Holly Banks Full of Angst (Village of Primm, #1)(105)

“There’s nothing to figure out,” said Jack, cocking the rearview mirror to have a look at Ella and Greta in the back seat. “Just an offer to buy a house.”

“If you say so,” said Holly, reaching out to hold Jack’s hand, willing to let it go since Ella and Greta were sitting behind them. She suspected he was telling a white lie. A half truth. There probably wasn’t a connection between the Stone House and the killing of Plume, so she was prepared to drop it. But then, Holly suspected, in the coming weeks and months, there’d be more she’d uncover in the secretive little village they now called home. And when that time came, if Jack was at the center of it, he’d tell her. Of that she felt certain.



With the Cherry Festival in full swing, the village square bustled with Primm families. In memory of Plume, flags were being flown at half mast across the village, and fresh white flowers with cherry-colored ribbons replaced last week’s gold, black, and white start-of-school ribbons. Shopkeepers with tables displayed their wares. Kids played tag and ran around with jump ropes and Hula-Hoops. Everywhere you looked, folks were dressed in cherry-themed clothing and gathered to socialize and enjoy the beautiful weather. Gary-Gee strummed away outside of Primm’s Coffee Joe, back to his “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” followed by “You Are My Sunshine.” There were jugglers and face painters on loan from the Topiary Park. Everyone wanted to be happy despite the village-wide fires that had consumed a piece of Primm’s heart the night before. There was still smoke overhead as a juggler twisted balloons into elaborate shapes: pink ponies, blue birds, and yellow school buses.

The first thing Ella spied was an old-fashioned candy stand, where the whole family enjoyed their first taste of cherry-flavored cotton candy, followed by waters for Ella and Jack, cherry sodas in tall glass bottles for Greta and Holly.

“I’m going to check on my pies,” said Holly, leaving Ella, Jack, and Greta to enjoy the cotton candy.

Off in the distance, at the south end of The Lawn near the bookstore on Pip’s Corner, Holly saw the old man and his blue Great Dane. Merchant “Meek” Hopscotch III. She wondered what would become of him. Wondered what would become of Edward T. Olive, the antiques dealer. And My Love. Holly wondered what would become of him.

Events like the Cherry Festival were the reason Penelope and Feathered Nest Realty thrived, as families visited the village and then fought to outbid each other for real estate in the gilded glow of Primm Academy. Holly was proud to say she owned a home on Petunia with no storage in it, that a Pinterestworthy front porch had charmed her into buying it. Primm was la-la land, and Holly now had a piece of it. The price to live there was high, but on days like today, it was easy to convince yourself it was worth it.

Caleb caught up to Holly as she passed a pretzel stand. “Hey there.”

“Oh, hey, Caleb.”

“Where’s Ella?”

“South Gazebo. She’s with her dad and grandma heading for the live petting zoo near the magnolias. The minute Ella saw a miniature pony walking by on a leash, she went nuts thinking the pony’s owner might know Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle.”

Caleb smiled. “Did you upload to YouTube yet?”

“No. Not yet.”

“Oh.”

“I got caught up with some pies.”

“Maybe this afternoon,” he said.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“You don’t sound very convincing.”

“I’m sorry, Caleb. I just don’t know.” Holly tipped her head to look over his shoulder. She thought she saw Rosie McClure from the school office. “The truth is, I don’t think I want my first full week in Primm splashed all over the internet. Everyone’s so caught up with tweeting and posting and going viral; I don’t know if I want all of that right now. I’m kind of enjoying my privacy.”

“I get it.” He bobbed his head, acknowledging her concerns. “I totally get it.”

“Oh, but hey—I almost forgot,” Holly said. “I was talking with Jack, and he suggested I take another film class. Get up to speed on the latest technologies. I was thinking I might start a film studio in my dining room. Shoot home-decorating or crafting videos for Collette and some of her friends. You know, start small. Help Etsy moms and mommy bloggers produce video for their websites while Ella’s at school.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Caleb agreed, “that’s a great idea.”

“I’m not ready for the Wilhelm Klaus, Caleb.”

“Hey, I get it,” he offered. “But you’re taking huge steps forward.”

“Yes, well. I have you to thank for that.” Holly smiled, reaching out to touch his arm. Something caught her eye. “Rosie!” She signaled for Rosie to come over.

Rosie was barefoot, wearing a pretty yellow sundress. Her hair was pulled back, fastened with a flower at the nape of her neck. She looked totally different now that she was out from behind that counter.

“Rosie, this is Caleb. Caleb, this is Rosie McClure.”

Caleb moved quickly to wipe the palm of his hand on his pant leg. He offered it to Rosie, who smiled, placing her hand in his.

One look at Rosie, and Caleb grew fidgety. Caleb the Cable Guy, who tortured unsuspecting moms across the village, appeared nervous in Rosie’s presence. He cleared his throat. “Nice to meet you, Rosie McClure.”