I allow myself to unclench my stomach muscles and take a deep breath. Everything inside settles a little. It’s baby steps but this feels like a way forward. I haven’t decided whether I need to go back to Oregon today and face the music or give myself a few days. Or maybe even a few weeks. No matter what I decide, I’m going to feel better after a change of clothes and some time with Marge, whose friendliness is a balm to my spirit.

“So, have you come from the Colorado Club?” Marge asks as she starts shunting hangers from one side to the other on the rack. “We hear it’s getting busier and busier.”

“Erm, no. At least I don’t think so.” Is “Colorado Club” a colloquial term for the airport or something?

Marge pulls out a couple of pairs of pants and laughs. “You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you? I take it you don’t work up there on the mountain?”

I shake my head. “I got into town last night. Kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision to leave Oregon.”

“Oregon.” She gasps. “Oh, the dress! It was… you were in Grizzly’s last night! Oh, you sweet girl. What a mess.”

Marge doesn’t know how right she is.

“What’s the Colorado Club?” I ask.

She looks over her shoulder as if to check that no one’s listening, despite us being the only ones in the store. “You didn’t see it? Just north of here, not exactly halfway up the mountain, but not in our valley either.”

Marge must not realize that she hasn’t actually answered my question. I shake my head. “I came in last night and was just focused on getting here as early as I could.”

“Well, I’m staying positive. I think we should see it as an opportunity for the town. I don’t see a downside, really.” We move to the next rack of clothes and she starts pulling out sweaters and jackets.

“An opportunity?”

“Yes, lots of people with lots of money will be close by. And wealthy people like to shop and drink coffee. Hopefully they’ll do that in Star Falls. Look what’s happened to Vail. My momma’s ninety-three this August, and she says people didn’t really come to Colorado to ski when she was a kid. A lot can happen in a short space of time in this world. The Colorado Club could put Star Falls on the map.”

I’m still not getting what the Colorado Club is.

“And even if the wealthy people want Gucci, there are going to be a lot of people working at the Club who will need good outdoor clothes.” She holds up the bundle she’s been gathering.

“So the Colorado Club is… a hotel?”

She smiles. “Kinda. I think. A hotel with lots of land and activities rich people like.”

“A resort, then.”