Chapter Twelve

      I flick the bedside light off, and tiptoe from Charlie’s room. Back in our room, Damon’s propped up in bed reading a book.

      “Hey,” he says, smiling. He closes the book and pats the bed. “You sure you’re OK reading to Charlie every night?”

      I creep under the covers next to him, and slide up against his warm body. “I’m sure. How can I refuse those big blue eyes of hers?”

      He laughs. “I know that feeling. But maybe we’ll take it in turns. Don’t want your wolf voice to burn out.”

      “Oh, you heard? She said I had to sound gruffer, and more snarly when the wolf speaks.”

      “Wait until you read the dinosaur one. She’ll make you act out their roars.”

      We lay back on the pillows, facing each other. “I think I better get Sarah to order me some princess books, pronto.”

      “Mmm.” Damon traces my lips with a finger. “Lil, do you believe in soulmates?”

      I think back to when I met Damon at Christmas time. I had the strangest sensation, as if we already knew each other, and that he’d come back to Ashford just for me. “Do you?” I ask, not willing to be the first to say it.

      “I didn’t before I met you. I know this is going to sound corny, but I get this whole body-melt sensation when I’m near you. It’s not just how pretty you are, or your gorgeous curves, or your goofiness, it’s something more than all of that combined. Like there’s an energy around you that pulls me in your orbit. It’s the strongest feeling, like my soul recognizes yours. Gosh, that sounds stupid.”

      “No, it doesn’t.” Before a blubber-fest happens I cup his face, close my eyes, and kiss him as if we’re the last people on earth.

      ***

      After the excitement of the weekend, there’s not much that can steal the smile from my lips. I tell Cee I have to run errands, so I can nip off to the bank, and withdraw the money for Joel. With my savings and the weekend takings I have almost six thousand. I’ll apply for the credit card, and do whatever I can to pay him and get his noxious presence out of my life.

      Picking up my handbag, I see my engagement ring sparkling under the light. Excitement sweeps me over every time I think of marrying Damon. We stayed up late discussing what kind of wedding we’d like and both agree on something simple. I may even wear gloop, just that once.

      I say goodbye to CeeCee and walk outside. It’s just after nine, and people mill lazily about on the streets. Everyone is probably pooped after yesterday’s celebrations. Funny how my weariness has been replaced with wonderment.

      The bank is quiet as I walk to a teller.

      “Hey,” Alyssa greets me. “We were just talking about you.”

      “Oh, yeah? Good or bad?” I joke as I reach for my bank card.

      “I was raving to Marlene here about the pie CeeCee brought in. She said it was a secret recipe…”

      “A secret recipe? You must have had the orange-kissed strawberry and rhubarb pie, then. Tastes as good as summer holiday.”

      “It surely does. Didn’t last too long, I can tell you.”

      “They never do when it’s one of CeeCee’s.”

      Alyssa smiles. “What’s going on with Cee? Is she moving or something?”

      “No, why do you ask?” I frown remembering her spiel about friendships, and the importance of them, the morning of the egg hunt. A lump forms in my throat, I hope CeeCee isn’t planning on moving. Her kids live out of town — maybe she wants to be closer to them. Maybe finding out about Janey has made her rethink her priorities. I couldn’t imagine my life without CeeCee.

      Alyssa continues, “She took out a bundle of cash. We can’t think of where she’d spend so much money in Ashford. But she wouldn’t tell. She closed her account and everything.”

      Grabbing my bank card, I race for the exit.

      Alyssa yells out behind me, “You OK, Lil? What’d I say?”

      I lift an arm to wave and head out to the street back to the Gingerbread Café.

      Out of breath, I spill inside the café. CeeCee is alone, mixing something over the stove. She turns when she hears my clumsy footsteps.

      “Lil, you beetroot red. What…you taking up running now? You already too skinny!”

      “CeeCee, you can’t do it. That money is for your retirement.” I know Curtis, Cee’s husband, left her a modest amount of money when he passed. Money he’d saved for exactly that reason, so she would have a nest egg and wouldn’t need to work if she chose not to.

      Her face tenses. “Do what?”

      I tilt my head. “I’ve just been to the bank, Cee.”

      She clucks her tongue. “Mother o’ Mary, no one can have any secrets in this town. They had no right telling you that!” Her face darkens. “It’s my money, and it ain’t up to you how I spend it.”

      “But, Cee…”

      She holds a hand up. “No, Lil. I don’t need that money. And that snake was never goin’ to leave you alone. He’s gone now. The loan’s paid off and all done right. Mr Jefferson made it so. Joel won’t bother you again, and of that I can be certain.”

      “Is that what you talked about the day he turned up over the road?”

      She waves a hand. “Can’t remember.”

      I gulp back tears. “So you paid him already?”

      “I surely did. Couldn’t get there quick enough.”

      “I’ll go to the bank. I can pay some of it back right now, Cee. Then I’ll…”

      She shakes her head. “I don’t need it, Lil. It wasn’t a loan. It was a gift. Because that’s what friends do. When Curtis died I figured my whole life was finished. I couldn’t jump over that grief, Lil. But then you came along. Dragged me outta that house, and into the café. Made up some pretense about needin’ help, when you surely didn’t. Even made me take a wage when you were so broke you couldn’t pay attention! Well, things like that I ain’t never gonna forget. So now we even.”

      She shuffles to a table and sits heavily, motioning for me to join her.

      “But, Cee…”

      “Hush. It ain’t important. You ever wonder why people trying to help you, Lil?”

      I go to respond but she holds a hand up.

      “Because you always helpin’ people first. You got a good heart, Lil, and it’s even better cause you don’t know it. You just think that’s how things should be. So take it when it comes back to you.”

      I’m lost for words, wondering how she could be so generous. I’m going to have to plot some clever way for her to take the money back as soon as I get it.

      “I’m going to go visit Janey today. You be all right here without me?” Her mask of composure cracks for a moment, as I see such pain in her eyes.

      I quickly reassure her. “I’ll be fine. I think it’ll be quiet after such a big weekend.”

      “OK, maybe I’ll call Walt, and see what