Page 64 of Happy Harbor
“Are you going to tell me what I did?”
Josie sucked in a sharp breath and blew it out. “I told you I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“I know something has happened, and you not telling me is just going to make everything worse. You have to learn to be more open and trusting, Josie.”
Josie could feel her blood boiling. How could this woman, the one person who had ruined her entire childhood, be saying that to her? Why did she think Josie was so untrusting?
“Let’s make this about Kendra right now. I don’t wanna talk about anything else.”
Diane leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “I want this to be about Kendra also, but you can’t just keep shutting me out when you get upset about something in your own mind.”
“In my own mind? You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about!” Josie said in a loud whisper.
The sales lady looked up from across the room, obviously aware some kind of altercation was going on.
“I just want to be a part of your life... and Kendra’s. If you won’t tell me what’s going on, I can’t help you.”
“Help me? You haven’t helped me a day in your life. But you always seem to help yourself.”
Diane’s eyebrows furrowed. “What? What is that even supposed to mean?”
“Hello, ladies.” Josie looked up to see Ethel standing there. She had a big smile on her face and was holding a shopping bag.
“Hi, Ethel.”
“I suppose you’re here to let Kendra try on dresses for prom?”
“Yes. She’s in the dressing room,” Diane said, her voice monotone.
“I’m here with my granddaughter, Lily. She’s in the dressing room too. Mind if I sit down?”
“Sure,” Josie said, not making eye contact as Ethel sat on the other side of her. She really wished she were alone right now.
“I heard about the restaurant having some damage from the storm the other night. How are the repairs going?”
If there was one thing Josie hated, it was small talk. But she knew in a small town like Happy Harbor, she had to play nice.
“They are going well, but slowly.”
“I’ve had to move in with Josie and Kendra for a little while,” Diane said.
“I’m going to see if Walker can speed up the repairs so the apartment will be available again,” Josie said, looking at Ethel but not her mother.
“Oh. Well, good luck with that.”
“I don’t know why you’re so mad at me,” Diane said under her breath.
“Oh my gosh! Can you let it go? I’m not talking about this right now.”
Kendra walked out of the dressing room with a stunning pink gown on. “What do y’all think?”
“You look beautiful!” Josie said. And she did. For a fleeting moment, Josie envisioned sitting in a dress shop one day while she watched her only child try on wedding dresses.
“I don’t know. I don’t really like these straps.”
The saleswoman walked closer, holding a long blue gown. “I think this one would look wonderful with your eyes.”
Kendra took it from her hand. “Okay. I’ll try it on.” Josie could tell her daughter was getting discouraged. There wasn’t a lot of inventory left in the store, given that prom was just a few days away.
