“I’m okay,” I say in a small voice.
“Oh my. Well, if that wasn’t the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. You two were made for each other.” Gene is holding Herbert’s hand, her eyes misty.
I open my mouth to explain that we arenottogether and that my weak, pathetic little heart just malfunctions at random times, but we’re interrupted by Rosie dragging a wagon with the tent folded up inside and the ice chest full of her homemade salsa.
“Sorry to interrupt, guys. Should I come back later?”
The smirk on her lips is impossible to ignore, and if I weren’t worried about having a heart attack, I would probably scold her for it.
“Nothing to see here, just my usual poorly performing chest cavity.”
Her eyes immediately drop the humor. “Oh, babes, I’m sorry. Aren’t you due for a checkup?”
I sigh. “Probably.”
Sam moves to grab the tent out of her wagon and begins setting it up.
“Well, if you’d like me to go with you, I can. Holden can keep the girls.”
I nod, gnawing on my lower lip. She has way too much on her plate, but I know she would do it for me.
Ever since my mom died, either one of my brothers or Rosie always comes with me to my doctor’s appointments. My heart defects aren’t fatal, but they are annoying and inconvenient. Between the physical limitations of having to sit out of strenuous PE classes, taking daily meds, and everyone gasping in fear every time I trip or have a little fright, I’m over it. I’m over being the sick one, the traumatized one, the one who now has to be guarded because there’s a crazy person out there trying to avenge Cain’s untimely death.
Rosie is my best friend, practically my sister, and she can see on my face that I don’t want to discuss it. She turns away, smiling at Sam.
“Sure is nice to have the help. I should have slept in. We could’ve set up thirty minutes later.”
If Sam feels flattered, he doesn’t give it away.
“I, for one, want to go peruse the stalls before we start getting customers. I’ll be back in a jiff.” I walk toward the tents being strung up on the left side, tugging my phone out of my dress pocket.
A dress with pockets is always a brilliant idea.
My stomach does a little somersault when I see that I have a message from Ropes. It’s nice to be acknowledged, to be thought of.
@ropesandchainsexciteme
Good morning, Red. How’d you sleep?
@redreads
I slept well. Today is one of my favorite days. How about you?
@ropesandchainsexciteme
What’s happening today that’s so great? You’re not gonna be seeing me, so … can’t be that good.
@redreads
Well, that’s true. I’m patiently waiting for that day. But in the meantime, I’m working today on my passion project. I run my own business.
He doesn’t respond right away, so I start perusing the stalls. There’s one with jewelry that I always stop at. She sells gold and silver chains with all kinds of charms on them. I’m always eyeing the ones that are shaped like books and croissants.
“Good morning.” I smile at her.
She smiles back. I don’t know her name, but she’s in her early forties and pretty new to the market. She’s arranging a velvet tray of rings.
“Are you one of the gals with Sun Butter Bakery?”
