Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“Scooping skills,” she says, finding that adorable.
“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “I won’t get myself stuck behind a counter for the summer.” Only behind a desk, apparently.
One that awaits me like a coffin in my dad’s new office.
My mom gives me a sudden hug. I freeze, taken aback by it. “I am so glad you’re home,” she whispers, rubbing my back. She puts a kiss on my cheek, pats my shoulders, and then takes a look at my outfit. “New shirt? Did you get it at college? I like the style.”
I glance down and realize it’s a shirt AJ got me. I totally forgot until my mom just asked. “Yeah, college,” I murmur absently.
“Can you be back by two at least? I’ll tell your father.”
Sounds like I’m not even getting the day. Just the morning. I figured I’d have at least a week, maybe two, to do what I wanted before the tractors started tractor-beaming me into my prison.
The back door opens and Bella steps inside, peeling off her gloves. “Ms. Cissy,” she calls out in her gentle, saccharine voice. “I noticed something in the flowerbeds. Can I show you?”
“Of course,” says my mom, heading to the door, but throwing, “See you this afternoon, sweetheart,” over her shoulder at me, of course assuming my agreement to being back by two before I’ve even uttered a word.
The winding road from the McPherson estate into Spruce isn’t long enough a drive for me to clear my head nor calm myself. I’m tapping my fingers restlessly on the wheel, non-gas-petal-pushing foot bouncing in place, and I keep gnawing my lip like it’s candy. I feel like I could use three round trips up north to campus and back to clear my head. Maybe four, if no cops catch me speeding up the old country roads. But all I’m allowed is the few miles into town before the cozy and familiar weatherworn-yet-charming shapes of cozy, family-owned storefronts swing into view. The old movie theater. Spruce Fellowship Church, where it looks like maybe an early morning choir practice just wrapped up, judging from the faces outside hanging by the front steps. I pass Patsy’s Pastries & Pies and the antique shop. I have to worm my way around two big shipment trucks sitting in front of Hadley’s Hardware and Crafty Carson, half-blocking the way in. I’m surprised to find some new building popping up in a lot near the end of Apricot Street. A new grocery store, maybe? I miss the sign. The Strong Fitness Zone is a bit of a ghost town this morning, surprisingly, for being the start of a weekend. I can’t remember if high school is still in session for another week or two, or if that has anything to do with it. Maybe Jimmy and Bobby’s clientele are mostly teens? I’ll ask them later.
Then suddenly I’m slid into a spot on Main Street a block from T&S’s Sweet Shoppe—I like giving myself a walk, and it lets actual customers park closer—and I’ve shut off the car. I rest my head back and pretend to seek peace of mind, hands still on the wheel for whatever reason. I listen to the muffled whooshing of the hot summer air outside. A distant car horn. A man calling for someone far away. The playful grunts of a truck engine coming to life. Some woman’s laughter, a little closer.
I don’t hate Spruce. I don’t hate Spruce at all.
I owe this place everything. My cushy life. My friends. All the support this town has given me since I was a kid and didn’t know better. The world outside held no interest to me. Why would it? It was so peaceful here. Nothing ever happened.
Maybe that’s the problem.
Tap-tap-tap on my window. I pop my eyes open—when’d I close them?—and turn. Billy Tucker-Strong himself stands there with his kind eyes on mine, fingers wiggling at me in greeting.
I come alive and get out of the car. “Hi, Mr. Billy!”
“Didn’t mean to interrupt your midmorning meditation,” he teases. “Just walking past on my way back from Biggie’s and saw your car! Didn’t expect you back in town already, Teej.”
I shake his hand and smile. “Was getting a little antsy being cooped up at home. Figured I’d drop in and see if I could help out, but I know you’re probably swamped with new applicants …”
“Actually …” Billy grimaces and leans in. “I’m a bit short on help, if you can believe it. Everyone’s going to my brother-in-law’s gym or out to Fairview for jobs, of all places. They opened some big mega games center everyone’s going crazy about—bowling alley, food court, movie theater, laser tag … it’s a whole mega plex thing. I’m lucky if I get one eligible worker from this summer’s batch.”
I’m on it at once. “Of course I can help out.”