“When are you going to say yes and become my fifth husband?”
Fifth?
“Aww, I’m honored,” he stammers. The sheriff is nothing more than a rookie. “Is she causing you any trouble, miss?”
“Nope, she’s my new slave.”
“Wait, what?” I ask.
“Ms. Aberdeen.” The deputy sighs in exasperation. “We call them employees now.”
She just hums, licks her lips, and shuts the window, probably to go back toJersey Shore.
“Is climbing through windows going to be a habit, Wren?” The sheriff, who already knows my name, gives me a hand, which he uses to yank me to my feet.
Cheeks ablaze, I shake my head. “Nope. Not at all.”
“Good day to ya.” He tips his hat and departs.
As far as first impressions go, this could have been worse.
I probably just jinxed myself.
CHAPTER 7
“You go first.”Lark bounces in her seat as the server, a lovely girl in her late teens with purple-colored lips and vibrant orange hair, smiles at her. She sets down Lark’s Coke. I know, I’m a terrible mom. Sugar bad, water hydrating.
“Oh no, you go first.” My bum still aches from where I fell.
“Sera said to stop by the local apothecary to grab something for your back.” Just like me, she drums her fingers on the tabletop as she takes in the small diner. Dee-Dee’s Diner. It’s owned by a joyous woman no taller than Lark’s five feet with emerald eyes and freckles to match my daughter’s. They spent a solid five minutes chatting away about how freckles are really body constellations before I dragged her to a table.
Beautiful deep greens give the place a peaceful atmosphere instead of that rustic diner feel. Along the back wall is a marble counter with old-fashioned displays of pastries and pies. I know what I’m buying on the way home. There aren’t that many tables scattered around, maybe only a dozen, but it’s cozy and comfortable and I already love it.
“There’s a local apothecary?” I can feel my wrinkles deepen. I’m only thirty, my wrinkles shouldn’t deepen that much. If I keep this up, I’m going to age myself.
“It’s a pharmacy.”
“I know what it is.” Lifting my coffee cup, I sip angrily. I swear everyone in this little mom-and-pop joint is staring at me—which is a grand total of three people, including Dee-Dee herself.
“You’re angry everyone knows you fell out of the library window, aren’t you?” How in the world?
My jaw drops. It’s not that I didn’t think the town would talk, but the fact that they talked that fast astounds me. “Is there a phone chain?”
“Yep.” The server heads back over with a plate of fries. “Courtesy of Mama for falling out of the window and all.”
“I accept your offering. Now tell me more about this phone chain,” I tell Dee-Dee’s daughter, Darcy. Looks like my family wasn’t the only one who chose themed names.
Considering my grandparents named my mother after a bird, who then named my brother and me after birds, I followed that tradition with Lark.
“Well, see, Saffron heads the town watch, so when anyone enters town, she lets the rest of us know about it since her house is the first one.” That rocking chair seems ominous now that I know she uses it to spy.
“Is there only one way in and out?” I might plan my escape tonight.
“There’s another, but it’s a treacherous road around the mountain and into Canada. Not easily traversed in the cooler months.”
“So never?”
“Oh, the summers here can get rather warm.”
