AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No pressure to perform at all times or look the part. I can be exactly who I am and not a single person judges me for it or looks down their noses at me. It’s liberating and glorious.
And I’m not the only one who changed in Red Oak.
Brooklyn, even though she might have first day of school jitters, is thriving here. She’s smiling more often, seems more relaxed and content, and is finally able to be a teenager.
I stop in the kitchen for a glass of water and peek my head in to check on Brooklyn before going to bed. Our cat, Kevin, pushes his side against me and meows so I pick him up and scratch under his ear.
“I’m going to bed.”
She looks up from her phone and smiles. “Okay, Mom. Night, love you.”
“I love you, too. You going to sleep soon?”
She nods, glancing back at her phone and typing away a moment before giving me attention again. “Yeah.”
“Who ya talking to?”
Her eyes crinkle when she smiles up at me. “You wouldn’t believe me.”
“Try me.” I chuckle.
“That kid from the diner? Cody? The people who got engaged, he’s the guy’s nephew.”
I try to look as calm as possible, meanwhile my heart is racing. Living in Red Oak, it’s impossible not to hear the Lake family name or even see one of them out and about. I’ve done my best to avoid actually having a conversation with any of them until I talk with Cash, but it’s pretty hard to do. Kevin jumps out of my arms, somehow sensing my sudden unease. From the floor, he glares at me and meows his displeasure.
“Isn’t he pretty young?”
“Yeah.” She laughs. “He’s hilarious, though. He actually asked for my number when I was at the diner one night working and promised not to spam me. I figured no harm would come from it and if he got annoying I’d just block him. But he basically just sends me funny memes and gifs or things he finds funny on Instagram. Sometimes we play games through Game Pigeon, too. Like paintball or 8-ball.”
“Sounds innocent enough.”
She gives me a look. “Duh, Mom. He’s like twelve, I think. Of course it’s innocent.”
I hold up my hands in surrender. “Sorry, just making sure.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I know not to lead a twelve-year-old kid along.”
“Thatta girl. Love you. Get some sleep. We need to be at the diner at ten so Dorothy can take care of a few things and when she gets back we’ll head out to grab the rest of your school stuff.”
Her cute little nose wrinkles. “School stuff. Yay,” she says with absolutely zero enthusiasm.
“At least you don’t have to wear a uniform anymore.”
That makes her eyes light up. “That is nice, I’ll admit.”
“Your dad said you sounded stressed about starting school.”
She rolls her dark eyes. “He always thinks I’m stressed. He’s overreacting, as usual. I made the mistake of telling him I was a little worried about getting lost in a new building and since I’ve already taken one of the sophomore classes, I was a little nervous about taking the junior level course but that’s all. Nothing I can’t handle, I promise.”
“The Biology course, you mean?”
“Yeah. I hate science, you know. It’s just not my thing but Dad assured me that he thinks I’ll enjoy Biology.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“Yeah, so, anyway, that’s all it was about. Don’t worry, Mom. You made it very clear that I needed to be honest with you and I’m happy here. Cody’s not the only one I know in town, which is good since he’s in eighth grade,” she adds with a snicker. “I have friends my own age and I’ll meet people in the grade above me because of the biology class.”
“I know that, but maybe make sure your dad knows for sure, too.”
