitting on the sofa across from her even though I really wanted to touch her hand, to let her know it was okay. “That’s the important part.”
She nodded in agreement but got quiet after that. She might not have said as much, but I could tell she was trying to find a way to get up and leave without being rude. As much as it thrilled me to have the Cassidy Blake inside my shop, I completely understood why she’d want to go into hiding again.
Aside from the lyrics in her music and whatever information reporters could easily look up on the internet, she was a very private person. She never did interviews or speaking arrangements, which explained why she dropped off the books after closing. It wasn’t that she worked late, it was because she didn’t want to be seen.
The possibility of losing those journals was probably what brought her to my shop i
n the first place, and now, she was looking for an escape.
“You know, I was going to close up for lunch,” I said, meeting her gaze.
“Oh,” she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“I’ll just…” Her voice trailed off when I reached for her hand.
“I was going to ask if you’d like to join me,” I said, my cheeks burning hot under her intense eyes. “It wouldn’t be anything too crazy and you can bundle yourself up same as before, but you really look like you could use someone to talk to. I’m a great listener, and there’s this great spot on the corner. It’ll be my treat.”
Cassidy looked away from me and wrung her hands in her lap. Was she actually considering it? She dealt with people every single day, but that was usually in a large crowd. Would she have preferred going someplace else?
“I’m sorry, that was stupid of me,” I said, getting to my feet so I could see her out.
“No,” she said, the word clipped at the end. “It sounds nice.
Normal,” she added when I looked at her again. “Besides, if you’re talking about Maggie’s, she has some of the best comfort food around.”
“Finally, someone after my own heart,” I said, touching her shoulder before letting my hand fall to my side. “My sister hates it, but I can never get enough. Just let me lock up and then we can go.”
Chapter Five
Maggie’s was a short five-minute walk from my shop, which was great on days when I couldn’t leave things for very long. Today, however, wasn’t one of those days, and I planned to make the most of it. I’d spent far too much time at the store and rarely let myself sit down for more than a few minutes at a time. It was one of the reasons why Bridget invited me out for drinks and why she constantly pestered me about my lack of a social life. If only she could see me now, walking side by side with Cassidy Blake.
“My mom and I used to come here all the time,” Cassidy said without looking at me as she paused to get the door.
“They have the best pancakes.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “The short stack, right?” Three delicious, buttery pancakes made completely from scratch with real Maple syrup. My mouth watered.
“Their waffles aren’t too shabby, either, but you can never go wrong with the pancakes.”
I nodded in agreement and checked the time. “We still have thirty minutes until the lunch rush, so maybe they’ll still serve us breakfast.”
“All I need is a good cup of coffee and I’m good to go,”
Cassidy said, following the hostess back to a booth by the side window after the hostess gave her a suspicious look. Like before, Cassidy had bundled herself up and hid her face well.
That said, I wasn’t sure how she planned to eat with the scarf in front of her mouth and her hat practically covering her eyes.
“Should we place an order to go?” I asked, pausing outside the booth.
She shook her head, her hazel eyes meeting mine. Normal, I reminded myself, slowly lowering into the booth across from her. She wanted something normal, and coming to Maggie’s on a cold day was as normal as anyone could get.
Already knowing what I wanted to eat no thanks to her, I set my menu down on the table between us. “I’m getting pancakes, and it’s all your fault,” I said, using the sternest voice I could. My smile gave me away.