Page 7 of Like A Daydream
“Farm team in Albany was a fever dream,” Andrew says, “if anyone asks I’ll deny whatever you say.”
“Bro,” JT says, “you got pulled over and tried to tell the police you were me.”
“How was I supposed to know you went to high school with someone in the Albany PD?” Andy asks, throwing his hands up in the air. “It’s not like it’s close to Lake Placid.”
“That’s not even the worst thing!” JT says, rolling his eyes as he steps away from the door.
“Again, plausible deniability will be evoked,” Andrew says.
“Yeah, yeah,” JT says, “just remember, my stories about you are just as bad as yours are about me.”
“JT?” Andrew calls over his shoulder as he starts down the stairs. JT turns to look at him. “Thanks.”
His friend smiles. “What are friends for, if not to open their homes at five in the morning?”
Danielle
Danielle loves the bookstore in the morning, when she’s the only one there and the security lights are casting a warm glow on the shelves. It’s quiet, a place she can think. A place she can cry if she needs to, breathe if she needs to, and just be for a few minutes before she starts her morning tasks and opens the store.
The ‘Help Wanted’ sign in the door is starting to fade with age, but it’s okay. She hasn’t been able to find the right person, and most people don’t want to work for minimum wage in the summer when there’s so much more to do. And they can make better money working in hospitality.
She locks the door behind her as she steps in, pulling her jacket off and heading for their small café area. Danielle had it put in when she had taken over after college, trying to change to fit in with the big chain stores and stay afloat in a small town.
Who doesn’t love coffee and books in the same place?
She slides the bake case open, restocking it with the homemade pastries she had picked up from her parents on her way in, and starts two pots of coffee. She checks their cold brew supply, and sets out new boxes of tea options.
This is easy work, methodical work. Tasks she doesn’t have to think so hard about before she flips on the lights and unlocks the door for the day.
The village comes alive in the summer. It’s a prime season for tourists with kids being on summer break looking for a place to camp, but still being close enough to civilization that they can get Wi-Fi.
The world doesn’t stop for anyone, even in a place as beautiful as Adirondack Park.
The weather is mild and the mountains are beautifully green and primed for hikes. The lake water is cool and refreshing, the number one spot for fun.
School is almost out, and the ice cream stands have thrown their windows open for the summer, restaurants have added new menu items, coffee shops have started seasonal drinks.
At any given time, you can look out on the lake and see boats and jet-skis zipping by, making waves in the warm summer sun. People are on the beaches with coolers from sun up to sun down.
Lake Placid is an all-seasons kind of place. There’s something different and attractive about it all year, but the summer crowd was, by nature, lively and exciting. Every year brings something new and Danielle is ready for it to begin.
Her phone buzzes in her pocket, her best friend, Emerson, is already up and getting her day started.
Em<3: heading into town to shop for Harper today! I’ll swing by in a couple of hours!
danielle:can’t wait to see you!
Em <3:you just saw me last night
danielle: it’s already been too long <3
Em<3 :Jack says to watch it, I’m taken.
danielle:Baby,I loved you first
Em<3quoting one direction at me definitely makes me want a divorce
danielle:I wanna be yours, don’t you wanna be mine?
