I’m onto packaging the crates up when Journey comes stomping in through the front door. "Freaking snow," she groans. "It’s too early for this much."
"I know. I’m missing the thought of the sun in South Carolina, but it’s the only thing I’m missing from there, so I’ll deal with the snow."
Journey circles around, looking for a place to keep herself busy. "Mind if I dust and polish?"
"Go for it," I tell her.
We’re both quietly working for a few minutes before I summon the question I’ve wanted to ask her for the last week. "Hey, have you read Dad’s letter yet?"
Journey shoves the duster into her back pants pocket and turns to face me. "I’m not ready. Have you?"
I huff, feeling relieved and guilty at the same time. "Not yet. I feel like I’m just starting to make it through the days without breaking down, and whatever he wrote in the letter will probably shatter me again. I need more strength first."
"That’s how I feel, too," Journey says. She takes the duster back out and continues working down the length of the shelves. "Where’s lover boy?"
"I’m sorry, who are you referring to?" I question, twisting my lips to the side as if I’m confused.
"You know who I’m talking about," she grins, sinisterly, avoiding eye contact.
"Brett had to go pick up his daughter because the schools closed early. The plows are having trouble keeping up with the ice."
"I heard you’re going out with him tonight," she says with an obnoxious purr.
"We’re just having dinner."
"Then what?" she presses.
"I’m going home because Mom is watching Parker, and she has school tomorrow."
"Lame," Journey continues.
"Why do you care so much?" I ask her.
She sighs. "Well, I’m living vicariously through you, sis. I don’t have much of a distraction right now, and I could use one, so I’m bugging you about your distraction."
I want to roll my eyes, but I feel sorry because I have something keeping my mind off the permanent pain sloshing around in my chest, and she has nothing else to focus on but the pain. "Maybe we should find someone to distract you, too.” I jiggle my eyebrows at her like she does to me when teasing about guys.
"Meh," she grumbles. "Men suck."
"Why are you so against the thought of dating? When’s the last time you’ve been on a date?"
Journey shrugs. "It never ends well, and it feels like a waste of time and energy. But, it’sbeen about a year at this point. I mean,it’s not like there are new faces showing up in this town daily, you know?"
She has a good point. A small town means a small selection. "Maybe Brett knows someone?"
"Meh," she says again.
"I’ll just watch your life and pretend it’s a cute little romance movie. It’ll satisfy my boredom."
"Gee, thanks."
"I need you to stay put behind the counter for a couple of hours. Do you have your book to read?" Brett opens the back door and allows Parker to walk through with her sequin-covered backpack bouncing around behind her. She has her hair in pigtail knots and a red tutu with navy blue leggings, snow boots up to her knees, and her black, puffy-down-jacket.
"Yes, I have three books to read," she says, finding me standing by the counter. "Hi, Melody!"
She seems happy to see me, and it makes my heart happy. "You are a lucky duck, getting out of school early today, huh?"
"I guess," she says. "I kind of like school, though."
