Never Say Never!

Chapter 2

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I had pretty much gone through what I planned to keep of my aunt and grandmother's belongings. I also knew how I was going to paint the house. This house was fairly huge. I could turn it into a bed and breakfast. For a few guests who were coming to stay in the summer. Make some extra cash.

The house and the store were paid off. I would have property tax to look forward to though by the end of the year. But other than that, not to bad. This place had well water. The electric bill was not to over the top. Because in the day time the sunlight streamed right through all the lovely glass windows. You could see the beach through the windows.

I had to start working on the book shop as well to get it opened. So much had to be done in such little time. That morning I made an energy smoothie then I took Wilbur a long walk on the beach.

After that I wrote down notes for what I wanted to say for the estate sale. And found what I would need to do for the sale. If I needed a permit or what not for all that. By lunch time I was starving.

I stopped by a little coffee shop there in town. It was not Starbucks, but it was fairly decent chicken salad sandwich along with a fruit cup and a mango smoothie to tide over my grumpy belly noises.

I stop by the local paper to run my ad in there for the estate sale. The door dings as I enter inside. Someone turns around to see me there. He looked a little familiar, but I could not place my finger on where I knew him from. Maybe from my teen days. Who knew. I knew some around here.

"Emma!" he calls out my name as his long dark jet-black hair dangles near his right eye. A handsome smile breaks across his face.

I walk over to the counter. "We do know each other than" I chuckle. "Sorry it has been a few years. What is your name again? Refresh my memory?" I ask him.

"Grayson" he reminds me.

I nod. "Oh yes" I knew Grayson. He was best friends with Conner.

He went out with Gabi Fitzgerald. We went out together on a few double dates. Gabi and I had been close friends. Talking late in the night about Conner and Grayson. Having sleep overs. I miss those days. Not the heartache that Conner caused me though.

"Are you still dating Gabi? I mean is she still in town? How is she these days?" I ask him.

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I feel my cheeks blush. Hopefully he did not break up and hate her or something.

He turns a photo around to show me something. "We got married last year. She is having my baby around August" he tells me proudly.

"Aw" I gasp as I bend over to get a closer look the photo. Conner was there to in the photo. All dressed in a tux. Gabi's sister Candi was there too in the photo.

"Yeah Conner was my best man in the wedding. I hear you bought Rita's old place? Sorry she passed away" he says to me.

"Yeah it was sudden. Hard on my mom now that grandma and aunt Rita are both gone now. Mom wants me to sell the place. Aunt Rita left it to me. I want to keep it" I tell him.

"So, you are staying here permanently then?" he asks me. He looks surprised.

I nod. "Yeah it looks that way" I tell him. "I am keeping the book store. To see what I can make of it"

"Nice, good for you. Oh, have you seen Conner? Does he know you are, you know staying in town?" questions Grayson. His brown eyes study me with seriousness.

"Oh, yea I ran into him the other day. He knows" I tell him. "No biggie!" I tell him. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugs'. "Well you two had a thing. Or not. I mean a long time ago. I hope you two can maybe be friends again one day" he says to me.

"Me too" I agree. Why would Conner care if I was back in town??

"Anyway, I know Gabi will be thrilled to know you moved back to stay" he says to me.

"I would love to catch up with her' I reply.

"She owns the little shop in town here. I run this with my dad here. Gabi owns the little coffee here in town. She loves to cook and bake" he explains to me.

I had just went there! Wow Gabi owned that! "I was just in there! They have great food over at Sweet Shop's Bakery" I say to him.

"Yup that is the one. Right now, Gabi has had some morning sickness hit her hard. So, Candi has looked over the shop for now" he explains to me.

I nod. "Small world. Listen. The reason I am here is because I am hosting an estate sale a weekend from next. I need this printed up to draw in a crowd" I tell him. "How much does that run?" I ask as I hand him what I wrote out on a pad of paper.

He looks it over. "Normally we charge by the word. But for you and Rita nothing. This town really loved her. We will miss her" he offers to me.

I grin happily. "Really? Wow! Grayson you are a life saver! Thank you so very much!" I sigh feeling so glad this part was over.

"I will let Gabi and her mother know about the sale. I am sure they might want to buy something" he tells me.

"Oh, thank you! Hey, can I have Gabi's number? I would love to be in touch. I will give you mine as well" I ramble on. Grayson hands me his card. With their number on it. I write down mine for him.

"See you" he says cheerfully to me as I wave while I walk out the door.

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I stop in the book store which was right down the street there. I unlock it with the keys that Conner had given to me yesterday. I turn on the lights when I go inside. The back light in the store flickers on then off then decides to stay on again.

Dust was all over the place as it tickles the end of my nose. Suddenly a sneeze flies through my nostrils'. I sneeze again. There were boxes of books all over the place. Some books were already on shelves.

So unorganized. I wince. I always loved to be organized. Aunt Rita had been a messy one. She felt life was to short to muddle over a mess. That you should live in the moment.

I could live in the moment once everything was cleaned up. I walk around the place. Memories play in the back of my mind as I do. The desk was covered in notes and books by the cash register. I touch the register wondering if there was money left inside. I sneeze again.

"Alright. I will figure this out after I get the house settled in" I say out loud as a mental note before I sneeze again. "Ahhh-chooo" I mutter out.

I turn the lights back off. Then head out of there after I lock up. I stop by Gabi's shop and grab another sandwich for my dinner that night. I did not really feel up to cooking. And I did not feel like going grocery shopping yet either.

I would have to soon. But not yet. It could be put off for another day or so. I get back home, and Wilbur comes leaping off the couch running to me with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth. Wagging his happy little tail at me.

"Willy!" I squeal his name happily. I set my food on the counter there in the kitchen. Willy follows me. I pick him up. He slobbers kissed on my right cheek. "How was your day Wilbur? Huh? Was it a good one? Was it boy?" I tease. I notice mail was scattered on the floor near the mail slot there on the door. I reach over to pick them up. Wilbur grabs a letter from me.

I end up laughing and chasing him around the living room as I try to grab the letter back from him. He needed a walk on the beach. He loved his daily walks.

I catch him as I do, I grab the slobbery letter from his lips. Thankfully it was an ad from Ed to win the jack pot. I toss it in the trash. I go to grab Wilbur's leash that I keep hanging up by the coat rack over by the front door.

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"Wilbur want to go for a walk? Does Willy?" I coo at him. He leaps up on my legs. Dances around happily. "Alright Willy" I laugh.

I lean down and latch the leash to his collar. I make sure to spray some sun screen on once I was outside. I tended to burn real easily. I place my sunglasses on me as we begin our walk on the beach. I could not keep Wilbur out to long in this heat. He would over heat. I walk near the ocean shore so if he wanted to play in the water that would keep him cooler.

My mood was a bit better from last night. The weather was great. My hopes were high. I finally had a place that I could call my own. Most people dreamed of living by the ocean. And I was living that dream at a young age. So, thank you aunt Rita!! I walk faster a bit with Wilbur since he was going a bit faster. I did not want to tucker him out right yet.

"Emma! Em! Hey Emma!" I hear someone calling my name.

I wince. I knew who It was.

"Run Willy! Faster" I coax my dog as we move faster away from the person calling out to me.

"Emma!" he huffs out as he catches up to me.

"Oh, Conner hey! I did not hear you" I laugh as I try to lie.

"Sure Emma. Any way how are things going for you?" he wonders. I stop for a moment as Conner catches his breath as he leans on his knees while he stands up. Wilbur is sniffing the ocean water and looking at it very curiously as the waves ripple near him.

Conner has no shirt on. Sweat drips down his smooth white skin. He had on a pair of lime green Nike gym sports shorts. What did I care what he was wearing. Sand fills my mouth suddenly. Well feels like it does.

"I am doing good. Stopped by to see the book store. And placed an ad in the paper for the estate sale" I mention to him.

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I glance over at the ocean. I did not need to be glancing at Conner's six pack. Though it was not bad to look at. It would be bad for me in the long run if I kept sneaking glances his way. He knew it to. He could put his shirt back on that he held in his hand. A pink tank top.

"That was why I wanted to talk to you. That estate sale. You are going to need help to lug heavy things around. And I am well out of work. I can help. And I talked to Grayson he said he is willing to help out to. He said he saw you today" rambles out Conner.

Really?!

He was willing to work for me? I did not need Conner working for me. Being my friend. Or being in my life. I wanted him to stay as far away from me as I could keep him. Being in the same town and all. I did not want Conner back in my life. As a friend or as anything. I sigh. How did I word this out without seeming like a b***h?

"I really will not be needing any help. I am keeping most of the furniture and it is small boxes. I really won't need help. Than you for the offer though. I appreciate that" I mutter. I begin to run off again.

Leaving him staying there staring at me. With a confused look on his handsome face.

"Come on Willy! Let's run!" I call to Wilbur.

I did not need Conner back in my life. I was going make sure to keep him out of it.

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