Page 3 of When In Doubt

I pause for a moment, leaning my hip against the railing running along the edge of the sidewalk. I look over it, seeing the duckpond. It’s still empty this time of year, the birds all having flown off somewhere warmer. I don’t blame them. “I just want her to like me.”

I’ve never done well with the thought of people disliking me, and this move has been a thousand times harder than I was expecting. I thought because I grew up here I’d have accrued some legitimacy, but I guess most people don’t remember the little girl who sat in the corner of the playground stacking pebbles.

“Give her time to come around.”

“I guess,” I mumble. I wince. Poor Elsie, she called me and I immediately start ranting at her. I start walking again. “Sorry, I interrupted, what did you call for?”

She pauses, and I know I’m not gonna like the answer.

“Have you talked to your mom lately?”

Hell, did Mom put her up to this?

“Um, no. Not for a little bit.” I look up and see that I’m nearly at the store. “Listen, I have to go.”

“She just wants to make sure you’re okay.”

“I know, things are just crazy right now.” That, and I’ve been dodging her calls.

“She’d love to hear from you.”

“I really have to⁠—”

“She loves you so much, Freya. You know she worries.”

I pause for a beat. I don’t want her worrying about me, but I’ll admit I’m enjoying the newfound distance. “I’ll call her soon, I promise.”

I hear her warm smile across the line. “Okay.”

“I’ll talk to you soon.”

There’s a rustling on her end. “It’s twelve fifteen, shouldn’t you be at work?”

“Which is why I have to go! Bye, Elsie.”

I hang up once she’s said her goodbyes, stopping short by the curb opposite Malcolm’s.

Oh shit.

There’s a man waiting outside, huddled slightly into the doorway against the wind that’s picked up. His large coat is bundled around him and there’s a groove etched into the space between his brows.

He doesn’t exactly look like my usual customer. My regulars tend to be less bearded and burly. He catches sight of me and straightens, broad shoulders unfurling. He looks pissed.

God, this is really not what I needed today.

Chapter Two

OSCAR

Jesus fucking Christ, I do not need this shit.

It’s not often that I get called in to cover a 48-hour shift, but it never gets easier. After two straight days in the firehouse, all I want is to hunker down and crash for fifteen hours, but instead I’m tucked into the alcove by a yarn store that’s supposed to be open, waiting for Freya to show up.

I thought my days waiting around for Freya Malcolm were over but I guess I’m not that lucky.

Half of me wants to give up and head back to my truck, but unfortunately I’ve always been a fucking momma’s boy. I sigh, scrolling idly on my phone as I try to get out of the wind. I’ll give it ten minutes before I get the hell out of here.

I’m not stupid. I know exactly why I’ve been sent, and it has little to do with my mom needing three more balls of a very specific yarn. It’s because six months ago I made the mistake of asking a follow-up question when she mentioned Freya moving back to town.