Enchanting Lily Read Free Page A

blue—suggested some hidden layer of pain.
    “It’s beautiful,” Lily said, nodding. “I can see the possibilities. Something drew me to it.”
    “Must be our mystical island.” Paige reached out to shake Lily’s hand, her fingers firm and bejeweled. But no wedding ring. Was she divorced, engaged, or unmarried?
    “So I hear. The barista at the Java Hut gave me a magic coffee bean,” Lily said, and laughed.
    “Oh yeah, those coffee beans will make you bold.”
    “I guess this one did!” Was Paige serious? Did everyone in this town believe in the mystical island of magic coffee beans?
    “Come on in,” Paige said, heading up the front steps.She pulled a ring of keys from her purse and opened the front door. Her fingers trembled a little. Inside, the cottage was unusually warm and smelled of furniture polish and paint. The wood floor creaked beneath her feet. A house that made noises. A house that lived.
    As they walked through the rooms, Paige kept talking in a nervous chatter. “So a retired couple decided to open a candy store in here for a while, which is why I called it the candy cottage. Before that it was a soap depot. You know, all kinds of expensive toiletries and fragrances, spritzers and lotions and stuff—but I’m sorry to say neither business survived.”
    “Maybe the cottage was waiting for the perfect buyer.”
    “You’re probably right.” Paige played with the strap of her oversized shoulder bag. “Someone who appreciates the town’s historic qualities, right? Speaking of which, I’m on the board of the Renewal Society. We’re dedicated to putting our unique heritage to work for economic growth. Oops, I sound like a commercial. But each of us wears more than one hat around here. It’s tough. Sometimes I think I’ll pack it all in and move, but I love the island so I stay.”
    “I don’t blame you.” Lily peeked into the downstairs half bathroom, which had also been remodeled. “This place is charming.”
    “I think it was built around 1904. We’ve got many houses on the list of historic landmarks. The Fairport Art Gallery used to be the first mill site during the Klondike Gold Rush, and Le Pichet belonged to an undertaker. When he moved here, he found everyone was so healthy, they didn’t need his services. Like nobody ever died, right? He ended up opening a furniture store instead, and then the building went through a bunch of changes and eventually became a restaurant.”
    Lily nodded politely, picturing herself ensconced here in peace and quiet. No chatter, no city sounds, no intrusions, no reminders. Just a little house. She touched the freshly painted trim on the arched doorway from the front room to the dining area. Both rooms could hold a few racks of clothing. The room to the right of the entryway could be for shoes, ties, and hats.
    “Do you want to see the upper level?” Paige said, but Lily was already heading to the staircase. Paige hurried to follow her.
    The two bedrooms were prettier than Lily had imagined—luminescent, with slanted ceilings, big windows, and fresh white paint with blue trim. A bright bathroom sat between them, a new claw-foot tub in the center. A tub! She could take endless bubble baths in peace.
    “This is perfect,” she said. “Exactly what I’ve beenlooking for.” What was she saying? What if the pipes leaked? What if the attic was full of mold?
    As if reading her mind, Paige said, “I’m sure the owner could answer any questions you might have or address any concerns—”
    “That would be great.” Lily sat on the single bed. Firm mattress, unyielding, but fine for now. Otherwise she could unroll her sleeping bag on the floor. She would avoid the double bed in the other room. Too much empty space. “Is the owner nearby? I’d like to talk to him.”
    “Her.” Paige smiled. “We could go over there. You would live here with your whole family then?”
    “I don’t have a family. I’m it.”
    A pause. “I see. Okay, that’s