Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“$6.82.”
She nods and rummages in her wallet again, dumping more change out onto the counter.
“Here, Melba. Let me do that for ya.” Norah steps in again and counts out eighty-two cents for her, hoping to speed up the pace.
“Aw, you’re such a doll,” Melba says. “My arthritis has been bothering me all morning.”
Norah rubs a gentle hand on Melba’s back, and I quickly cash her out before grabbing her order of hot cinnamon tea and a cinnamon roll and carrying them around the counter. Melba tries to take them from me, but I smile toward the door. “I’ll carry them for you.”
“You girls are so sweet,” she says with a thankful smile. “Rose would be so proud to see how you’re both doing.”
I don’t know if my grandma would be happy with how I’ve handled quite a few things over the years, but for the first time in a while, I actually believe what Melba says is true. I’m finding my rhythm, if a little wonky, and I’m even communicating with my ex-husband-who’s-not-really-my-ex on occasion without killing him. I’ve got a niece or nephew on the way, my sister is happy and healthy and officially engaged to Bennett, my mom is actually paying for her crimes, and things are looking up. Norah’s still waiting on the genetic bloodwork on the baby, but I’ve got a good feeling that Summer’s looking out for us on this one.
Both Norah and I walk Melba out to her car, and we don’t leave her side until she’s safely inside the driver’s seat and backing out of the parking spot. But as we turn to head inside again, Norah is back on my ass.
“So, you’re going to go with me, right?” She grabs both of my shoulders with a tight squeeze. “You’re going to go with me to the party tonight?”
I shake my head.
“Oh, c’mon, Josie!” she cries out, utterly exasperated. “I need you to go to this party. I have to. And I’d ask Bennett to come with me, but I don’t think he’s ready for that kind of stuff yet, you know? He’d rather spend his time in his studio painting. And he’s been working on a whole series inspired by Summer, and I refuse to pull him away from that. It’s bringing him so much peace.”
It’s been nearly two months since Summer passed away. Some days, it feels like just yesterday, and other days, it feels like a lifetime ago. But every day, her memory is still ever-present in my mind. Probably in everyone’s mind.
“I get that, Nore. I really do. And I’m so happy that Bennett has found something that’s bringing him peace, but I’m not really understanding why you want to go to this party so bad?” I question. “I mean, you’re pregnant, you can’t drink, and I know with certainty that your morning sickness times are never in the morning. They’re always in the evening…when we’d be at this party. Don’t you think you should just skip this year?” I suggest. “Earl throws a Halloween party every year. You can go next year or the year after that or the year after that.”
A sheen of tears covers her eyes, and my eyebrows draw together. Is she just pregnant and hormonal, or have I completely missed the boat?
“I have to go, Josie,” Norah says, and one lone tear slips down her cheeks. “And it’s just a little too hard for me to go by myself… This party was on Summer’s list. She wanted to go. She just didn’t…”
She doesn’t even have to finish the sentence. Summer didn’t make it to Halloween.
I shut my eyes for a long moment. A small, selfish part of me is pissed off that I’m being dragged into this. I mean, it’s not like the fake wedding we created for Summer to attend ended all that well for yours truly. But the biggest part of me, the part that loved that little girl, can’t deny this request.
“Fine,” I mutter, my voice still frustrated but my heart soaring with grief and solace. “I’ll go.”
“Thank you!” Norah exclaims and brushes her tears away with a quick hand before diving toward me and wrapping me up in a big hug. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You’re the best sister in the whole wide world! I love you! I love you! I love you!”
“Yeah. Yeah. I know. I’m the best.” I hug her back, but I also cut the hug short because I’m the only one working at CAFFEINE right now. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get back to work.”
“And don’t worry. I’ll handle getting us some costumes,” Norah says over her shoulder as she starts to walk down the sidewalk.
“I’m not wearing a costume!” I shout toward her, but she just raises one hand in the air.