Page 61 of Kiss and Tell
I point to the small table. “You sit there and be quiet while I make coffee. I will not make up any sexy times, but I do have stuff to tell you.”
She pulls off her poncho and holds up an unopened one she’s brought for me before setting them both on the coat hooks by the door. I describe the first two dates to her, and as always, she’s the best audience ever. Gasps, questions, exclamations, a hand clap when I tell her about the flirting over bracelets.
“I can’t wait for Juniper to be your flower girl next year.”
“Um, jumping the gun there.” Her joke sends a prickle of sensation through my stomach, chest, and palms, but I can’t interpret it. It’s a sudden surge of something, but I can’t tell if it’s adrenaline or nausea.
“Just manifesting what I want. Thanks for the coffee. It’s Ben’s turn to watch Juniper today, so I need to go run the office. Pop in whenever you want to call your sister back.” She washes out her mug then leaves.
I finish my coffee and change quickly so I can go find out what Grace needs. I bike up to the office, frowning at the sky turning the lake gray. I’m sure Sawyer has a—well, a backup plan for the rain, but I’m always less anxious when I know what it is.
Natalie is helping a couple at the office counter when I walk in, so I wave and duck into the nurse’s office. I have Wi-Fi calling here so I don’t need the landline.
Grace picks up on the first ring. “Tabitha Leigh Winters, are you at Oak Crest?”
I wince. “Why are you speaking to me in capital letters?”
“Why didn’t you tell us you’re in town?”
“Us? Where are you?” She lives in Charleston.
“Creekville,” she says. “I’m helping Noah pack, and we drive back on Sunday.”
“That’s this weekend?” I knew Noah had already accepted a teaching job in a school district out there, but I hadn’t realized he had finished here.
“Yep. Wednesday was the students’ last day, and today it’s his, but we got most of his school stuff packed up already. So anyway, when are you coming here?”
“I’m not,” I say. “I’m at Oak Crest for work, so that’s why I didn’t tell Mom and Dad. I knew it would be too busy for me to get away.”
“Tab, come on. We see each other once a year. Let’s break the record and see each othertwice.I’m sure Nat will let you borrow the Rust Bucket to drive over.”
“It’s a non-rusty newer van now.”
“Sounds terrible. Borrow it and come see us. At least for a couple of hours.”
“If I’d known you were going to be here too, I would have totally planned for it, but—”
“Tabitha, it’s Memorial Day weekend. You have to come see Grammy and Grandad.”
It’s a dirty card to play. They’re buried in Creekville Memorial Park, and we used to visit their graves every Memorial Day to pay our respects when we were kids.
“Grace…”
“They’re so sad.”
“Ugh. Hold on.” I poke my head out of the nurse’s office, and sure enough, through the main office window, I can see dimples in the lake as the rain pelts it. I debate for a minute, but truthfully, I could use some downtime to process yesterday’s hang with Sawyer.
I go back to the phone. “I hate to reward you for being a little manipulator, but you win. I can make it out for a few hours.”
“Good,” she says. “Text me when you get to the store.”
We hang up, and I’m trying to figure out the least damp way to let Sawyer know about my plans, but he’s standing in the office when I walk out.
“Hey,” he says. “Fancy meeting you here.”
I blink at him. “Did I conjure you?”
“Uh, no?”
