Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“You memorized my order?” I ask. Am I being stalked?
Juniper laughs beside me. “Donna has a photographic memory. Don’t worry; she’s not your personal stalker.” She stops herself. “Although, she has the skills.”
“I absolutely do; you’re right,” Donna says. “So, what’s it going to be? Same as last time?”
“Sure,” I say. What else can I say? I’m slightly concerned that if I order something different, it will be entered into a database somewhere, and Donna will be able to tell me what I’m going to be doing five years from now.
“You want the whipped cream?” Donna asks. “You said no yesterday.”
“Now you’re just freaking me out,” I say. “But no, no cream, thanks.”
Donna writes it down and disappears, and I watch her go, wondering if she’s going to note down my order somewhere so she can pull it out next time I’m in. Or maybe she really does remember everyone’s order.
“Does she really have a photographic memory?” I ask, watching Donna.
“I’m not lying, Fisher,” Juniper says sharply.
Before I have a chance to respond, Riley says, “Donna remembers everything. My birthday. Everyone’s birthday actually. Even Albert’s birthday.”
“Right,” Juniper says. “Let’s not bring Albert into this.”
Albert is clearly a topic of controversy.
“But, Mom, please can I have another Albert? I promise I’ll do all my chores for a month without complaining?”
Juniper shakes her head. “I am not buying you another fish. They die, Riley. That’s what fish do. And you wouldn’t leave your room for three entire days when Albert died. I’m not doing it again.”
I try to bite back a smile, because I thought Albert might be the ex-husband or something. But Albert’s a fish. And Donna remembers his birthday. This town sure has its quirks.
“What are you up to today?” Juniper asks, clearly and desperately trying to turn the conversation away from Albert.
“Well, breakfast for a start. Then I’m going to text you to see if you called Grace Astor.”
She laughs. “You don’t give up, do you?”
I shrug. “Tenacity is my superpower.”
“What’s tenacity?” Riley asks, her mouth half full with pancakes.
“Don’t talk and eat,” Juniper says. “Tenacity means persistence. Like when you ask me to visit the diner after a studio session. You don’t quit until I say yes. That’s tenacity.”
“So, tenacity is my superpower too.” Riley raises her hand for another high five, and I slap mine against hers.
“So?” I ask.
“So, calling Grace is on my list of things to do.”
“And what’s the time frame for getting through your to-do list?” I ask.
She winces. “Average life expectancy is what? Eighty-two or something, right?”
I shake my head, wondering what I can do to convince her to pick up the phone.
“I really appreciate you giving me her number.”
“You need to use it,” I say as my phone buzzes.
I realize I haven’t checked my emails yet today. Back in New York, it wouldn’t matter what day of the week it was, the first thing I do in the morning is check my emails. Here in Colorado, all the days are merging together, and I’m out of routine. After I wondered when Juniper painted the picture opposite my bed, the first thing I thought of today was what the view would look like and whether it would be the same as yesterday. In New York, I don’t contemplate the view. I’m down to business right away.
“Sorry, I just need a second.”
I scroll through my phone and see something from the manager of the biggest group that’s signed to Right Records at the moment—The Homecoming Kings. He’s a decent guy. A straight shooter.
I open the email, which is headed as Contract. I scan the email. He wants to discuss the marketing around the last album… blah, blah—and then I hit the crux of the message.
The band has been talking about whether Right Records is the right place for them.
I groan and sit back. There’s no way this isn’t connected to Gerry Banks. He’s got to have been sniffing around them. The Kings are building some serious momentum in their career. They write all their own music. They’re not idiots. Or more accurately, only the drummer is an idiot. They have real long-term potential. Of course Gerry wants them.
Fuck.
“They won’t be long with the waffles,” Riley says encouragingly.
“You okay?” Juniper asks.
“Yeah, fine. Sorry, I haven’t checked my emails today, and they’re building up.”
“Relax. You’re in Star Falls. You don’t need to get all The Scream.” She puts her hands up to her face, and Riley does the same thing. They both open their mouths, imitating Edvard Munch’s famous painting.
Even though I don’t feel very happy, I can’t help but laugh at the two of them.
“It’s not that. I just got some bad news at work. That’s all.”
“What kind of bad news?” Riley asks. “Did you lose your job? That happened to Anna’s dad. That’s why they had to move. They’ve gone to Denver now.”