Carolina Moon

peridot as an emerald. This is nice.” She held it up, let the light play over it. “But I think it’s too much metal for her. Really more my style.”
    “Is this how you accomplish a mission?”
    “I can do more than one thing at a time. Let’s just put this aside here so I can think about it.” She wandered down the case. “You doing all right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, don’t actually try to have a conversation and spoil your record.”
    Tory opened her mouth, shut it again, blew out a breath. “I’m all right, a little shaky inside, I guess, but all right. How about you?”
    Faith glanced up, smiled thinly. “See, your tongue didn’t turn black and fall out or anything. I’m well enough. Been gathering the gossip as I go. And don’t bother to look down your nose. You’re as interested in what people are saying as I am.”
    “I’ve heard what they’re saying. I’ve had considerable traffic in here today. People love to come in and get a look at me, then flap about it all. It’s different for you, Faith, you’re one of them. I’m not. I don’t know why I thought I ever could be.”
    “I can’t understand why you’d want to be, but if you do, you just have to stick with it. People get used to you around here. They’d get used to a one-eyed midget with a limp if he lived here long enough.”
    “That’s comforting.”
    “Let’s see this bracelet. Cade seems to have gotten used to you mighty fast.”
    “Pink and blue topaz in silver. Lobster-claw clasp.”
    “Very nice, very Lissy. Those earrings there. She’d want them to match. She doesn’t have the imagination for otherwise.”
    “Seems odd you taking the time to pick out gifts for her when you don’t appear to like her.”
    “Oh, I don’t dislike her.” Faith pursed her lips and considered the earrings. “She’s too silly for me to work up the energy to dislike. Always was. She makes Dwight happy, and I like him. Box these up, and wrap them up pretty. Dwight’ll owe me big. I think I’ll take this necklace for myself. Cheer up my mood.”
    “You’re turning into my best customer.” Tory carried the jewelry to her counter. “Hard to figure.”
    “You have things I admire in here.” Bee had fallen asleep with the bone in her mouth. Faith stopped long enough to beam at her in adoration. “Plus you seem to be making Cade happy, and I like him even more than I like Dwight.” She leaned on the counter while Tory boxed Lissy’s gifts. “Fact is, you’re sleeping with my brother. I’m sleeping with your cousin.”
    “That practically makes us lovers.”
    Faith blinked, snorted, then threw back her head and laughed. “Christ, that’s a frightening thought. And here I was wondering if I should consider us being friends.”
    “Another frightening thought.”
    “Isn’t it? Still, it occurred to me yesterday when we were sitting out there that you and I were probably feeling the same thing, thinking the same thing. Remembering the same thing. That’s a powerful connection.”
    Tory tied the cord very carefully, very precisely. “It was very considerate of you to stay with me. I tell myself, often, that it’s better to be alone. But it’s difficult. Sometimes it’s very difficult.”
    “I hate to be alone. More than anything else in the world. I am, so often, irritated by my own company.” She caught herself, laughed. “Well, listen to us, having almost an intimate conversation. I’m going to give you Dwight’s nice fresh cash for Lissy’s, but I’ll charge mine.”
    Before she could reach into her purse, Tory reached out, laid a hand on hers. Odd, how it had become easier to touch, to be touched, since she’d come back to Progress. “In my life I never had another friend like Hope. I don’t know as any of us ever have friends the way we do as children. But I could use a friend.”
    Flustered, Faith stared at her. “I don’t know that I make a particularly good one.”
    “I know I haven’t, not since Hope, so that starts us on level ground. I think I’m in love with your brother.” She let out a long, shaky breath, moved her hand to keep it busy. “If it turns out I am, I think it would be nice, for everyone, if you and I could be friends.”
    “I know I love my brother, though he is a regular pain in my ass. Life has some awfully screwy angles.” Faith laid Dwight’s money down, took out her credit card. “You close up at six, don’t you?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Why don’t you meet