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I’d thought I needed to make everything exactly as it had been before. Instead, I’d created something new, and it was perfect as it was.
I couldn’t be happier.
CAIN
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Mollie Wilson
Guys. I’m begging you to watch Renovating with Love. It’s so good, and my best friend is on it.
Comments:
Kerry Winsor: I’ve been watching it! Does she work in the back?
Mollie Wilson: No, she’s the main lead.
Kerry Winsor: YOU’RE FRIENDS WITH WREN?
“The romance was an unnecessary plot point.”
Mollie gasped dramatically and threw popcorn at me. “Howdareyou! It was perfect! It had me on the edge of my seat!”
“But theykissed.”Eric stuck his tongue out. “Ew.”
“I got to see my best friend fall in love with her dream man, and both of you are ruining it.” She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, he’s gonna be invited to holidays after this.”
“I was trying not to say it, but it felt ... forced,” I said.
“Forced? How could it have been forced?”
“A lot of things in show business are forced.”
Mollie shrugged. “I could ask her. When she’s done with filming.”
“Shouldn’t she be? The show’s over.”
“Maybe she’s planning the next thing,” Mollie replied. “But you’re right. There should have been some sort of break or something. I haven’t heard from her in a while.” She frowned as she looked at her phone.
“Is that not like her?”
“No, not at all. Before the show, we talked constantly. But I must have gotten used to not doing it as much. I should message her and check in.” She typed on her phone. “I’m worried.”
“It’s probably nothing,” I replied. “She could be busy planning, like you said.”
“I just miss her,” she replied. “When I told her I moved here, she was so excited to see the place. Why would she up and vanish?”
I hated seeing Mollie sad, and I hoped this friend of hers wasn’t abandoning her just because she’d moved out of the city. I’d only ever heard good things about Wren, and from what I’d seen on TV, she was the most real part of that show.
The only time Mollie was inside was when we were watching it. As strawberry season wound down, she’d taken to planting new bushes and planning out the farm for next year, which would provide a lot more income on top of what the animals produced.
I reached out to her, planning on bringing her into a tight hug as she thought things through, but there was a knock at the door.
“That might be Kerry. She said she was gonna bring a pie over that she made. I’ll get it.”
Mollie nodded, a small smile on her face. “Thank you,” she replied.
I got up and walked to the door, but right before I opened it, I noticed a truck in the driveway, one that I’d never seen before.