AllFreeNovel
Share Us
An ambulance is coming. I can hear the sirens. The cops all look toward it when it pulls up by the roadblock.
I take my chance while they’re distracted, jumping down from the tree and disappearing into the night.
Chapter Five
Natalie
* * *
Five years later…
The door swings open and Cara’s holding out a small cardboard box wrapped up in a bow. I’m up to my neck in Romance new releases, sliding priced up books onto the shelves when she comes over. “Got some new ones for you to try.” She beams at me.
Cara’s like that. I’ve known her ever since I opened the bookstore and she’s always smiling. Thirty years older than me, acting a lot like a surrogate mom. Brings me soup sometimes. Cupcakes most days.
Every morning, I open up my bookstore. Within an hour, she appears with one of her experimental recipes.
She frowns, seeing me rubbing the back of my head as I stand up. “You okay?”
I nod. “Just a headache.”
“You still getting them?”
“Not as bad as they used to be.”
“I thought you might have taken the day off today. Surprised to see you opening up.”
“I went to the grave with Jasmine yesterday. We took some flowers.”
“How’s it feel?”
“I don’t know.”
“I know you’ve got this big tough girl act Natalie, but it’s okay to feel sad on the anniversary of your mother’s death.”
“I know that but it’s been five years, I can’t sit crying all the time.”
“You could take some time for yourself on the anniversary.”
“I can’t afford to shut. Winnie’s been hinting about charging me rent and sales aren’t great at the moment.” I rub the back of my head again, feeling the bump where the guy hit me all those years ago. “I can miss her and be at work at the same time.”
“I bet she’s watching over you right now.” She smiles. “And seeing what a great job you’re doing bringing Jasmine up on your own.”
I tap the box she sets it down on the counter. “So, what have you got for me this morning?”
“Lavender and honey.”
“Interesting,” I reply, undoing the bow to let the box fall open.
“And mustard,” she adds as I take a bite of the cupcake inside.
“God, why would you do that to me.”
“Try it properly.”
I take another bite. “Actually, that’s not too bad.”
“I’m going to call them Floral Heat. What do you think?”
