Alexis. I’ve seen you come in a few times, but we haven’t formally met yet.”

The woman swallowed nervously before accepting the outreach. “Candi,” she said, curling her fingers around Alexis’s. “Well, Candace, but everyone calls me Candi.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Candi.” Alexis nodded back toward the door. “Can I make you something to drink?”

“Oh, no.” The girl shook her head almost frantically.

Disappointment silenced the camp song. But then Candi swallowed and said, “I mean, yes. I came for something to drink, but you seem busy, so I can just go to the counter.”

“I’m happy to do it.” Alexis smiled. “And then maybe you can keep me company while I try not to kill these plants.”

Alexis held her breath until Candi offered that hesitant smile again. “Sure. Yes. That—that would be fine.”

“Cinnamon chai latte?”

The smile grew. “You already know my order?”

“Have a seat,” Alexis said, nodding toward one of the outdoor patio tables. “I’ll be right back.”

Alexis kept her gait as natural as possible as she walked back inside. She caught Jessica’s gaze behind the counter. “I need a cinnamon chai latte,” she said with a furtive glance behind her.

“She finally talked to you?” Jessica asked, eyes lighting up as she started to prepare the drink.

Alexis grabbed a muffin and a scone from the bakery case. Food had a way of breaking the ice and giving people something to focus on when eye contact became too painful. Many a secret had been softly revealed to Alexis over a plate of pastries crumbled by worried fingers.

She returned to Candi and set the plate and latte in front of her. Candi pulled a wallet from her pocket. “How much—”

“On the house,” Alexis said, walking back to the box of gardening supplies.

“Oh, I can’t,” Candi rushed.

“Consider it a Welcome to Nashville gift.” She tilted her head. “Have we met before?”

Candi’s eyes widened for a split second before she once again shook her head. “No.”

“You seem so familiar to me.”

Candi blinked. “Familiar how?”

“I don’t know. Something about your eyes, I guess.”

Candi went still. Like a stunned rabbit caught in the act of eating grass.

Alexis grabbed her pruning shears and went after the worst of the potted mums, which had started to wilt from neglect and the growing chill in the air.

Alexis snipped off a deadhead. Waited. Snipped another one. The quiet clink of the mug against the table was the only sound save the clip of her shears.

When the silence dragged on, Alexis finally said, “I want you to know that you should never feel pressured to talk. If all you want is someone to sit with you, I’m here whenever you need me.”

“O-Okay.”

Another deadhead dropped to the ground. “Many, many women just like you have come here looking simply for someone to sit with.”

Candi’s swallow was audible. Alexis lowered the shears into the box and rose. Candi followed her with nervous eyes as Alexis took the seat across from her at the patio table. From her apron pocket, she withdrew a business card reserved only for women like Candi. “My cell number is on there. You can call me anytime.”

Candi studied the card as if Alexis had just handed her a one-hundred-dollar bill.

“I know how hard this is,” Alexis said. “It’s a suffocating secret to keep.”

“I—I do need to talk to you.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

But then a screeching voice interrupted. “Excuse me, but I have a bone to pick with you.”

Candi’s eyes widened as she turned to look over her shoulder to watch Alexis’s nemesis storm up the front sidewalk and march to the table.

Alexis tried to keep her voice calm. “I’m sorry, Karen. I’m in the middle of something. Can it wait?”

“It absolutely cannot.”

And just like that, Candi blanched, shot to her feet, and stumbled backward. “I—I can come back.”

“Candi, wait.” Alexis tried to reach for the girl’s arm to stop her from fleeing, but Candi slipped from her grasp and disappeared down the sidewalk.

Alexis gathered the dirty plate and coffee mug and stood. Ignoring Karen, she turned toward the door, walked inside, and approached the counter. She set the dirty dishes into a plastic bin beneath the counter and wiped her hands on the towel tucked into her apron before turning to face Karen again. “Something I can help you with today?”

“You haven’t been exactly helpful before, so I seriously doubt it,” Karen responded.

Alexis forced her muscles into some semblance of a smile. “I’m sorry to hear our previous encounters haven’t been satisfactory to you. Would you like to sit and talk? I can make you a cup of tea on the house.”

“I wouldn’t eat in here if you paid me.”

“Then how can I help you?” Her attempt to remain calm wasn’t for Karen’s benefit. It was for her own. If she’d learned anything in the past eighteen months, it was that people were going to believe what they wanted, and few of them were worth the emotional effort it took to try to change their minds. Besides, Alexis was used to dealing with Karen Murray. The owner of the antiques shop across the street had been a thorn in Alexis’s side since the day she’d come forward with her accusation against Royce. Karen had never even spoken to Alexis before then, but now her complaints were a weekly annoyance.

Karen whipped an overstuffed baggie from her purse. “You can help me with this.”

She dropped the baggie on the counter, and Jessica leaped back with a screech as its contents became clear. Two tiny dead eyes stared out through the plastic in a silent plea from what had once been a rat in life.

Alexis stepped closer and lifted the baggie by one corner. “I appreciate the gift, Karen, but I’m a vegetarian.”

“Everything is a joke to you, isn’t it?” Karen hoisted her purse higher on her shoulder. “That thing was left on the welcome mat outside my store this morning.”

Alexis dumped the baggie in the trash can beneath the counter. As soon as Karen left, she’d have to empty it and hose the

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