“Ew,” Bree squealed, shielding her eyes from the hideous sight. “What is that thing?”
The vintage baby doll stared up at them, one eye missing, the other glazed over. Its cracked, discolored face seemed plucked straight from a horror flick.
Penny laughed at Bree’s disgusted expression. “What? You don’t want to take it to college with you?”
Peeking between her splayed fingers, Bree grimaced. “Not unless I want to get kicked out for being the creepiest kid on campus.”
“You may have a point,” Penny chuckled, rewrapping the doll in newspaper.
Bree slowly lowered her hands, her forehead scrunched, as though the burdensome thought had returned.
“You know,” Penny drawled, peeling back a corner of crinkly paper. “Dolls are supposed to be great listeners….”
“Okay, okay!” Bree threw up her hands in surrender. “I’ll talk.Ifyou promise to hide that thing for the rest of eternity.”
“Cross my heart.” Hastily, Penny shoved the doll beneath a tattered lampshade before turning her full attention on Bree.
“It’s just…” Bree stared at the scuffed floor, her shoulders rising and falling as she took deep, troubled breaths.
“Hold on.” Removing a stack of musty linens from two Windsor dining chairs in need of mild repair, she motioned for Bree to sit down.
The girl sank onto the scratched wood with a heavy sigh. “I’m not sure I want to go to college after all.”
Penny blinked. She wasn’t expecting that. Bree had always sounded so excited whenever they’d discussed it before. “Why not?”
“Because…” Trailing off, she bit her bottom lip, as though afraid to say the words out loud. Finally, she murmured, “I’m scared.” A shadow of shame clouded her features, and Penny reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze.
“It’s okay to be scared,” she said softly. “What are you afraid of?”
“Being homesick. And lonely. And… being different.” Bree toyed with the flouncy ruffle on her blouse, not quite meeting her gaze.
Penny’s throat constricted as the truth of Bree’s fears sank in. She was afraid she wouldn’t fit in. Especially with her eclectic wardrobe choices.
The poor, sweet girl. Penny’s heart went out to her, but what could she say? She was the last person to espouse the oleface your fearsmantra. If she had a choice, she’d spend her entire life avoiding them at all costs.
“You don’t have to go, if you don’t want to. I’m sure your parents would understand.” She’d hoped the words would provide some comfort, but Bree merely looked more dejected than before.
“I guess you’re right,” she said weakly. “Thanks for the talk.” Rising from the chair, she brushed the dust from her slacks. “Should we find out what else’s in the crate?”
“Sure.” Penny slowly followed, but the conversation didn’t sit well.
Clearly, she’d said something wrong to elicit such an abrupt reaction, but what?
She’d offered Bree a free pass to walk away from her fears.
So why had it merely made her feel worse?
* * *
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Colt yawned as he followed Frank to the barn.
The cheerful sun crested the roofline of the rustic red building, casting a golden haze across the lawn, spotlighting a sprightly finch searching for breakfast. The sight would have been pleasant if he wasn’t dead tired.
Considering they didn’t have a single thing on the agenda for the day other than coffee roasting, Colt wasn’t sure why it couldn’t wait until later in the afternoon, rather than six o’clock on Monday morning.
He almost regretted staying up late to play poker with the guys. But he couldn’t refuse such high stakes. Instead of chips, they’d bet with creamy, melt-in-your-mouth saltwater taffy from Sadie’s Sweet Shop. Jack went home with most of it, but Colt won a few.
To be honest, his concentration wasn’t really on the game. He couldn’t keep his mind from wandering to thoughts of Penny. Especially after he’d received her text.
