Page 107 of All Too Well
So, no, I don’t need to listen to any bullshit.
Ainsley cuts in. “You know what? We can ask my daddy. He still has lots of friends here.”
“We’re not going to see the Admiral, just you.”
There’s no way with the surprise that’s coming that we’re going to her father’s house.
She shrugs. “If you’re in town, it would be rude not to stop by. He wants to see you both.”
I clench my jaw because if I don’t, I might ruin the surprise.
Besides, the absolute last thing I want to do is go by our old homes. My father will probably be there, and then I’ll have no choice but to talk to him.
“No, we don’t have time. We need to get to the strawberries before they’re all gone. Maybe you should call him and have him meet us there,” I suggest.
She snorts. “Considering I’m staying there tonight, that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Besides, I indicated we’d be there for dinner.”
“Did you?”
“I want to go see the Admiral,” Rose says, crossing her arms over her chest. “I want to go on the boats.”
“Ships.” We both correct her at the same time and then laugh.
We’re going to talk about all of this later. “Why don’t you tell Ainsley about your teacher,” I suggest, letting it drop for now.
Rose obliges, telling her stories about her friends, her class, and that Briggs is now her friend and he isn’t being stupid anymore.
We enter the town limits of Pungo, and it’s like being torn back in time. Nothing has changed. There are strawberry fields everywhere and people walking around, picking berries and heading to where the festival is.
“Okay, let’s make a plan,” Ainsley says. “I say we do the rides first, then pick, then eat.”
“Absolutely not. We have a short amount of time, and we’re here for the strawberries. If you remember these people line up early and always get the good ones. We need to pick first, for several reasons.”
She purses her lips. “This is a ploy. I can smell it.”
“I promise it’s not.”
It really is. She’s got a big surprise coming in about two minutes.
I follow the line to the lot we’re parking in and lowkey send a text while she’s putting sunscreen on Rose.
We’re here, meet you at the front entrance.
I slide my phone into my pocket, not waiting for a reply, and walk to the front. We’re standing here, Ainsley is holding Rose’s hand, and for a moment I can see what life would be like for the three of us.
Ainsley writing on the back porch, Rose playing outside while I work on the yard. Then we’d eat, put Rose to bed, and I’d make Ainsley very happy at night.
A baritone voice breaks me from my stupid fantasy.
“Excuse me, do you have a barf bag? My sister is prone to puking at these events.”
Ainsley turns around, eyes wide. “Caspian!”
“Hey, Berry!”
She launches herself into her brother’s arms, and he laughs, taking a few steps back from her assault.
“Easy, you maniac.”
