Hi friends!...it's been awhile since I updated (summer life!)...inspiration has struck! Let me know what you think!

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Chapter 5

Nick's phone chirps from his pocket what he's certain is the millionth time that morning. Everyone in study hall turns to look in his direction, and he apologizes quickly. "Sorry...my mom."

His classmates shake their heads, returning to their studying.

"...maybe you should just answer her," Grace suggests, halting her colour coding.

"If I answer her now, she'll expect me to answer every time," he reasons, fishing his phone out of his pocket. He turns the phone on silent. "She has no boundaries, Grace...I'm surprised she hasn't tried to track my phone already."

Grace worries her lip. "Have you tried telling her how much it bothers you?"

He sighs, rubbing his face. "It's not that simple...when we still lived in New York...I was a different person. I've kind of given her the right to hover the way she does."

"You're not that same person, though, Nick."

The library doors open and Courtney slips inside, making a beeline for their table. "I've got news!" She announces, sliding into the chair between them.

He's grateful for the distraction. "Must be good; you're practically vibrating," he jokes. Courtney smiles at him and he can feel his mouth go dry.

"It is: Josh's parents are away and he's throwing a party tonight! We have to go!" Grace frowns. "I dunno, Courtney..."

"Oh, come on!" Courtney pleads. "Nothing remotely exciting happens here in Middleton! What's the worst that could happen?"

His phone flashes and an incoming text from his mother flashes across the screen. "Count me in."

Courtney grabs his arm in excitement, and he finds himself grinning back.

...

Downtown Middleton is still fairly quiet for this time of day, many of the store owners taking the reprieve and setting up outdoor displays, sweeping, and chatting amongst themselves. As Cassie makes her way towards the Bell, Book and Candle, many of her shop neighbours great her with warm welcomes to which she returns.

Tara is in the midst of arranging a new window display and smiles, giving her an excited wave. The bell chimes above her as she enters her shop, and a familiar calmness and serenity washes over her.

"Cassie!" Tara greets, extracting herself from the window. "I wasn't expecting you today! What brings you by?"

She returns her daughter in laws embrace before removing her coat. "Today is my official first day back."

Tara does a fair job at hiding her surprise. "Today?...are you sure?"

She heads around the counter to hang her coat up, letting her hand sweep along the glass in greeting. "More than sure; today's the day."

Tara nods. "Alright then! Tell me what you need me to do!"

...

Abigail finds an empty chair at the counter, sliding into it. Stephanie finishes up with a customer, coming to stand in front of her behind the counter.

"Morning," Abigail greets. "Slow morning?"

Stephanie looks around the nearly empty Bistro. "It seems that way. What are things like at the flower shop?"

"Slow."

Stephanie sighs. "Wonder where everyone is?" She moves about the counter, pouring Abigails usual order from memory.

Accepting the mug, Abigail feigns ignorance. "Who knows." She had passed Bell, Book and Candle on the way here and it was bustling with the customers neither shop had seen all morning.

Stephanie studies her for a minute, but decides to let it go when another customer joins them. "Good morning!" She greets the cheerily.

Abigail recognizes the woman as Sam's ex-wife. She takes a sip of her tea.

"Good morning," Linda greets back cordially. "Are you still serving breakfast?"

Stephanie nods, gesturing to the menu on the board behind her. "All day."

Linda lets out a sigh of relief, taking the chair beside Abigail. "Thank god," she murmurs. "I'll take the eggs Benedict, please, with a coffee, black."

"Coming right up!"

Stephanie disappears to the kitchen, and Abigail swivels on her seat to face Linda. "I don't think we've met."

Removing her coat, Linda places it and her purse on the stool beside her. "Should we have?" Linda questions jokingly.

Abigail sips from her tea. "We're practically neighbours."

The recognition flickers in Linda's eyes. "You live at the bed and breakfast next door to Sam's?"

"Grey House," she provides. "And yes, I do. My cousin, Cassie, runs it."

Linda gives her the once over. "I didn't catch your name?"

"Abigail Pershing. You must be Linda. It's nice to finally put a face to the name."

Linda's taken a back a bit. "I can't imagine that Sam has been saying nice things about me, then"

"Nick," Abigail clarifies. "He and my niece, Grace, are good friends...I live vicariously through her," she jokes.

Linda tucks her hair behind her ear. "Small towns, huh?"

"You could say that. I'm sure Nick is just thrilled to have you here."

"I don't know about that...I text him and zero response."

"Teenagers."

Linda gives her a look, and Abigail takes another sip of her tea just as Stephanie returns with her breakfast and coffee.

"Here you are!...let me know how it is; it's not everyday we get out-of-town-ers."

"I suppose I should introduce myself," Linda starts. "I'm Linda Wallace, Sam's wife-"

"-Ex-" Abigail cuts in over her tea.

Linda shoots her a look. "Yes, ex-wife," she clarifies.

"Oh." Stephanie shares a quick glance with Abigail, before plastering a smile to her face. "Sam didn't mention you were coming to town."

"It was a surprise-"

"-I bet it was," Abigail comments. She slides her empty mug onto the counter, setting a bill underneath. "I should get going. It was lovely to meet you, Linda."

Stephanie swallows her smile as Abigail breezes out of the Bistro, leaving Linda with a sour look on her face.

...

Cassie can sense Brandon well before he enters the shop. His worry reminds her so much of his father and when he walks into Bell Book, she almost mistakes his presence for Jake.

The shop is full, and he maneuvers through the customers, smiling and nodding politely until he reachers her by the soap display.

"Hi Brandon," she greets.

"Hey...it's really busy in here today."

She looks around. "It is, isn't it? Tara just left for lunch..."

Brandon shakes his head. "I'm here to see you."

"Checking up on me," she adds.

"Can you blame me?"

She softens a little at the worry in his eyes. "I know you're worried." "Don't you think this is a little soon? To be coming back to work?"

Cassie shakes her head. "This is the perfect time."

Brandon holds her gaze for a long moment. "...I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you, Cassie."

She pulls him into her arms, hugging him as tightly as his uniform will allow. "You haven't lost me, honey," she soothes.

When he pulls back, he wipes his eyes quickly. "Promise me you won't over do it today?"

She takes his hands in hers. "Promise."

...

Sam's a little surprised to see that Abigail's flower shop is empty for this time of day and judging by the owners face when he walks in, so is she.

"Don't say it," she warns.

He swallows his 'slow day?' comment with a nod. "Not going to say it."

She smiles a little, moving from behind the counter to rearrange a display of fresh tulips. "I met your lovely ex-wife this morning."

Her sarcasm is not lost on him. "I'd apologize for anything she said, but I also know that you're more than capable of holding your own."

Abigail smirks at this. "How long is she in town for?"

"Who knows." He glances around the store for what he's really come for. "Her stay as it is has been long enough."

Abigail laughs a little at this. "You're not here to talk about Linda. So let's change the subject to the flowers you want to get Cassie."

There's a knowing look in her eyes and he's not going to ask how she knows. "It's her first day back at the Bell book."

"An, 'I'm thinking of you' arraignment, then." "That would be great."

She gets to work gathering a variety of flowers. "How are things going between you two, anyway?"

Sam leans against the counter as she begins arranging the flowers into a vase. "Complicated." Abigail doesn't respond and it's his cue to explain. "...Things between us are confusing for her," he begins. "She desperately wants her memories back so that she can understand what it she's feeling...and I just want to take it a day at a time."

"Funny...you sound a lot like Adam talking," Abigail comments.

He meets her gaze and she gives him that look.

"look...I'm not going to stand here and pretend that I understand what it is you're going through, Sam. What I do know is that this fear I'm sensing in you...is only going to hold you and Cassie back."

He's not sure how to respond to what she's said.

Fear?

Abigail slides the finished arrangement towards him. "All done. She's going to love them."

...

"Sam."

He sets the flowers on the counter with a soft smile. "I just wanted you to know that I've been thinking about you on your first day back."

She reaches across the counter the squeeze his hand.

"...and it looks like it's been a great first day," he chuckles, gesturing to all the customers in the shop.

As great as it has been for business, she almost wished the store was a little less congested so that she could had a minute with him.

"I love them, thank you."

He squeezes her hand back. "Meet you on the swing later?" She smiles. "It's a date."

Tbc