Page 82 of Book and Ladder
“Aaayyyye!” he shouts. “It’s the calendar!”
Captain rounds the doorway.
“Calendars arrived,” Cody informs him.
“Well, let’s have a look,” Captain says.
Dustin’s already thumbing through, holding up February and cackling.
He starts singing Sam Cooke’sCupid, drawing his hand back like he’s shooting an arrow from a bow.
Greyson practically growls. “Gimme that.”
“There’s plenty more where that came from,” Dustin reminds Greyson.
He plucks another out of the box. We’re all grabbing for one at this point.
“Careful, men,” David warns. “You each get one. But the rest are for us to keep on hand to sell. I’ve got boxes going out to a bunch of other local shops as well.”
Cody’s already flipping to December. I’m scanning September, and Dustin’s checking out August. I try to imagine what this photo will look like to Daisy. Will she use it for kindling?
Dustin holds the calendar up. “My milkshake brings all the girls to the yard!”
“What does that even mean?” Grey asks, shaking his head.
“It means I’m hot. Check me out, Grey.”
“I’ll pass.”
“All right, men, fun’s over,” David says.
We pack up the calendars and Dustin trails behind Captain, lugging the two boxes to the office.
The shift plods on with no major events. We’re called outwhen Sarah Rollins locks her keys and her toddler inside her minivan. Later we take a call for a small fuel spill at the gas station needing cleanup. Toward the end of the shift, Greyson and I take the medic truck out to Sycamore Assisted Living to respond to a fall.
We’re all filing out of the station after shift change, each of us heading to our own vehicle.
“Who’s coming out to Fork and Fiddle tomorrow night?” Dustin shouts.
He’s performing live in a special performance for the dinner crowd.
“I’ll be there,” I say.
“Count me in,” Cody says.
Greyson nods, which I assume means he’ll be there.
“Emberleigh and her friends will be there!” Dustin shouts. “I’ll have them save a table for you up front!”
Emberleigh and her friends—that means Daisy will be there.
After a short nap, I spend most of my day off at my sister’s, playing with my nieces and helping her with some minor repairs around the house. I didn’t want to be at home. Am I avoiding another run-in? Maybe. Okay, I’m a chicken. In reality, I’m too confused and torn to face Daisy. A million things bubble up whenever I’m near her—words I want to say. But I can’t. Not while my dad and she are on opposite sides of this development, and I’m torn between loyalty to my family, my unspoken feelings for Daisy, and my own attachment to Moss and Maple.
I arrive after the rest of my crew to Fork and Fiddle. The hostess points me to two tables right at the foot of the stage.
“Saved you a seat,” Cody says when I approach.
I stare at the empty chair on the side of the table next to the girls’ table. And, as luck would have it, Daisy’s seat is less than a foot away from mine.
