Page 18 of Harmony Island Gazette
JUNIPER
The morning went smoother than I’d anticipated. Boone was uncomplicated and focused, which helped me relax as we went through the daily motions of opening the store. Without Mom and Dad here complicating things, we were able to finish the prep work and chat with Sal and Katie when they walked in.
I set up shop at the register, while Boone chose to walk the aisles and stock the shelves. If I needed assistance, all I needed to do was call him over the intercom and he’d come open a register.
By lunchtime, the store was humming with life and the sound of the register scanning each item. I was in a rhythm, and for the first time in a long time, I felt…relaxed.
And I was enjoying it.
Mrs. Dodd handed me a twenty after I rang up her bananas, three yogurts, a half gallon of milk, and a chocolate bar. I took the money from her, typed the amount into the computer, and my register drawer opened so I could get her change.
“Where’s your mother?” she asked as I handed her the money.
“With my dad. They’re headed to California to help my aunt—Mom’s sister.”
Mrs. Dodd’s eyes widened. “I hope everything’s okay.”
I knew how private my mom was. The last thing she’d want me to do was share my aunt’s business all over town. So I just forced a smile and said, “It’s just a visit. They’ll be back in a few days.”
Mrs. Dodd nodded as she tucked the money into its respective spots. “She’s lucky to have such a loyal daughter like you,” she said as she raised her gaze to meet mine. “I know she’s been missing you since you left. It’s good that you came back.”
Guilt, shame, and anger flooded my body at her words. Guilt that I let Kevin keep me away for so long. Shame that I hadn’t been stronger and stood up for myself. Anger that I was still keeping things from my parents even though they’d so willingly taken me back.
I was a terrible daughter.
I forced a smile and handed Mrs. Dodd her receipt. She took it and bid me farewell as she turned and headed toward the automatic doors. I collapsed against the register and took in a few deep breaths. Who was I kidding? Why did I think I could actually feel peace when my life was in shambles. And it was all my fault.
“When do you want to go to lunch?” Boone’s voice drew me from the fog in my head. I turned to see him standing behind me. My feelings must have been written on my face because his expression turned serious as he took a step toward me. “What’s wrong? Is he here?” His body stiffened as he glanced around the store.
I raised my hand and shook my head. “No. I’m okay,” I lied as I straightened and smoothed down my shirt. “Just a bout of nausea.” I cleared my throat. “Lunch?”
He glanced down at me before glancing around the store one more time. I could tell by his expression that he wasn’t fully convinced, but I’d learned enough about Boone by now to know that he wasn’t going to push me—unlike my mother. If I said nothing was wrong, he would accept it, even if he was skeptical.
“Yeah,” he said as he pushed his hand through his hair. “If you want to go, I can watch the register.”
My stomach grumbled in response. I was ready to eat. “Um, sure.” I turned back to the register and then back to him. “Yeah, I can go.”
His gaze met mine. “Only if you want to.”
My lips tipped up into a soft smile. Boone was…different. Kevin always told me where to go and when. He never asked me what I wanted. I was his wife. His property. I didn’t have a say even when it came to what I wanted. Hearing Boone make sure I was okay with taking a break was nice.
I liked making my own decisions.
“I do. I’m hungry, and if I don’t eat I’ll get nauseous.”
Boone’s gaze drifted down to my stomach before he nodded. “Okay.”
“Thanks.” I patted his arm as I passed. He stiffened, and for a moment I wondered if I’d overstepped. But then I pushed those thoughts from my mind. Boone and I were friends. He knew more about me than anyone else in my life.
I walked to the meat counter to pick up one of Sal’s famous sandwiches. After grabbing a bag of Funyuns, I slid back the door to the drink cooler and grabbed a Sprite before I made my way to the register to pay.
There were two people in front of me when I got in line. Boone was quiet as he scanned each item. The woman who was standing there, watching her groceries, was about my age. I’d never seen her before, but that didn’t mean anything. There were a lot of new people in town.
She was desperately trying to engage Boone in conversation. Her smile was wide, and her laugh was loud whenever she was able to get a few words from him. Their connection would only last for a moment before Boone dropped his gaze to focus on scanning the food. I could tell that Boone felt uncomfortable, but the woman didn’t seem to realize she was bothering him.
She kept talking, and at one point, she reached over and touched his hand. Anger rose up inside of me as I watched the interaction. I didn’t like that this woman thought she could just come in here and touch the employees. I also didn’t like that she couldn’t pick up on the fact that he was uncomfortable. Sure, Boone was hot. He had this brooding, mysterious element to him that would pique any woman’s interest, but he was so much more than that. And for some strange reason, it was frustrating me that she couldn’t see that.
Thankfully, the woman ran out of groceries to scan. She glanced around as if she were looking for something else to pick up, but Boone motioned toward the credit card machine and told her the total. The woman pulled her card from her purse while asking him if he was free Friday night. I held my breath, waiting to hear what he was going to say.
