“I need to move around. If I sit in that chair a minute longer, I might lose it.”
“You know what? Same. Is Jay here?”
Reese nodded.
“Great. Want to walk to the store?”
“I would love that. Let me grab my purse.”
After grabbing her purse, she ducked into Jay’s office to let him know that they were going to step out for a few minutes.
The little country store wasn’t but maybe a ten-minute walk, and it felt really good to get a little sunshine and stretch her legs. She had only been to the store once before. It was a typical little southern country store with old flooring, racks of snacks, and a food station with different types of fried food as well as a small deli area. An old picnic table sat outside where old men would sit and have coffee in the morning.
When they walked in, she immediately smelled something deep-fried, and she made a beeline over to the case.
“Can I get you something, sweetheart?” an old man asked from behind the counter. She recognized him from the last time she was there.
“Can I get an order of mozzarella sticks, please?”
“Yep, I’ll have it at the counter for you.”
“Thank you.”
She turned around and went in search of something to drink. She found Kerrie at the drink coolers in the back of the store. She looked to be deciding between a Diet Coke and a bottle of sweet tea.
“Can’t decide?”
Kerrie’s head snapped up, a guilty look on her face. “I’m supposed to be watching my sugar. Or well, that’s what Bette says.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t,” she smirked before grabbing a Dr Pepper.
Kerrie replaced the bottle of sweet tea with a sigh. “I really shouldn’t. I get where she’s coming from. Mine and Kenny’s bloodwork wasn’t the greatest at our annual checkup. The doc said we needed to exercise more, focus on fiber and protein, and eat less fried foods. As soon as Bette found out, she decided the whole family would be getting healthier. Which, I appreciate her concern, but we’ve made a lot of changes, and Kenny and I have lost about fifteen pounds each. She’s got him doing sit-down exercises since he’s a fall risk, and I’m walking around the block every other day. The intention is good, and I love her for it, but she’s got to loosen the reins a little.”
Reese repressed a smile, knowing the Nixon Street house’s secret that every one of them was cheating on their diet. “I bet it was a big change.”
“It was. You know, I had a dream the other day about bacon? Real bacon. Not that turkey crap.” She watched Kerrie grab a bag of peanuts and a beef jerky stick. She shrugged at Reese. “Protein.”
“There really is a big difference between real and turkey bacon. Can’t argue with that. Uh, hope you don’t mind the smell of cheese sticks,” she winced as they approached the counter, and the bag of cheese sticks was placed in front of her.
“I’ll live,” she grumbled.
“Back again, Kerrie? What’d you think of that bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit this morning?”
Reese turned slowly to give the taller woman a raised eyebrow.
Kerrie ducked her head. “Well, it was only one. I normally would have gotten two.”
Reese snorted and paid for her items.
They took their time walking back. The sun was out without any clouds accompanying it. She was looking forward to summer but was really enjoying these clear, seventy-degree days. Spending so much time indoors, especially in the hoarded bungalow, left her craving light and air.
As The Church came into view, Reese immediately noticed the work truck parked next to her car.
“Maintenance is here.”
“That should be Matty. She’s on the schedule to do Leadership.”
“Oh?” Even she knew her face lit up at the mention of Matty. The mental image of her ass in those joggers flashed through her mind. The woman certainly had a nice body.
