Page 171 of As They Are
I paused in my weeding as I thought about it. For most of my life, I was always in search of something to fix. I couldn’t imagine not finding a bigger and better house to renovate, but now that I thought about it, I didn’thaveto fix anything. I loved my job, and I would want to get back to renovations eventually, but I felt like I could take a break.
I could be with Henry.
“You know, you’re not wrong,” I said. “I guess I can come back for my boyfriend.”
Tammy narrowed her eyes and looked around. “You don’t have to lie to me, kid. I know.”
“You know?”
“Iknow,”she repeated as she leaned in. “It’s all for the show.”
I gasped. “What? How did you find out?”
“I figured it out when Henry got all cagey. This is the face of a mother. He couldn’t lie to me.”
I could see Henry crumbling under Tammy’s hard stare. I’d probably do the same.
“Ah, well. I guess the secret is out. In a way.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Did he talk to you like I told him to?”
“You told him to do that?”
“No miscommunications on my watch,” she said with a laugh. “So, he did it?”
“He did,” I replied. “And I said yes.”
“Finally! I might have only known the truth for a day, but that was too long!”
I laughed. “I’m glad no one else knew. They wouldn’t have been able to keep their mouths shut.”
“Definitely not. And you two owe me, considering technicallyIwon the bet.”
“Oh, God. I hadn’t even thought of that. How much money did you lose out on?”
Her flat expression told me it was a lot.
“Let’s just say you’re lucky I like you or else I’d be asking to get paid back.”
“Back pay for bet winning is a new one for me.”
“We take them seriously around here. You’ll get your chance to join in on one soon. Something tells me you’ll fit in just fine once you’re settled.”
Had I ever fit in anywhere? Sure, I had with Mollie, but it wasn’t like this. It wasn’t a community.
“I honestly can’t wait to be done with my work in Nashville so I can get back. Hopefully I won’t miss anything good.”
“What all do you have planned?”
“You wanna hear about all of the things I’m doing back in Nashville?”
“Yeah. I’m fascinated by what you get up to, kid. I’ll hear it all.”
Cotton made its way into my throat. I’d come here to escape and spend time with Mollie before the show resumed. It was supposed to be temporary and fleeting.
And instead, I found a family. And I was starting to really like spending time with them.
“Wren!” Mollie yelled the second I was through the door. She ran over to me, hugging me despite how sweaty I was. “Thank God I can actuallyseethat you’re okay.”
