Thirty-Eight

exploring what had stayed the same and what had changed on Main Street in Spring Falls. She had lunch at a tiny restaurant run by one of Mimi and Janet’s friends and declared both the food and the adventure of trying something new as delicious and satisfying.

After lunch, watching Mimi and Janet as they worked with customers that walked in the door while running an online business made April tingle with excitement. Was this something she could do? Was she too old to learn?

Both Mimi and Janet burst out laughing when she asked that question. “Old? What’s too old?” Janet said. “Some people might say that we are too young to be doing this!”

“Age means nothing anymore,” Mimi added. “It’s just an excuse people use. If you like this business, we could use help while Cindy is away. Besides, wouldn’t it be great for her to find out that one of her best friends wants to learn how to help her?”

“Well, if you put it that way.” April laughed. “But I think I need a new look.”

When Mimi and Janet exchanged looks, April knew she was right.

“Can you help me?”

“Today?” Mimi asked.

April nodded. There was a timeline going on in her head. Ron hadn’t contacted her, but she knew him. He would never just let things be. He’d be waiting for her to apologize. If she didn’t go back, eventually he’d come to get her. And then he would want her to go home with him and back to the life they had built.

But the brief moments of freedom she felt walking the streets and watching Mimi and Janet had given her courage.

She wouldn’t leave Ron, but she had to start living a life for herself. Hopefully, he’d understand. And what would tell him all of this without words was if she transformed herself as much as possible before she saw him again.

“I’ll call my hairdresser, tell him it’s an emergency,” Mimi said.

“And I’ll take you shopping if Mimi can handle the gallery by herself for an hour.”

Mimi nodded her consent while explaining to her hairdresser what she needed.

“Wow, you must be living under a lucky star or something. He said the customer who was supposed to be there right now canceled at the last minute. He can take you now—if you hurry!”

“I’ll take you,” Janet said, “And pick you up when you’re done, and we’ll get you some clothes.”

“I’ll never be able to thank you enough,” April said.

“Oh, we’ll give you lots of ways! But now, get your butt out of here,” Mimi said.

Janet grabbed April’s arm, and the two of them rushed out the back door, but then April turned and rushed back to Mimi and, standing on her tiptoes, hugged her, surprising them both.

Mimi stared after April in wonder. When Judith brought April in that morning, she did not know that this woman would hug her just like her mother used to hug her. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she wiped them away as a couple came through the door heading for the wall of paintings by one of their local artists.

Mimi knew the artist, knew she was struggling at the moment, and a sale would be a godsend. Maybe this was her day to make people happy—both the artist and the couple who had stopped in front of one of her favorite paintings.

Three hours later, the sale made to the couple, and another online, Janet flew in the back door all smiles.

“Are you ready?” she called out.

“Bring it on!” Mimi responded.

Janet opened the back door, and a beautiful woman entered. Her hair, styled into soft, shiny curls on the top of her head and cut short on the side, made her look ten years younger. She was wearing a flowered dress with a jean jacket and short blue boots with a stacked heel.

“Who are you” Mimi squealed.

“I am not sure who I am,” April said. “But I know you are my fairy godmothers. I feel like a brand new woman.”

“And you look like one too!” Judith said, coming in behind her. “What have you done with the woman who showed up at my house last night?”

“Oh, I think she is still there, but this will give me the courage to be someone new.”

As Judith hugged her friend, she mouthed thank you over April’s shoulder to Mimi and Janet. Then she stepped back, holding April by the shoulders, and said, “Well, this deserves a nice dinner at my favorite restaurant.”

“Should I stay and help close up?” April asked.

“You go ahead. You are just watching today. We’ll put you to work tomorrow,” Janet said, surprised at the catch in her throat. She’d only met this woman a few hours before but already felt connected to her.

“Where are we going to eat?”

“A place called ParaTi. It’s not too fancy, but great food, and perhaps my favorite waitress will be there so you can meet her.”

“Sounds like a party,” April giggled.

Judith laughed, “You’re already speaking Spring Falls lingo again. But I understand the owner meant it to mean ‘For You.’”

“Oops,” April laughed. “But then, that’s still a party!”

Neither April nor Judith saw Ron sitting in his car across the street. He knew Cindy owned an art gallery, and he wanted to stop by and see what it looked like. Part of his day of relearning the town. It had surprised him how much he enjoyed it and thought that perhaps if April wanted to stay in town for a while, it would be okay with him.

He planned to go over to Judith’s when he knew she and April would be there and surprise them. He had not expected to see Judith there with some woman, and he wondered where April was.

It was only when he heard them laughing that he realized that the woman with Judith was April. A transformed April. One who reminded him of the April he had met so many years before.

Gripping the steering wheel, he watched as they drove away. April had done all that in a day. Was he losing her?

No matter what, he told himself, I can’t let that happen.