Gita waited with her smile. “Next, let me tease your taste buds. Mountain Brook is where the most delectable almond encrusted trout awaits. You do like trout?”
“Very much. Trout is one of my favorites because it’s mild and easy to dress with other flavors and toppings. What do they serve with it? My mouth is watering.” Abby looped her arm through Gita’s. The familiar act surprised her but not her companion.
Gita patted Abby’s arm and continued walking. “The chef changes the accompaniments daily. We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we? Look to your right. That office should call to you soon, my dear.”
Abby turned her head. “Happy Home? I don’t get it.”
“You will. We must pay our William a visit one day soon. He’s our curator and finder of Charm abodes.” Gita’s gaze shifted. “William will explain everything. I only wanted to point out the office.”
“But I don’t need a home,” Abby tried to protest as Gita hurried along with her chatter.
“Not today, no. Stop here for a second.” Gita pointed at the pet shop’s window, showcasing a litter of romping, lilac point Himalayan kittens. “They’re irresistible. Adorable little fur babies.”
“They sure are. I’m a cat person too. I had a Himmy when I was ten. Rajah was my best friend.” Memories of the fun and love exchanged between her and Rajah came rushing into Abby’s mind. When she got home, maybe she’d purchase another Himalayan. She giggled, thinking a kitten would be a far better replacement for Edward. She felt Gita’s tap on her arm.
“Those blue eyes slay me every time.” Gita knocked gently on the glass at the female kitten who’d come to say hello.
The kitten moved toward Abby, lifting her paw as if to wave.
“She chose you,” said Gita.
“I’d choose her too,” agreed Abby. “I agree those blue eyes are the best.”
Gita made a sighing sound. “My departed husband’s eyes were the exact shade as those felines’.”
“Gita, you must miss him terribly.” Abby felt sadness for her companion’s loss.
“Some days are still hard, but I understand the life cycle.” Gita’s expression shifted to happy. “I found a way to enjoy those blue eyes. Confession time. Want to hear?”
Abby nodded as she watched two kittens tug on a toy mouse while the female watched.
“I brought home two flame point Himalayans from last spring’s litter.” Gita’s eyes danced with gaiety. “Yes, I simply couldn’t choose between them, so I didn’t.”
“You keep surprising me.” Abby felt happiness bubbling like a percolator inside of her. “What are their names? I’d love to meet them.”
Gita nodded. “You shall meet them, and soon. You’re going to be mad for their names. Ready? Abra and Cadabra.”
Abby burst out laughing. “Abra and Cadabra. I love it. Are they both males?”
“They are and quite full of mischief. Each day, I give them a stern talking to before leaving, with orders to stay out of mischief. It’s a wasted effort, for those two are full of hijinks. Still, I love my boys. They were sent to me. Here’s lunch.” Gita stopped in front of the restaurant entrance and read the chalkboard menu. “Take a look, Abby.”
Reading the menu increased Abby’s appetite. “My gosh, they’re serving one of my favorite appetizers of fried green tomatoes. Get me in there, pronto.”
“Hello, ladies. Are you going or coming?” Nash approached.
“Hiya, Mr. Mayor. We’re coming, same as you.” Abby noticed the tall man with Scandinavian coloring standing next to Nash. He wore the same lost expression she’d been carting around since Monday. His eyes were focused on the sidewalk, not bothering to make eye contact. Abby wondered if he was the man Nash rescued the night before.
Gita accepted Nash’s kiss on her cheek. “You two handsome men must lunch with us. Don’t you agree, Abby?”
“And pick up the tab,” joked Abby. She knew lunch was gratis, like everything in Charm, at least so far.
Nash turned to the man. “Okay, by you, Sander? Abby’s a new arrival like you.”
“You are?” Sander’s eyes grew alert.
“Yup, I got looped into Charm on Monday. Hi, Sander.”
“This is all pure lunacy.” Sander rubbed his forehead. “Fine. Eat with us. I don’t care. All I care about is getting out of whatever the hell you call this place.” Without another word, he marched inside.
“On second thought….” Abby looked in Sander’s direction.
Gita laced her arm back through Abby’s. “Come on, darling one. Let’s offer our mayor some assistance.”
Nash grabbed the door. “I owe you both. I’ll make a little headway, and then he falls back into anger.”
“And you thought I was a handful,” volleyed Abby as she passed a laughing Gita and Nash. She saw surly Sander seated at a table with three empty chairs. At that moment, she realized how much she owed Nash. His kindness had helped her adjust and accept more readily. By showing her normal in Charm, her fear had lessened. Poor Sander was still orbiting and resisting. Abby chose the chair next to him.
Nash seated Gita and claimed the empty seat. “Who’s ordering trout? It’s a specialty.”
“Do they have plain, normal burgers, or is that too much to ask?” Sander watched the waitress fill the water glasses.
“We have plain, normal hamburgers and fries. If you’d like a chocolate malt, I’ll bring you one,” offered the kind-faced waitress.
Sander did a double-take. “I haven’t had a malt since college. Bring me what you said, and make the burger well done.” He shoved the menu her way.
“See there, Sander? Just like home,” added Nash before turning his attention to Abby. “You’re up next.”
“I’m letting Gita order for me. We’ve already decided on trout and the fixins’.” Abby handed off her menu. “Don’t forget the fried green tomatoes.”
Gita nodded and placed their order.
“Bring me what the ladies are having.” Nash waved to a group of guys at a large table.
~*~
Lunch came and went. Abby stood on the sidewalk alone with Sander. She took the opportunity to reach him one last time while Nash and Gita visited inside with the group of men. “Listen, I understand how you’re feeling. I’m here only two days longer than you. And—”
Sander turned his angry expression on Abby. “You can’t possibly understand. I was on my way to close a three-hundred-million-dollar deal for my company. An hour away from accomplishing that goal and getting tapped as director of sales. And now? I’m standing on a sidewalk conversing with a total stranger in an even stranger place. My VP is going to fire me, and that’s if I’m lucky. I may be a dead man walking.” Sander exhaled loudly and pulled an empty hand from his pocket.
Abby hid her amusement at his ranting. “Missing your cell phone?” She remembered the B’s saying he stomped it into itty pieces.
“I’ve lost everything,” Sander seethed.
“You know, I’ve recently discovered something pretty profound. Having lost my everything, I now have the chance to discover a new and better everything.”
“What? Are you some fortune-teller? Look. Leave me alone. I’ve gotta figure out how the hell to get out of this place.”
Abby stepped back. “Good luck with that plan.” She spied a bulletin board propped on an easel a few feet away and felt pulled to take a look. Abby’s mouth dropped open. She was staring at pictures of an English-style garden cottage, but not just any cottage. No, it was the identical cottage she’d dreamed of owning one day. Every detail, from the stone walls and slate roof to the shutters’ color, was how she’d envisioned it. Even the garden layout was faithful to her vision. “Not possible. This is insane.”
Abby read further. The contact was Happy Home. That was the real estate office Gita had pointed out to her. What about the price? She didn’t see the price. Wait. Could the same rules apply to having a home, as having gratis overalls and lunch? Her mind asked again why her dream cottage stared at her from a photo in an enchanted place called Charm.
“What a quaint cottage. Aren’t those flowers sublime?” Gita stood at Abby’s side. “Perhaps you recognize it?”
Abby did a doubletake at Gita. “I’m heading for that park bench. I need to sit. If you still have that hand fan handy, please bring it.”