Page 31 of As They Are
I bit my lip again. Maybe Tammy knew something about it. Henry too. “Okay, I’ll do that.”
“And Wren?” Mollie started. “I think it’s really sweet that you wanna work on the library. Most people would see it and walk right past.”
“You know I love bringing things back to life.”
“It always seems to be what you need to make yourself feel better,” she said. “So I’ll help in any way I can.”
“You’re back already! And this time, you brought Mollie!” Tammy seemed genuinely excited to see us.
“She owes me a diner breakfast,” Mollie said, linking her arm through mine. “And we can chat while we’re at it.”
This morning, Mollie caught me as I was coming down the stairs, declaring that Cain was working on the farm and she would be helping me get information on the STM grant. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, even when I wanted her to focus on her work, and drove me here herself.
This was the Mollie I knew. The spunky girl from high school who’d broken past everyone else’s words and became my best friend. I hadn’t realized how much of her I’d lost while she was with Trevor.
“Chat? You know I love that.” Tammy walked us over to our table. “Coffee for Mollie and water for Wren, right?” she asked.
“That’s right,” Mollie said with a smile. “Then, we have a question for you.”
“I’ll get your drinks, but then you’ll have to scoot over. If I’m getting questioned, I’ll at least sit with you.”
Mollie nodded as she chuckled. Tammy went to get our drinks.
“She’s awesome,” Mollie said. “Most people here are.”
“It’s different,” I mused. “Everyone knows each other.”
“For the good and the bad. But I like it. After being lost in the anonymity of the city, it feels good to be known.”
The idea sounded great. To be liked no matter who you were. To be a part of something. I was good at being a part of things, but there was always something people didn’t like. Something that excluded me.
Now more than ever.
“We’re gonna have to talk about whatever gave you that look on your face,” Mollie said. “Because I know it wasn’t the library.”
“I’m—”
“If you say you’re fine, I’m gonna start throwing sugar packets at you.”
My shoulders slumped. “You know me too well.”
“What did Jude do?”
“How do you also know it was him?”
“All we talked about was you and him, and now you won’t mention his name. It’s a process of elimination.”
“It really wasn’t that bad in the end,” I said.
“Somehow, I doubt that. But you can have a few more minutes of denial if that makes you feel any better.”
“I’m back!” Tammy announced. “Coffee and water. Now, what were you gonna ask?”
She sat next to Mollie, facing me. Mollie gave me one last pointed look before fully turning to Tammy.
“You know the STM grant, right?” Mollie asked.
“Of course I do.”
