Return To You - Leia Stone Page 0,96

walk looking around, stopping to point out brightly-patterned tiles when they appear on the sides of the buildings, or the ornate iron work. She's as taken with this place as I am.

We step through an ivy-covered archway and into the square where the Secret Garden Cafe sits. "There," I point.

"Of course it's adorable," she says, throwing up a hand. Her gaze moves left as we walk toward the restaurant, eyes roving over to an empty store.

"An empty space. Hmmm…" She drums her fingers against her lower lip. "Interesting."

"What about it?" I ask as we step into the cafe. We're seated at a table for two outside, under a tree. We're in direct view of the empty storefront with the For Lease sign.

Livvie orders a cappuccino, and I ask for water. I've had enough coffee for today. She leans forward, her hands clasped on the menu lying on the table.

"Look at how packed this place is. Way more foot traffic." Her eyes squint, one corner of her mouth stretching toward her cheek.

I'm starting to feel like she's talking in riddles. "What are you getting at, Livvie?"

"My gran’s bookstore has so few customers I've considered taking off my clothes and standing naked in the window. I wouldn't have to do that if my bookstore were, gee I don't know, here."

"Great idea," I tell her, sipping at the ice water that's just been set in front of me. "You could get a little espresso machine and even have a live poetry reading or stand-up comedy thing."

My marketing hat is on and I have to rein in the ideas or I’ll go overboard.

Livvie’s eyes light up. “Yes. Yes. And Yes.”

“You should call the number on the sign,” I encourage her. I know how much it means to her to save her grandma’s family store.

She grabs her phone and dials. I love her East Coast get-it-done attitude. If there was anything I learned to like while I lived out there, it was their tendency to make things happen. No hemming or hawing in NYC.

Which makes me think of Jeanne. After my mom collapsed while I was talking to Jeanne, I sent her a text the next day telling her that my mom had taken a turn for the worse and I wasn't going to be available to speak. I said that I'd call her if I ever changed my mind. I've already told her no, but she thinks I'll capitulate, and I'm not sure how to make her see otherwise.

Livvie begins talking into her phone, and I turn my attention to her side of the conversation.

"…great, and what's the monthly rent?" The tip of her tongue slides out of her mouth, resting on the center of her upper lip as she listens. "Please send all the information to my email. I'll go through it and get back to you."

She hangs up the phone at the same time our server approaches our table. Beaming up at him, she says, "Two glasses of champagne, please."

My eyebrows narrow in confusion. "Champagne?"

Livvie nods. "We’re celebrating. I can't run the bookstore anymore. You have a lot going on with your mom, and I didn't want to text you so I've been waiting to tell you everything in person."

"Tell me what? And why are we celebrating you not running the store?"

Did something bad happen?

"Jeff loves Phoenix!” she squeals. “Like, really loves it.”

“Yay!” I feel her happiness soak into me as it’s the first positive thing I’ve heard all week.

“Sedona," she makes a bare-teeth face, "not so much. Too New Age for him. I think it was all those crystal shops on Main Street. Then he heard about the vortexes and it sealed the deal."

A burst of disbelieving laughter shoots from between my pursed lips. "That's understandable. It's not for everyone."

"Oh, thank you," Livvie purrs at the server, her excitement hardly contained as she takes the champagne flute from him. I grab my own and mimic Livvie's lifted glass.

"To newly leased spaces," she declares, and I laugh because it's nowhere near a done deal and we're celebrating it anyway. I bring the glass to my lips, pausing when I realize Livvie's not finished. "And," she adds, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "to the new store manager. My best friend in Sedona … Autumn Cummings."

I'm already taking a drink when I realize what she's said. I sputter, the bubbles burning my throat. "What did you just say?" I cough out the words.

She smiles so wide I see her molars. "You heard me. You need