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She nods solemnly, knowing how important it is to me to begin helping the kids this year.
“I’m sure it’ll be approved any day now. And like I’ve said, I’ve got your back. Tell me where and when, and I’ll take pictures at the official launch ceremony.”
I force as much excitement and gratitude as possible into the upturn of my mouth. Zoe’s a talented photographer with dreams of doing more than weddings, baby shots, and town festivities. When she heard about what I wanted to achieve, she graciously offered to chronicle the key milestones of Bright Horizons and even helped create a website.
“Thank you.” I pull her in for a hug.
“Any time. I gotta go. I have pictures to develop and then I’m scouting locations for additional pictures of Katie and Raf.”
“Oh, yes, you’re doing their wedding, aren’t you?”
“Who else would be doing it?”
“Good point.”
“Guess who’s coming home for the wedding?”
“Who?”
“Maddox Hartley.”
We went to high school with Maddox, and he was one of Oliver’s closest friends. Shortly after graduating, he made it big as a race car driver, sponsored by some European company with deep pockets. Now he travels the world and hasn’t been home since. But now, it sounds like he’s coming back for his younger sister’s wedding.
“Wow. I haven’t seen him in forever. Who told you? Katie?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Is Erica coming too?” She was his high school sweetheart and they took off together.
“Don’t know. Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.” We hug and I head for the library.
In the distance, I spot a man slipping in between two buildings and don’t give much thought until I near the spot. I slow, not sure who or what I’ll find.
Once at the opening to the narrow alley, I see a man and a woman several feet from the street, partially hidden by the shadows. Though I can’t make out their faces, something about them—their hand gestures and profiles—is familiar.
It doesn’t take me long to figure out who they are. Dot Malone and Kellen Marshall, the town outcast. What an odd pair.
They’re deep in conversation, neither aware of my presence. I can only make out the odd word and hush of their urgent whispers, but their body language gives them away. They’re arguing.
I should keep walking—this is none of my business—but I don’t. Can’t. A strange tingling runs along the back of my neck. Call it intuition or a sixth sense, because I have nothing else to base this on. Yet I can’t shake the feeling this interaction between these two is important, maybe even connected to me.
My back presses against a brick wall, trying to look inconspicuous, and I watch. Dot violently waves her hands in the air, her wispy thin hair flying around her head like a tornado. Kellen’s hands curl into fists at his side. Back ramrod straight and jaw clenched, he’s like a powder keg ready to blow.
His thunderous, “Dammit, Dot” hits me square in the stomach, and as if to punctuate what comes next, Kellen’s fingers stab at the electrically charged air between them. “This is bullshit. I have rights too, you know.”
Foolishly, I suck in a breath, and this causes Dot to swing her head in my direction.Shit.
Her eyes widen then quickly narrow as she stares daggers at me. It’s too late to hide, and I’m not sticking around for her wrath. I scurry toward the library.
As I sprint across the street, Kellen’s words boom like a church bell in my mind.“I have rights too.”
What could Dot and Kellen possibly have to talk about? And what rights? He’s a troublemaker, and as far as I knew, Dot looked down her nose at him.
Back in elementary school, he used to be best friends with Oliver and Maddox. By the first year of high school, they parted ways with Kellen. He left chaos in his wake and nothing has changed. Kellen lives on the fringe of our community, both literally and figuratively, whereas Dot’s at the center of everything.
Even still, Kellen has a certain kind of appeal that attracts some of the women in this town. He may be bad, but he’s good-looking, and if the rumors are true, he knows how to treat a woman.
