AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have the feeling she knows,” Ava said.
Not a minute later, the door opened again, and I glanced over, hoping once again that it was Donovan. But it was Redmond.
“Good morning,” Ava and I said in unison.
Then I added, “Almond milk latte?”
“Yes, please.” He glanced at the bakery case. “And I really, really want a blueberry donut. To go.”
“Coming right up,” Ava said, grabbing a paper sack for the donut. Her green eyes danced with happiness, and she had a big smile on her face.
That smile could light the world.
I quickly made the latte, and as I pushed it across the counter, it suddenly jumped out to me that Redmond had swapped his drab muscle shirt for a pretty blue moisture-wicking T-shirt. It brought out the color of his eyes. “I like your shirt, Redmond. Is it new?”
He nodded. “Does it sayflexibility?”
I laughed. “Practically screams it.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket just as the front door opened and Mark and Trixie came inside. I quickly glanced at the phone screen, and when I saw it was Noah, I panicked a little. He never called this early. I turned away from the counter and answered by saying, “You okay?”
He laughed. “I’m fine. Just had a minute so thought I’d check in with you. You’re not busy, are you? You’re off, right? It’s Thursday.”
I used to take Thursdays off, but it had been a long time since I’d done so. He wouldn’t know that, though, because he’d been away at school. “Can you hold on a sec?” I glanced at Ava. “It’s Noah.”
“Go,” she shooed. “I’ve got the shop covered.”
“I’ll try to be quick.” I gave a smile to Mark and Trixie before turning toward my office. “I’m back,” I said to Noah. “You sure you’re okay?”
I stepped into the tiny room and closed the door. Sinking into my desk chair, I fought a yawn. I hadn’t slept well since dinner with Donovan. He’d rattled me with his octopus talk.
“Mom, I’m fine. You worry too much.”
I gritted my teeth. I really wished people would stop saying stuff like that to me. I rubbed my left temple as it started to pulse. “I’m a mom. It’s what we do.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
My desk was a mess with receipts, invoices, brochures, and catalogs from companies that wanted me to buy new equipment. I powered on my computer. “How’re classes?”
“Good for the most part. I almost fall asleep every time I have calculus. Numbers. Ugh.”
“You know they have tutors available, right? If you need help?” There was certainly no way I could help him. Donovan, though, might… he’d always been good at math.
“Mom.”
I sighed. “I know, I know. You can handle it.”
There was a long pause before he said, “Heard you were fighting with Granddad.”
Ah. The real reason for this call. “Did he tell you that?”
“Didn’t have to. Joe mentioned it when we messaged last night.”
Joe Rains, one of Noah’s best friends growing up, still lived here in town. I was going to wring his scrawny neck next time I saw him for gossiping. “It’s not a fight. It’s a disagreement.”
“I shouldn’t have had to hear about it from Joe.”
I tried to laugh it off. “It’s not that serious.”
