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She grabs her friend’s hand and pulls her in the opposite direction.
Mary Sue looks over her shoulder at me. “I hope we get to catch up while you’re in town, Miguel.”
Yeah, I think not.
I had enough problems without adding the two of them to the mix.
Rebecca mutters quietly something that sounds a lot like, “I bet you would.”
Her back is stiff, and her fingers are wrapped around the basket she’s carrying.
“What did you say?” I ask, leaning closer.
Her whole body jerks at my question. “Nothing,” she says quickly, taking a step back.
“That poor girl, just jumping from one man to another.” Mom shakes her head. “Bless her heart.”
I let out a snort. I couldn’t say I was surprised. Both Mary Sue and Lauren had been jumping from one available guy to the next. It didn’t matter who he was as long as he was an athlete, preferably on the football team.
Mom turns to me, eyebrows raised. “I thought you got lost, and I’d have to send out a search party.”
“I’m not five.” I push the cart closer, my attention still on Rebecca, but she’s avoiding my gaze.
Today, her long hair is in a braid that’s sliding over her shoulder. Her face is bare of makeup, accentuating the dark circles under her eyes.
Did she also have a hard time falling asleep after everything that had happened last night? Or did something happen with her mom? Is that why she stayed up late? Did she have another episode and try to run away? Did—
“Considering you were twelve the last time I had to do just that, I don’t know if that’s encouraging.”
I force myself to turn my sights on my mother. “And that was totally Aaron’s fault. He was the one who suggested we play hide and seek.”
Mom tsks, shaking her head. “I’m not even going tocomment on that.” She turns back to Rebecca. “Things those boys put me through.”
“I can imagine.” Rebecca’s lips curl into a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “It was nice seeing you, Mrs. Fernandez. You should stop by the Reading Nookwhen you’re in town.”
“I’ll do that, honey.” Mom pats her shoulder affectionately. “Say hi to your mom for me.”
“Will do.” With one last smile in my mom’s direction—all while pointedly ignoring me at the same time—Rebecca walks away.
My eyes are glued to her retreating back until she ducks behind the corner.
And I’m not the only one.
“That poor girl,” Mom sighs. “Always carrying too much weight on those slender shoulders.”
That much was true. Rebecca hated being a burden to anybody. After her father’s death, she was forced to grow up too quickly, as all of the Williams’ children were, but I guess even back then, as the only girl in the family, she carried the heaviest load while her Mom was grieving the death of her husband.
“You and Becky seem cozy.”
“Is that a problem?” she asks, and I don’t miss the note of defensiveness in her tone.
Turning my attention back to my mother, I find her eyes narrowed on me, one of her brows arched.
“No, of course not.” I lift my hand, running my fingers through my wild curls. “It’s just an observation. That’s all.”
“I’ve known Becky since she was a little girl. I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but I don’t see why it should change anything between—”
“Wait, what?” My brows pull together at her comment. She doesn’t know what happened? How is that possible? It seemed like everybody in this town knew what had happened, and theydidn’t have an issue showing me exactly how they felt. Just look at Mrs. Letty.
