And soon, she’s telling me all about her family’s hardware store, about how she worked there as a kid, and about how outside investors bought up so many stores with so many promises, none of which panned out.
“It was bad for my family, but it was worse for the Kowalskis. Serena’s family. My grandparents at least got bought out. Serena’s family owned an auto shop, and they got priced out. A big chain came in and the Kowalskis couldn’t compete. They just had to close. Her dad went from owning his own shop to being a mechanic for someone else.”
“I didn’t realize. I’m so sorry.”
Delia shrugs. “It’s not like it was your fault.”
Red elbows her. “You wanna say that louder?”
A corner of Delia’s mouth raises. “Ha. I see what you’re doing.” Then to me, she says, “Red doesn’t think I’m giving you a fair shot.”
“Eh,” I say, giving her a half-smile of my own. “It’s good to make us outsiders work for it.”
Delia laughs.
Up ahead, another family joins the scene—the Kents, including the mayor and his wife and their grandson, Tucker, with Serena and Dakota.
The Kents look like they’re small town country club wealthy, while Serena looks like … she’s trying to be. She’s decked out in all white like she’s going to a tennis match. It’s the wrong look for the occasion. And now I see her look for what it is: an insecure girl who’s clawing to find her place.
I know the feeling.
And it’s that sense of understanding that helps me see everything differently. Dakota is wearing a pink princess dress and a frown. Tucker is holding her hand, at least, but he’s on his phone, looking completely disinterested as his grandpa shakes hands with the pastor and as his wife looks for a friendly face.
Poor Serena.
Maybe Tucker’s a nice guy (though I doubt it). Maybe he’s interesting and has unique views on, you know, NATO, or something.
But he’s no Sean.
I bet she loved Sean. How could she not? But she watched a soulless company rob her family of its livelihood. They probably struggled for everything they got after that. I can imagine she worried where her place was and if it was possible to want something more.
She was wrong to treat Sean the way she did, to use Dakota against him.
But I still feel bad for her.
So when Dakota turns to me, with her big blue eyes and her dark blonde pigtails, it’s impossible for me not to smile and wave.
Wrong move.
Dakota stops cold when she sees me. Her little face twists, and her eyes fall to my shirt—an old Blue Collars tee of Sean’s from some community event. It’s soft and oversized, the hem skimming the top of my white shorts, with paint-dipped children’s hands all around the bottom.
And then she bursts into tears.
Tucker bends down, reaching for her. “Hey, sweetheart?—”
But Serena snatches Dakota up before he can touch her and turns toward me with a look that could melt glass. “You are unbelievable.”
Me?
With Dakota sobbing in her hair, Serena storms forward.
“Did you do this on purpose?”
I freeze in shock. “What? No?—”
“You knew she’d be here. You knew she’d see it. Don’t pretend this wasn’t a calculated move.”
“Pretend what? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
