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“So, I’m assuming you’ve heard the gossip around town?”
Elliott looked up from his notebook, setting his pen beside it on the wooden table. “Who hasn’t heard the news? It’s the only thing the town’s residents have been discussing all month.”
Leah resumed her sculpting as she spoke. “Just checking. You don’t exactly get out much, y’know.” She smiled. “Lewis and Robin are helping the new neighbor move in tomorrow. Hopefully the old cabin is still in decent shape…”
“Hmm,” Elliott sighed. Leah knew all of his signs of writer’s block, as a fellow artist. She set her tools down and sat next to him at the table, leaning closer to observe his work—a single blank page.
Trying to distract him, Leah nudged into his shoulder. “I wonder what our new neighbor will be like? It’s been quite a while since Jodi and her family moved in.”
Elliott looked up and smiled, too. “Yeah, I hope they’re interesting, whoever they will be. Do we know any information about them at all?”
Leah tapped her finger to her chin as she thought. “Well, I know that they’ll be taking over the farm. Apparently, their grandpa was the previous owner, so that’s pretty interesting.” She thought again. “I’m pretty sure they’re from the city.”
Even with her unknowing look, Elliott could see the hidden smirk behind her mouth. He questioned her. “Is that all?”
The woman’s smile broke free.
“I also heard that our new neighbor is a man.”
Elliott could feel his sigh in his soul. Of course Leah was going to tease him about a new guy coming to town. He remembered when Sam and his family first moved in and Leah tried everything in her power to get them to talk at least one night in the Stardrop. They talked for a little while, sure, but Elliott was quick to realize that Sam was far from his type. Sam was much younger, much shorter than him, and was too energetic for him to keep up with. Also, he quickly caught on to the fact that Sam may be pursuing a different boy in town…
“I highly doubt anything will happen.”
“What?! Why not!” Leah demanded.
“It’s rather simple, really—I’m a shut-in. I almost never leave the house, even in the summer, unless I’m going to the saloon or your place, and I’m more introverted than extroverted. I’ve never met anyone my type in this town.”
“How about Harvey? He seems like someone you’d like. He’s smart, funny, mature. He’s pretty handsome, too.”
“If I had to date someone in this town, then yes, it would be him. He does fit into my type fairly well, but, I don’t know…he’s just not the one, I suppose.”
Leah nodded and hummed, still thinking. “Well, you never know! Maybe the new guy will be the one!”
Elliott hit Leah on the head with his notebook playfully, but she only laughed.
“Quit saying such unlikely things,” he paused, “and getting my hopes up.”
Leah got back to work on her sculpture, a wide grin still painted across her amused face. “You’re just upset that I’m right like always. Well, except for that time with Sam a few years ago. Sorry about that.”
Elliot opened his notebook again and picked his pen back up, resting the end of it on his chin as he thought. Leah could be so obnoxious, but really, she was a very great and comforting friend. Elliott could only smile.
“Thank you.”