Page 41 of Dream a Little Dream

“Hmm?” I asked, swiveling, hands on my hips. “Oh, the whiskey drink? I mean the whiskey? The flavor right there? That one. Yep. I mean, no. No. Can’t say I have. Do you, um, recommend it?”This might be your brother. This might be your brother. This is likely your brother. He has your eye shape.

“It depends on what you like. The honey flavor definitely softensthe bite of the alcohol.” He squinted as if trying to give me a read. “Are you more of a purist?”

“I’m more of a martini girl, but I’m open minded.”

“My favorite kind of customer.” Then Charlie did something remarkable. He leapt onto the nearby rolling ladder and rode it down the aisle à la Belle fromBeauty and the Beast. I watched in amused captivation as he skated a good twenty feet. Charlie hopped off with more grace than I would have assigned him and grabbed a small bottle. “Apple Cinnamon Sipper. Perfect for fall, and fitting for a martini drinker looking to try the brown stuff, with a little bit of a buffer.”

That actually didn’t sound bad at all. I accepted the small bottle. “Sold! You know your stuff, Charlie.”

“That’s why they pay me such a very small salary around here.” He added a laugh to what was a joke he’d likely told before.

I liked him. I really did. And our rapport was good. I wondered if he had any idea about our potential connection. Had he heard similar rumors about his dad and my mom? And even if he had, it didn’t mean he’d imagine anything or anyone had come of their relationship.

“Anything else for you today?”

“I think you’ve got me all set up.”

“I’ll carry this to the front for you.” Charlie gestured to the one crutch I was still using a week after the sprain. “And stay off that ladder. You look like you’re not at full speed just yet. Was real sorry to hear about the fall.”

I followed him to the cash register, my hands shaking. “You did? I had no idea it would be major news.”

“Are you kidding? Folks around here love you and everything you’ve done with the grocery store.”

“That’s really nice to hear.” I had received quite a few texts and calls checking in on my pain level and to see if I needed anything. Mrs. Martinelli had dropped a hash brown casserole on my doorstep with an adorable illustration of her dog, Henry. Maya brought me a stuffed animal that doubled as a heating pad when placed in the microwave. Even Kyle had sent multiple texts to check on my pain level.

“Hey, how’s Jacob doing?”

“My dad? Oh, he refuses to get his eyes checked. I watch him squint at the TV, but he’s too damn proud to go to the optometrist. I’m not done fighting, though.”

I shifted my weight away from my sore foot, but I was smiling. That little detail made me imagine them bickering the way I likelywould be with my parents if they were still alive. I missed out on that adult relationship. I wondered what it would be like to have them walk through the grocery store, wave, smile, and steal an update session before buying their weekly haul. Maybe I had a chance for something adjacent now.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll get through to him somehow,” I told Charlie. “Give Jill a hug for me.”

“You got it. And let me know what you think of that whiskey sipper.”

“You got it, Charlie.”

I left the store still off balance, but a little lighter than when I’d gone in.

“And how are you doing after seeing him, knowing who he may be to you?” Jonathan asked from my kitchen. He’d recently got his hair trimmed, which always motivated him to toss it a great deal more and spend time in the kitchen, perfecting his stir-fry recipe. I’d never known anyone who got such invigoration from a haircut but was happy I was about to reap the benefits for dinner.

“He’s a good guy. Our brief conversation just reinforced that. You know how you get a feeling from someone, often good or bad? I already liked him but left somehow reassured. If he is related to me, I could do a whole lot worse, you know? What’s wrong?”

Jonathan’s face had gone still as he stared at his phone. “It’s the guy I’ve been talking to online.”

“Calling you?”

He nodded. “He’s too successful, attractive, and emotionally available to be interested in me.”

“Answer the phone.”

“I don’t think I can do it.” He dropped the phone on the counter like a scalding hot pan. I immediately picked it up, slid onto the call, and grinned. “Jon’s phone. This is his friend, Savanna.”

“Is he around? This is Christian.”

I made a show of looking around the kitchen. “He’s around here somewhere. Yes. Christian, you say? Sure, lemme see if I can grab him, Christian.” I liked saying his name. I hit mute and grinned. “He sounds nice. Very rich voice. Pretty sure he’s ripped.” I gestured to my abs.

“He is both. Which is exactly why he’s not going to be into me. I should avoid him and save myself the heartbreak when he realizes he’s out of my league.”

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