The best way to put thoughts of work behind her was to get lost in a book in a peaceful bookstore where no one would bother her.
She pulled open the door of Time To Read and stopped short when she saw a woman she didn’t recognize standing at the counter muttering loudly to herself.
She looked like Malibu Barbie. She was tall and slim with white-blond hair that fell around her tanned shoulders like a river of soft waves . . . the complete opposite of Tully’s corkscrew curly hair that she spent hours straightening every day. She wore all pink. Like all pink. From the glittery gloss coating her frowning lips to the cute high-heeled sandals strapped to her perfectly pedicured feet.
“Come on, Magnolia, you dimwit,” the woman said as she punched the keys of the old cash register with a pink glitter pen like Tully had used in third grade to write in her diary. “You can figure this out.”
The name Magnolia had Tully staring at the woman’s beautiful features. “Magnolia? Magnolia Hastings?”
The woman startled and dropped the pen before her familiar green eyes landed on Tully and widened. “Tulls!” She rushed over and pulled Tully into a tight hug. She drew back and flashed a set of white, even teeth that would rival any toothpaste model’s.
Tully was struck speechless. The Magnolia she remembered hadn’t had straight even teeth. Or long hair. And she would have never been caught dead in a pink sundress and cute sandals. She’d been a tomboy with a pixie cut and crooked front teeth who loved wearing the same ragged jean shorts, faded T-shirts, and tattered sneakers every day.
Of course, she’d only been in second grade the last time Tully had seen her. Still, the change was shocking.
“Maggie?”
Magnolia laughed. Thankfully, the full, open mouthed, robust laugh was still the same. “I guess I look a lot different, huh?” She released Tully and stepped back. “But so do you. You’re gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. And a sheriff’s deputy!” Her green eyes twinkled. “Who would have thought one of the Nutty Buddy Thieves would become a deputy?”
Tully felt her cheeks heat and quickly changed the subject. “So how have you been?”
“Fantastic! I love Santa Barbara. Just love it. I mean who wouldn’t love living in sunny California?”
Tully didn’t know how to answer the question. Especially when she remembered how hard Magnolia had cried when she’d told her about her daddy accepting a job at a university and moving them there. It had been right after Magnolia’s mama had passed away. Tully’s heart had broken for her friend who had lost her mama, and then had to move away from everything and everyone she knew.
But it looked like things had worked out.
Magnolia waved a pink-manicured hand. “I mean the beach, the fashion, the hot guys. It’s just . . . heaven.”
“So you came back for a visit?” Tully asked.
“Actually, I’m taking over for Uncle Otis while he recuperates from his double knee-replacement.”
Tully had completely forgotten about Otis’s surgery. She felt bad that she hadn’t called to check on him. “I hope Otis’s surgery went well.”
“According to my daddy, who’s at the hospital in Dallas with him as we speak, everything went just fine and dandy. But it will still be a while before he can climb up and down ladders to replace books. After the doctor releases him to fly, he’s heading to California with my daddy until the end of August.”
That was five months away.
“Wow. That’s a long recuperation time.”
Magnolia shrugged. “My daddy pushed for it. He thought Otis needed time away from the store and I needed . . . a job.” She smiled weakly. “I’m still trying to figure out my calling. But it looks like you found yours. So you’re the town deputy, huh? I guess I can’t talk you into stealing ice cream again.” When Tully didn’t laugh, Magnolia swatted her arm. “I’m just teasing you.” She paused and leaned closer. “Unless you’re looking to get into a little trouble. Friendship oaths of secrecy never run out.”
Tully had forgotten all about the oath of secrecy they’d taken. An oath they’d sealed with spitting on the sidewalk and a pinkie hug.
But things were different now. After Magnolia moved away, Tully had given up secrets and become a strict rule-follower. If any of her friends broke a rule, Tully was there to point it out . . . and tell on them. Which meant Magnolia had been her last and only friend. Because who wanted to hang out with an annoying Little Miss Goody Two Shoes who tattled to her sheriff daddy?
Sadly, things hadn’t changed. It was now her job to keep people from breaking the rules. If Magnolia was still a troublemaker, it would be best if Tully didn’t rekindle their friendship.
“I don’t really have much time for trouble. I just started my job and I’m pretty busy. So . . .”
If Magnolia’s fading smile was any indication, she got the message.
“Ahh . . . well, then I guess I’ll see you around.”
Feeling badly for how she’d cut her childhood friend off, Tully started to apologize, but Magnolia was already heading back to the counter. “You wouldn’t know how to open this old thing, would you?”
Tully followed her and shoved in the drawer of the cash register before thumping twice on the side. The drawer sprang open.
