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“I don’t usually post there. That’s mostly a thing for the older ladies in town. I just like to lurk. And annoy people with my comments.”
I chuckled and let my eyes wander over the shop again.
“What brings you in?” Jade asked. “Sorry, I totally forgot to ask.”
“I’m not sure. I’m wandering around to let the interesting things find me.”
“I’m happy my shop made the cut.”
“For one thing, it smells amazing in here.” I browsed the candles, wondering if Cain would like one. He was extremely defensive over the one I’d almost hurled at him. “And it’s different.”
“I’m good at different,” she said.
I picked up a candle and smelled it. It reminded me of spring, like the fields filled with ripe strawberries. “I’ll get this one.”
She looked at the scent. “Good choice. We all love strawberries here. It was a shame when the fields shut down. I loved going there in the summer.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I guess I should be happy the farm is even open, but those fields were Papa Bennie’s favorite thing.”
“Did you approve shutting it down?”
“I didn’t get to approve anything. My family kept the farm in a trust until now.”
“So this is a shock.”
“I thought it was abandoned, so this is better than that.” I walked over to the register and handed her the candle.
“We were all pretty mad when Cain shut it down. But he’s the only one who works there. Bennie used to have a ton of employees.”
And Mom hadn’t approved any more. My jaw tightened. I hadn’t begun to process how bitter I was about her not telling me, but it was hitting me like a ton of bricks regardless. Why did she hate this place so much? Maybe it wasn’t her cup of tea, but everyone had been kind so far.
“Cain seems stretched thin,” I said. “Especially if he’s managing the animals by himself.”
“Still,youcould open the fields back up.”
“I ... could. But I probably shouldn’t. I don’t know how long I’ll be here.”
“Really? You’re not here to stay?”
“I have a life I’ll have to get back to eventually. I hope to split my time, but until I figure out finances and the logistics of hiring someone?—”
“Good luck with that,” she said. “It’s hard to find people out here.”
“I’ve heard.” I let out a sigh. “I have no idea what I’m doing. My only hope is to wear Cain down into showing me the ropes.”
She laughed. “He’s not the kind of guy to be worn down.Trust me.Many have tried.”
“How long has he been here?” I asked. “I never saw him before.”
“A long time. We would all have been teens when he arrived.”
So he was an outsider. That explained a lot.
But not everything.
“It’s his sparkling personality, isn’t it?”
Jade laughed. “Got it in one go.” She handed me a bag. “But I do hope you like it here. I can’t explain it, but there’s something magical about this town.”