Page 55 of Townshipped
The room erupts with laughter.
Laura looks over at me. “She writes fortunes. You know? For the cookies.”
“Wow,” I say. “I never knew that was an actual job. Though, it makes sense. Someone has to write them.”
“Pays better than my job at the newspaper,” Lexi says.
In an Asian accent, Shannon recites, “If you truly want to find yourself … play hide-and-seek alone.”
Laura chimes in. “You will be hungry again in less than two hours.”
Lexi giggles and then adds, “Confucius says: Person who seeks fortune in a cookie gets what he asked for.”
Shannon says, “Today is your lucky day … then on the back: This fortune was printed last week.”
Jayme follows with, “You will meet the man of your dreams. And lucky you, you’ll be awake.”
Our laughter increases with each quote one of them shares. My mind drifts back to the woman across the table at the pizzeria in my vague memory. Her voice is as clear as if she were right here. “Can you see Buck doing that? He’d never!”
Buck. That name again. I search my mind for more, but there’s nothing. It’s like the world was black and then there’s that snippet of memory and it fades to black again.
I force myself to let it go, repeating what Aiden always tells me,The stress of trying too hard won’t bring the memories back any sooner.
19
AIDEN
Howling.
I wake to howling. The clock says four thirty. It’s not a bark or a whimper. This dog is competing in the coyote sound-off. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and make my way downstairs.
After Em left for girls’ night, Duke called Rob and Trevor and invited them to come hang out along with a guy named Brooks who moved into town about six months ago to join the fire department. We played cards and the guys hung around until Em walked in the door looking tired, but beautiful.
I’m not usually self-conscious about her being here when it’s just the two of us, but the way all their heads turned to look at her and then scanned the room toward me, a spotlight might as well have been panning a stage. Questioning glances were exchanged, but thankfully no one came right out and said anything.
When I come through the darkened kitchen, the only light filling the room is the digital clock on the microwave telling me it’s four thirty-two. Granger has stopped howling. In the place of his yowling noises, Em’s comforting voice coos at him from the hallway outside her room where she’s squatting down and soothing him with hushing whispers and soft strokes across his side and belly.
She’s wearing her pajama bottoms and a flimsy T-shirt. Her light auburn hair falls in wild, unkempt strands around her face and down her back. Maybe Trevor’s right. I’m tempting fate by having her in my home. She’s starting to feel like I need her here. But, worse than that, I don’t know if I can trust myself to keep a respectable distance.
Em looks up at me. “Granger doesn’t like the laundry room.”
“He told you that, did he?” My voice comes out low and raspy, sleep-drenched and rougher than I expected.
Em looks up at me with wide eyes.
“I can tell. He’s been out in that cold night air by himself until he arrived here. Dogs are pack animals. He needs his pack so he can settle.”
“What do you suggest?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
I’m being a little grouchy and I know it. She deserves better, but if I soften, I’m bound to suggest we all play pack animals and pile into my bed together.
“He should sleep with me,” she suggests.
That’s a way more appropriate solution.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
