Counterpoint (Hystoria #3)

16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

The cold air stings in my lungs as I walk the serene Main Street of Windmeadow, a smile playing at my lips as I let my eyes wander over the wooden shop fronts. Their muted tones set the perfect picture for this winter day.

Jake and Layla went home a few days after Thanksgiving, so now it’s just Grandma and me. After helping her decorate the house for Christmas the last week, partly so I could procrastinate on finding a therapist, now is the first time I actually make it to ‘downtown’ Windmeadow. By that, I mean the main street that has like five shops and houses on each side of the street.

Everything looks exactly as it did ten years ago, yet slightly different. Shop signs have aged or been updated; some shops have closed, and others have opened. Potholes in the street have been fixed, and new ones created.

The people, though? They’ve stayed the same. Every few steps, somebody else I know greets me: my kindergarten teacher, the woman who works at the supermarket, and the nice old man who owns the bookstore on the other end of the street, to name a few.

It’s wild to think that they’ve just… stayed here for the last ten years. Their lives haven’t changed much. I’m sure Ms. Grace still gets the exact same coffee at the supermarket, and Mr. Ellis still buys the same candy bars. Of course, I’ve been in Windmeadow in the last ten years, but my visits have been limited to Grandma’s house and the supermarket. Now, I regret not taking more time to really take in all the changes and appreciate the small-town atmosphere.

My eyes light up when I reach ‘Flour Power.’ Phoebe has definitely not skimped on her Christmas decorations, and she’s also the first one on the street to have decorated. Her dark green storefront is lined with Christmas garlands, long strands of fir that are decorated with red and golden baubles and strings of holiday lights. Some of them hang down the large storefront windows, a few almost reaching down to the small red and golden decorated Christmas trees placed on the ground in front of her windows.

The tiny bell above the door chimes as I step inside, and a heavenly smell welcomes me to Phoebe’s bakery. I’ve only seen pictures of it on her Instagram account, but now that I’m standing in the bakery, I’m blown away. It has no business looking this cute.

To my right is a massive wooden counter that looks like it’s been standing there for a few centuries already. It goes up the high wall, towering over the, by comparison, tiny display of her baked goods. The counter is made of a mix of glass and the same dark wood, and I step closer in awe when I see what delicacies they are hiding.

There are croissants, chocolate chip cookies, pudding pastries, cinnamon rolls and all kinds of cakes, each looking more delicious than the next pastry my eyes land on. But what catches my eye the most is Christmas cupcakes! Some of them have green frosting with sprinkles, piped and decorated so that they look like little Christmas trees. There are gingerbread cupcakes with little decorated gingerbread cookies placed in the beautifully piped frosting. Others look like wreaths, with green piped frosting and decorated with little berries as baubles. It’s so adorable I’m about to freak out and order five of each just to look at them.

“Hey there, what would you- Harper?” I look up, right into the ice blue eyes and surprised face of my friend. Maybe I should have warned her that I was coming to Windmeadow, but where’s the fun with that?

“Hey Phoebe,” I greet her with a warm smile, barely able to contain my excitement. She blinks at me once, still astonished. Twice. Then she rounds the counter and pulls me into a tight hug, which I return all too happily.

“Harper! Why didn’t you tell me you’re coming? How are you? How is the city? How long are you staying?” She lets me go to hold me at arm’s length, and I chuckle as she throws her questions at me.

Her brown hair is collected in a loose braid that reaches just below her shoulders. A few strands have escaped at the front, framing her round face beautifully. She’s wearing a dark red apron that’s tied in a way that accentuates her curves. She looks great !

“It was a pretty spontaneous decision, and I decided I want to surprise you,” I admit, still a wide grin on my face. She grabs her apron right above her heart in what I’m hoping is a positive gesture.

“Well, you can absolutely color me surprised,” she snickers, looking around her shop but not finding what or who she’s looking for.

“Hey, Noel, can you take over? I’m taking a break!” she shouts towards a door. A guy who can’t be much older than twenty pops his head out from the kitchen and gives her a smile and thumbs up before slipping behind the counter.

“What are you having?” Phoebe hurries behind the counter again and grabs a plate. “It’s on the house.”

“The hell it is,” I object. “You’re my friend; I’m paying full price.”

“Not if I’m giving you a hundred percent friends and family discount.” She starts putting a bit of everything onto the plate. “Now tell me what you’d like.”

“Give me the wreath and gingerbread cupcake for full price.” One of each lands on the plate.

“Wreath and ginger at friend discount.” She glares at me, and I narrow my eyes at her. Without breaking eye contact, I take a bill out of my wallet and fold it in the middle to push it into the tip jar, slowly and deliberately. She sighs and puts one more cookie on the plate, swatting my hand away with the tongs she’s holding when I try to put another bill into the tip jar.

I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re still insufferable,” I tell her, and she replies with a cheeky smile. I let her win and don’t put the bill inside the tip jar behind her back. Yet. I’ll do it later when she isn’t looking. Instead, I let her lead me to one of her more secluded tables in the corner of her little café area. She hurries away as I take off my jacket to put it over my chair and returns only moments later with two steaming mugs in her hands—no idea where she got those from so quickly.

“Salted caramel hot chocolate,” she explains as she places one of the mugs on the table in front of me. “Tell me what you think. I’m thinking of making this part of my drink menu.”

“Oh, so I’m your guinea pig?” I wiggle my eyebrows and take one sip. As soon as the taste hits my tongue, I can’t help but groan. The sweetness of the chocolate and caramel combined with the salt? Chef’s kiss. Couldn’t be improved. Perfect in every way.

“Ten out of ten,” I let her know and take another sip. “If I could, I would bathe in this.”

“Ew.” She laughs and takes a sip of her own drink, nodding approvingly. “So, how have you been?”

“Harper?” Another surprised voice makes our heads whip around, and I squeal when I see a familiar blonde woman.

“Katie!” I exclaim with wide eyes and jump up to hug her. “I was going to message you!” What a coincidence.

“I’m always here at this time to get my weekly sugar fix,” she lets me know. “And sure you were.” She rolls her eyes playfully, the corners of her mouth twitching as she suppresses a grin.

“Honest to God,” I assure her and pull her down in the free seat at the table. “I’m moving back, but everything is still a bit hectic, so I haven’t gotten around to messaging anyone yet. Phoebe also didn’t know I was here.” The last thing I want her to think is that I forgot about her. She used to be my sister in spirit when both of us sat in a corner of Cole’s garage during band practice, me swooning over Simon and her only having eyes for Pax. Those were simpler times .

“It’s fine,” she laughs. “I’m just teasing you. How the hell have you been?”

Conversation flows easily like we’ve never been apart. Talking to them feels the exact same way it did during recess in high school. They get me up to date on all the town gossip, who from our class married who, who turned out to have what kind of job, what scandals Windmeadow had over the past years; they fill me in on every single thing.

And I tell them about the city. How hectic it is, how impersonal. How one time, a car flew through a red light, almost hitting me and still having the audacity to honk. How hard it is to find a calm spot there where you can just enjoy the silence for even a few minutes.

Then I tell them about Tom. Their eyes go dreamy when I tell them about the start of our relationship, the way he courted me and how he lovebombed me. Then they grow heavy with emotions when I tell them about the way our relationship ended. For some reason, I find it easier to talk about it now. Maybe it’s because all of my bruises have healed and vanished without a trace by now. Maybe it’s because she’s not the first person I’m telling it to. At least screaming at Si would have resulted in something positive then.

Their eyes grow wide when I tell them about our trip back home.

“Harper.” Phoebe slaps my upper arm. “There you go, getting that rockstar ten years later.” Of course, both of them know about my crush on him. Just like Phoebe also knows about Katie’s crush on Paxton, even though she wasn’t part of the unofficial fan club the two of us had. “Next thing I know, Katie’s going to show up here with Pax in tow!”

“Ah, I doubt that,” Katie chuckles. “That ship has sailed. ”

“Well, maybe the wind direction can change,” Phoebe retorts, suggestively wiggling her eyebrows. “Stranger things have happened. I mean, who would have thought that Eve and Cole could still become a thing. Or Harp and Si?” She turns to me and pats my hand. “Not saying I didn’t root for you, but well all know the chances were slim.”

“We’re not a ‘thing’, though,” I tell them and shake my head. I take the wreath cupcake into my hand and slowly peel off the wrapper. “We had amazing sex, repeatedly I might add, and then I kicked him out of my car at a service station after we fought. That’s it.”

“Of course you did.” Katie grins and watches me curiously as I break off the lower part of the cupcake to squish the frosting between the two cake pieces. “I’m sure he deserved it.”

“He did.” I nod and bite into the little cupcake burger. “God, Phoebe, this is delicious.”

“Thank you.” She smiles at me as she watches me eat the rest of it. “I’m glad you like it, even though you’re eating it like a heathen.”

“Shut up, I’m eating it like a person that doesn’t want frosting all over their face,” I say with a full mouth. “With baking skills like these, how are you not married yet? Ten out of ten, I would marry you for them,” I say once I’ve swallowed, making her chuckle.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m good and heterosexual.” A small smile plays on Phoebe’s lips. “And I’m happy being single.”

“Are you? Or are there no eligible bachelors in Windmeadow?” The look in her eyes confirms what I’m thinking. “Maybe you need to make a trip to the city. You’re like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, only you like baking and reading. I bet your prince is waiting in a castle somewhere in a forest. ”

“I’d prefer a Gaston,” she says dreamily and clicks her tongue. “Tall, muscular, brave.”

“I knew you’d opt for the villain.” I laugh and take another bite of the cupcake.

Katie’s eyes dart between Phoebe and me like she’s watching a tennis match, an amused smile playing on her lips.

“Oh God, not you too. Look, I will defend my boy Gaston to everyone.” Phoebe points her finger at me. “Yes, he lacked manners and was a bit pushy…”

“Sure. A bit,” I say, sarcasm dripping from my voice, and she shushes me.

“Yes, a bit,” she repeats. “But let’s be honest, if an older guy came into your village in a panic, saying something about a beast in a castle having captured his daughter, you’d also think he’s full of shit.”

I don’t know what to say; she definitely has a point.

“And then it turns out that this beast does exist. We’re talking about, I don’t know which century France here. Not current times where the beast would leave Furry Con with arms full of bitches. I’d be scared, too. Now, if a guy like Gaston stepped in, all like, ‘Don’t worry, I won’t let the beast harm you.’ Hell fucking yeah. I’d climb that.”

“I get your point,” I admit and reach for the gingerbread cupcake. “I didn’t know you were so passionate about Gaston.”

“I’m really not.” She sighs and reaches for one of the cookies on the plate. “Maybe I’m just horny, and any jacked guy gets my gears going.”

“I get it.” I nod. “I wonder if that was my case with Si.”

“Pu-lease,” she says dismissively. “You’ve had a thing for him for years. ”

“Speaking of,” I try to change the topic and turn to Katie, who startles once she realises she’s now part of the conversation. “You had a crush on Pax, didn’t you? How did that work out? Are you still in contact? Ouch!” Phoebe has kicked my shin under the table. “What the hell did I do?”

Katie chuckles and shakes her head at our antics.

“No contact anymore,” she says, a sad smile playing on her lips. My eyes grow wide. “Life happened. I don’t want to kill the mood.” I knit my eyebrows, confused. I messaged her a few times after I moved to the city, but then my medicine studies happened, and for half a year, I answered no messages or calls that weren’t from Jake or Grandma. When I tried to reach out later, she’d changed her number. So I have no idea what happened, but apparently, something major occurred, I guess from the way the mood suddenly shifted from joking to serious.

“Tell me,” I implore her, shifting in my seat and giving her my whole attention. Katie looks at her hands that are wrapped around another mug of that salted caramel hot chocolate.

“My parents died,” she says, and my hand flies to my mouth.

“Oh my God, Katie. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you. I'm okay now, it’s been a while, but my life turned into a shitshow for a bit,” she sighs.

I grab her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as she continues. “Car accident, dead on impact. I had to drop out of school and look after Luke.” Her face lights up as she mentions her younger brother. “He’s graduating next year. Maybe I’ll pick my studies up then. Pax and I had kind of a fight right before that. A part of me kept waiting for him to contact me, so I pulled the plug and changed my number. That way, I didn’t hold on to useless hope.” She takes a deep breath. “Gosh, that was depressing, I’m so sorry.”

I smack the back of her head. “Don’t be sorry, what the hell?” I shake my head.

“Tell her the good part.” Phoebe nudges Katie’s ribs, and I look at the two of them curiously. Katie rolls her eyes.

“What’s the good part?”

“I work in a strip club,” Katie mumbles and I squeal. “As a bartender,” she clarifies quickly, but Phoebe and I are already shooting mischievous looks at each other.

“Oh, we’re so going to visit you at work,” Phoebe promises and holds up her hand for a high five, which I happily give her.

Katie buries her face in her hands before she quickly changes topics. “Can we get back to the part of the conversation where we talked about Harper having a crush on Simon for years?”

“That was literally so long ago,” I point out and construct the next cupcake into a burger again. “I hadn’t seen him in years prior to the trip.”

“Sure you didn’t.” Phoebe rolls her eyes. “Bitch, please. I know you. I’d bet a hundred bucks you’ve looked him up online from time to time. Didn’t you?” My face turning red seems to be enough of an answer for her. “You might not have seen him for a few years, but I bet it was just like coming back to Windmeadow. Familiar, heartwarming, and like time stopped. And I bet Katie is keeping tabs on Pax too, even though she’d never admit it.”

“You're spot on regarding Windmeadow, as for Si, not so much,” I admit and tell her about the first day of our trip. Both of them nearly fall off their chairs from laughing when I tell them about the way he clung to the ‘oh shit’ handle.

“That’s amazing, Harp,” Katie wheezes and wipes a tear from her eyes.

“Amazingly annoying,” I grumble, making Phoebe erupt into a full-on belly laugh.

“So, how did it happen? What even happened? I want the details.” Phoebe presses out between laughter, and I tell them. Their eyes grow wider and wider when I tell them about our first… encounter, and Katie gasps when I tell them about the array of orgasms I had in those few days.

“You’re a lucky, lucky woman.” Phoebe’s eyes look distant. “God, that sounds amazing.”

“It was.” I nod. “And then he went ahead and fucked it up for both of us.”

“Oh no. What did he do?” Katie asks, leaning closer to not miss a word.

I recap our argument, accompanied by the occasional curse bursting from Phoebe’s mouth. I just nod in agreement. Then I get to the part where I threw him out of my car at the service station, and she claps her hands together.

“Good for you, girl. He deserved it.” She holds her hand out for a fist bump, which I happily give her. “You did good, standing up for yourself. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you,” I say with a wide smile. “By the way, would you mind if I hog this corner for a bit in the coming weeks? I have a new, remote job, and I don’t want to have to monopolize Grandma’s dining table every day. ”

The day after Thanksgiving, I sent out around thirty applications. And I had luck. One of them reached out a few days ago. We had a quick interview, and after they determined that I’d be a good fit and addition to the team, they sent me a contract. It was really quick and hectic, but if my tracking notifications are right, I should receive my work phone and laptop tomorrow, so I’m ready to start next week. It’s not my dream job, but there are worse things than doing graphic design for a gaming company’s marketing department.

“Of course,” she assures me. “In fact, I’ll have this table reserved for you. Harper’s Haven.”

“God, please no.” I shake my head at the ridiculous name.

“Harper’s Corner.” She throws another idea at me, laughing when she sees the expression on my face. “Harper’s Refuge.”

“And I think that’s my cue to go,” I chuckle. We’ve eaten the plate empty, and I’m only a bit sad that I never got to try the Christmas tree cupcake. Then again, if I’m working at this table a few hours each week, I should get around to that. After all, there are still a few weeks until Christmas.

“It was lovely to see you, Harper,” Phoebe assures me and pulls me into another hug. “Don’t make me wait another ten years.”

“Yeah, Harper. Don’t make us wait ten years,” Katie chimes in and also gets up for a hug.

“Don’t worry, you two, I’m here to stay. At least for the foreseeable future.”

“That’s good. I wish your circumstances were better, but we’re thrilled to have you around again. Give your grandma my best.”

“Will do. Bye, you two. Bye, Noel.” I wave at him, and he returns it from behind the counter.

“Bye!”

The doorbell chimes again as I step out and wrap my scarf around me. Snowflakes are dancing from the sky to complete this winter-smalltown-picture. Seriously, call Hollywood for the next Hallmark movie. Windmeadow would be perfect!

“Hi, Grandma,” I shout into the house when I get back. It takes me a while to undress at the door. It started snowing a bit heavier, and even though I parked Lola only metres away from Grandma’s front door, the snow has crept into every crevice it could in the few steps it took me to the front door. It’s in my hair, caught in my scarf and all over my jacket and jeans, and I know Grandma will kill me if I scatter it all over her floor.

“Hey, Hon.” Grandma smiles at me as she pops her head around the corner to the living room. “How is Phoebe?”

“She’s great. She’s sending you love. I also ran into Katie.” Finally, I manage to slip out of the jacket and hang it up by the door before I start to shake the snowflakes out of my hair.

“Thank you. What a lovely girl. If Jake were single, I’d try to set them up, but Layla is a good egg, too.”

“That she is.” I sigh and follow her into the living room.

“How is Katie doing? That poor thing.” She shakes her head sympathetically.

“She’s doing well from what she’s told me,” I let her know as I step out of my thick shoes. I am not dropping the strip club information, though. Knowing Grandma, she’d want to go there ‘for support’, and if there’s one place I’d never go to with my grandma, it’s a strip club. Nu-uh.

“Good. That’s good,” she says and walks into the kitchen. “By the way, a package arrived for you,” she shouts back into the hallway.

“It did?” I ask, confused. I didn’t order anything, and the work equipment is arriving tomorrow. My eyes grow wide. Oh shit, did Tom find me here after all? She pops her head back in and points towards an inconspicuous package on the table. The handwriting on it doesn’t look like Tom’s, thank God. It’s so messy I can’t quite make out the sender, though.

With thawing, weak fingers, I try to pry it open until I find one of those slots that let you rip the box apart easily. When I flip the box open, I’m even more confused.

“Hot chocolate?” I hold up the package. It’s even my favorite brand. Then there are marshmallows, but fancy-looking ones. I think they even have chocolate in them. How cool is that? Then there’s a lovely and expensive-looking mug. And finally, a letter.

“To Harper,” I read out, confused. “Who could it be?”

I find the answer when I pry open the envelope and skim the text, and my eyes find the name at the bottom of the paper. It’s from Simon. I almost throw it away, but then I decide to read what he has to say.

“Dear Harper,

I need to apologize. From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re indecisive. Reconnecting with you has honestly been one of the best things to happen to me lately. You’re amazing in so many ways. You’re funny, witty, and smart, and I admire your ability to handle whatever life throws at you.

I let my emotions and my own problems get the best of me and lashed out. I can’t believe I let my stupidity ruin the fun we had. Please unblock me. Let me make this up to you and apologize in person.

Love, Si”

“I hope that boy is not their lyricist,” Grandma remarks from right next to me, and I jump. I didn’t realise she was reading along over my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, he isn’t.” I grin. “Good thing you have a fire going,” I mumble and walk over to the fireplace, chucking the paper right in there. “I’m keeping the hot chocolate, though.”

“And I can’t blame you,” Grandma chuckles and leans back in her armchair.