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I held my arms up in surrender. “No, I swear I don’t think it’s funny. I like smart girls.”
She held her chin up a little higher. “Really? I just happen to have a 4.0.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded, feeling proud of herself.
“Okay, impressive. A little braggy, but impressive nonetheless,” I teased.
She hit me again and I rubbed my arm, feigning pain. “Ouch. Hell of a right hook you got there, Little One.”
“I’m not that small!” she protested.
“Oh, come on now,” I replied, looking down at her heels. “You have on six-inch heels and you’re still only, what? Four-ten?”
Lettie rolled her eyes and bawled her fists up in front of her face. “You know, my dad has had me in self defense classes for eleven years. I’ve been kicking ass since I was six. I’m not afraid to take you down, Baker Boy.”
“Aww, you’re only seventeen. That’s cute.” I pushed her tiny fists down from her face, fitting both of them in one hand.
“Well, my birthday is coming up. I’ll be eighteen in six days.” She stood up and her eyes were wide before she scrunched her nose. “Wait, how old are you?”
I shook my head and sighed. “Oh boy. I’m old, an old man, senior citizen.” I started walking slowly around her. “I could practically be your father.”
“No, how old are you? For real? I thought you were my age.”
I heartily fake-laughed. “Ha, ha. My dear child. I barely even remember seventeen.”
Lettie crossed her arms and began tapping her foot. “How old are you? You better tell me or I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” I asked, my head tilted, amused by her fiery personality.
“I’ll pinch you,” she said, her chin still planted in the air. “I’ll pinch you hard.”
I wiggled my fingers pretending to be scared. “Okay, well, I guess in order to avoid a pinch that I can only assume would feel like a tiny bee sting, I will tell you.”
She waited, leaning forward slightly as though she’d be able to hear better.
“I’m eighteen.”
She dropped her arms and sighed. “Thank God you aren’t an old creeper.” She paused. “I’m still going to pinch you.” She began using her pointer finger and thumb as a claw as she chased me down Magnolia Street, surprisingly fast, even in the heels.
FIFTEEN
2017
LETTIE
I was goingto live my life as I normally would and pay no attention to the fact that Tuck was coming back. Tomorrow was Sunday, and I was going to get breakfast at the diner after church like I always did. I would take Gilbert on a walk through town and not so much as bat an eye toward Peach Street. I was going to go to Green Gables Inn and check up on Millie’s pregnant bloodhound, Debbie, return a couple of books to the library, and then go home to eat my leftover lasagna. There was absolutely nothing different about today or tomorrow or any other day, and I wouldn’t let the looming fact that Tuck Anderson was going to be gracing Aveline with his presence at any moment be any reason for me to disrupt my everyday life.
The next morning, however, did not start out like any other. I woke up late—hit the snooze button one too many times, apparently—and missed the church service. I was sure my lack of attendance was noticed by most of the town, but I would bring something extra special to the Christmas potluck next month to make up for it.
I threw my hair into a ponytail and dressed warmly in my down coat, earmuffs, and a pair of fleece leggings, and I brought Gilbert into town, letting him run around at the clinic while I grabbed breakfast at the diner. I headed across the street, taking in the quaint town of Aveline covered in a light dusting of snow.
Snow always made the town feel even more magical than it already was. I couldn’t decide which season was my favorite here. Winter brought the holidays, and the moment you walked outside, no matter where you were, it smelled like cinnamon and pine and Lenora’s fresh bread from the bakery. Winter made way for spring, for flowers and evenings spent at home listening to the thunderstorms and reading by lamplight. Then summers were for popsicles and Pop’s ice cream truck. Little kids were always riding their bikes throughout the town, chaining them up to the bike racks and running into the General Store for lemonade. Fall was just as magical with the Great Pumpkin Parade and the Founder’s Day Festival taking place and bringing the whole town together with apple cider and pumpkin-flavored everything.
When you came to Aveline, it felt like traveling back into a much simpler time. A time when people walked down the street without a cell phone in their faces. Kids played outside and everyone took care of each other. It was a place where you could feel safe and loved and where everyone could belong.
Walking past Lenora’s bakery, I glanced at my clinic across the street before entering the diner. The chime let everyone know that someone had arrived, and they all looked toward the door, pausing their bites and greeting me as I walked past them.
