“I do as well,” Henrietta said softly. “A lot, if you can’t tell.”
“You—neither of you care? That post said I was a drug dealer.”
Marjorie’s eyes met mine. “Yes.”
“And that because of me someone who’s still connected to it came here.”
“You should’ve told me.” Marjorie crossed her arms. “I have a mean right hook.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Theo,” Piper said softly. “They see what I do.”
“I thought ... Don’t you want me to leave?”
“No.” Marjorie shook her head and grabbed my shoulders. “Please don’t go, Theo.”
Piper had said the same thing. I thought she would be the only one.
I was wrong.
“I don’t ... I don’t deserve this.”
“You do,” Piper said.
“You have a place here,” Marjorie added. “And no one is ruining that.”
I looked out at the road, toward the square, before slowly nodding.
It felt like all of the air had been knocked out of my lungs. This was beyond my wildest imagination.
“We can cover for you,” Henrietta said. “A lot of people seem to think this is out of nowhere, and it is. They don’t have to know that it’s true.”
“Yeah. We’ll keep it quiet. I have lots of secrets.”
I looked over at Piper.
Her eyes were shiny, but she gave me a smile. I thought about all the things that had happened and how it came from keeping secrets.
I couldn’t continue that trend.
“No. I’m telling them.”
“O-oh.” Marjorie sounded like the wind had been knocked out of her. “Kid, they’ll be in your business.”
“I know.”
“That means questions. That means opening up, which you don’t like doing.”
“I don’t. It scares me.” I looked over at Piper and smiled. “But someone taught me that things can be done even while scared. And that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Her head fell to the side. “It’s the right thing.”
“Has anyone ever called a town meeting?” I asked.
“Before the old town hall shut down, yes. But since the new one opened, we haven’t had any meetings. Itisa nice day,though. We could probably meet somewhere outside.” Marjorie considered it. “I could put a post up.”
“Do it. I think I need to talk to everyone.” I took a shaky breath. “It’s time they got to know me. All of me.”
