AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s just sharing. I have too much anyway. Come on.” I reached out for her hand, guiding her to our table.
My friends gave me weird looks but didn’t say anything.
“Whitney is going to eat with us today,” I told them all before they could complain.
After a quick round of “okays” everyone went back to talking football. Everyone but me. I carefully divided up everything in my lunch bag and didn’t take a bite until Whitney did.
Whitney sat with us every day after that for the rest of the year.
Chapter 7
Whitney
“Can you please hurry up?I have a lot of things I need to get done today,” I yelled at my sister who was on the twenty-ninth minute of curling her hair. I had gotten up today and mapped out my plan over a cup of coffee.
While I loved the benefits of apps and digital organization, sometimes I needed to write my plans on paper. It gave me a level of satisfaction that my phone just couldn’t compete with. So, I started the day by compiling a new list of to-dos and projected timeframes in which to get them done.
And right now, my sister was throwing a wrench into my carefully crafted schedule.
“You look great, now let’s go.” I unplugged the hot pink curling iron and scooted her out of the bathroom, only allowing her to stop for her purse before heading for the door.
“My hair doesn’t seem to be curling the same way it used to,” Savannah huffed as she got into the car, pulling the seatbelt into place, her breathing heavier than usual.
I looked over from my seat on the passenger’s side, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Stupid pregnancy hormones got me all out of breath. I’ll be fine, I just need to sit here for a minute or two.”
I felt like a jerk. I was supposed to be making things easier for my sister, not pushing her to her physical limit.
When her breathing normalized, Savannah started the car. “Where do you want me to drop you off again?”
“The rental car place. I’ll need to have something to get around in while my car is at the shop.” Haver’s Creek only had one repair shop, and it was right next to the rental car place, which worked out well for me. I could see how long Bud, the owner of Bud’s Car Repair, would need to work on my beautiful blue BMW and rent a car based on that length of time.
Then I needed to find a real estate agent, preferably one not named Katie Kooney, and stop by the police station. I planned that to be last. Make Jack stew a bit.
“You know you can just borrow my car, right?”
While Savannah’s offer was generous, it wouldn’t work. I had grown accustomed to having my own things, having that control in my life. I couldn’t stop now.
“That won’t be necessary. Besides, I’m sure the insurance company will cover me for the cost of the rental. It’s not a big deal.”
“Whatever you say, sis.”
In a few short minutes we pulled into downtown Haver’s Creek. Basically, three square blocks of restaurants, shops and local offices filled with lawyers and accountants.
It looked like the quintessential middle-America small town. To say it was picturesque would be an understatement.
Haver’s Creek drew in tourists by the bus load, which was a good thing and helped keep this little town on the map. If I hadn’t grown up and known better, I would think nothing bad could happen in this little epicenter of Americana.
To me this town represented something darker.
Neglect. Hunger.
Things I could never not associate with Haver’s Creek despite its deceptive sheen. To be fair, it wasn’t the town’s fault I grew up the way I did.
Bringing myself to the present, I shook off my negative feelings, focusing on all that I had to accomplish today.
Fortunately, owning my own business made me very efficient. I started mentally going through my growing checklist as we pulled up to Bud’s.
