“Police department.”
“Oh.” Her face lit up. “So, you’ll be working with Eric Maguire.”
“I will.” Asher had done two Zoom interviews with Chief Maguire, he seemed like a nice guy.
“I’ve known Eric since we were kids. He’s the best.” She shifted her attention back toward Blake. “And I don’t know what your plans are for the summer, but my bestie Amanda runs a summer camp that has horseback riding, white water rafting, meditation, ziplining…”
“I already signed up!” Blake enthused.
“Oh great! Well, I’ll be there with Ryan teaching guitar and singing lessons, so if that’s something you’re interested in, make sure to sign up.”
“Ryan’s here?”
Asher was lost. He had no idea who “Ryan” was. But he didn’t like the way his daughter said his name. He wondered if this Ryan character was someone he’d have to worry about,
Karina nodded. “Well, right now he’s playing basketball with Eric, actually,” Karina pointed toward Asher. “But, yes, we live here. This is his aunt’s café, actually.”
“It is?” Blake looked around the space, clearly experiencing a greater appreciation for it. She might as well have been seeing the Sistine Chapel for the first time.
“Well, I was just stopping by to pick up some sustenance before I head over to a session.” She lifted up the to-go bag. “But it was great seeing you again, Asher and meeting you, Blake. Welcome to Hope Falls!”
Blake waved at Karina as she walked away.
“Who’s Ryan?” Asher asked as he sat down.
His daughter looked at him like he had two heads. “Ryan Perkins. He sings “Sweet Surrender”, “Times like These”, “Just for You.”
Asher had never heard of any of those songs but he wasn’t sure he was a fan of some rock star that his daughter clearly had a bad case of hero worship for.
“He’s married to Karina,” Blake explained.
Asher nodded. Okay, now he was a fan. He’d been picturing a guitar playing sixteen-year-old, long haired, rock star.
Once again, he found himself sounding like his old man.
But in his defense Jenna had given him the heads up that their daughter had moved into a boy crazy stage. Asher was having a difficult time thinking about his baby being interested in anyone romantically. He wasn’t a fan. The few conversations they’d had about dating had not gone well. She’d accused him of being the “patriarchy” which apparently was not a good thing.
“Why didn’t you tell me you know Karina Black?” his daughter’s question was laced with accusation.
“I don’t know her. I worked for her.” There was a huge distinction.
Blake placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward as she spoke clearly, “Karina Black knows your name. And she said she liked my hair. She and Ryan live here. And she’s going to be at the camp.”
With each statement his daughter made her excitement levels were upping. They must have hit a boiling point because she hopped off her chair like a Jack-in-the-Box and threw her arms around her dad’s neck. “This is the best day of my life!”.
As Asher held his daughter, he thought to himself, in less than twenty-four hours she’d gone from saying that I ruined her life to it being the best day of her life…maybe this town really was magic.