Page 68 of The Fall Back Plan
We head out and I park behind the station and walk over to meet them on the library lawn, where Brooklyn is smoothing out the blanket we brought.
“What’s in here?” Jolie asks as she opens the basket.
“Pops packed,” I confess. “We’ll see.”
We pull out a ham sandwich lunch with plastic baggies of plain chips and more with sliced carrots. He’s even put a whole bottle of ranch dressing inside. Dessert is a Little Debbie oatmeal creme pie for everyone.
“Not so fancy,” I say, by way of apology. “But I promise, he uses the good bread and ham.”
“Are you kidding?” Jolie asks as she unwraps a sandwich. “This is perfect.” After a bite she adds, “Good bread and good ham.”
“Why are we doing all this?” Brooklyn says. “Because we’re trying to prove what?”
We spend the next several minutes taking turns explaining the doll situation to Brooklyn, who looks increasingly baffled.
“Why would anyone care if you gave their kid a doll? A girl in my class got one, and she likes hers.”
“People get odd about strangers giving their kids gifts,” I tell her. “And there’s nothing wrong with being alert. The problem here is certain folks going around accusing Jolie of doing it without any proof and implying she’s up to something . . .” I’m trying to find a word, but Brooklyn supplies it.
“Nefarious?”
I grin. “Yes, nefarious, vocab genius. How do you know all these words?”
She shrugs. “Reading. Speaking of that, I know we’re going to the bookstore, but can we go to the library too? I want to see what’s on the new release shelf.”
“Works for me,” Jolie says, but her enthusiasm feels forced.
I gather up the trash and put it into the Walmart plastic bag Pops also provided. “Brooklyn, can you go throw this away?”
She jumps up to do it, and when she’s out of earshot, I turn to Jolie. “You don’t have to take her to the library.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s fine. Remember I told you Mrs. Herring wants me to volunteer there? I’ve been avoiding her since I became public enemy number one.”
“I know Roberta Herring. She isn’t going to believe the rumors.”
“Probably not,” Jolie says. “But she’ll recognize that it’s no bueno having me around kids right now.”
“Jo.” I want to take her hands in mine and squeeze them, reassure her that she’s going to be okay. But I’m rationing how often I’ll let myself touch her because I’m trying to respect her boundaries.
Instead, I shift so I’m sitting beside her, and that means we’re now both facing toward the busy general store and the weekend foot traffic mountain towns get when the temperatures cool. “I know it seems like everyone in the world is on Sloane’s side, but I promise you, this town is way bigger than her. There are way more people who haven’t even heard about this situation than who have. It’ll make you feel better if you can remember that.”
She nods and climbs to her feet as Brooklyn comes back. “Ready for the library?”
“Ready,” Brooklyn says.
“Can I tag along for this part too if I swear to leave you alone for the rest?” I ask as I fold the blanket.
Brooklyn rolls her eyes but says, “Okay, Uncle Lucas. But you don’t have to protect me so much. Miss Jo is safe.”
“I know,” I tell her. “This just sounds way more fun than the paperwork waiting for me.”
“Let’s go then.”
We walk into the library a minute later, and Roberta Herring greets us with a smile. Brooklyn peels off to the circulation room after a quick wave to the librarian.
“Hello there, friends,” Mrs. Herring says. “I’d say I’m surprised to see you all together, but Brooklyn has been telling me all about your book recommendations to her, Jolie.”
“Guilty,” Jolie says, and I think she almost winces. Not a great choice of words, considering everything.
