“I’ve heard that you’ve brought a teenager along too – apparently she takes after her father.”
“Wow, word moves fast around here.”
“Faster than you’d think.”
Iris seems to have heard something that hasn’t quite reached me, yet. It doesn’t surprise me – from what I remember, she and Jordan have always been close.
Iris stops behind the counter, her hands resting against the wooden surface, her glittering blue eyes on mine.
“It’s not going well for you, is it?”
I take a deep breath. “You have no idea.”
“And would my granddaughter have anything to do with this?”
“To be honest, I’d like her to have something to do with it – but she’s decided that she wants nothing to do with the resident ex-arsehole of the town.”
“Ex?” she asks, lifting an eyebrow, questioningly.
“Look at me,” I say, gesturing to myself. “I’m not the same guy from all those years ago. I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
“You’ve still got time to work that out.”
I smile affectionately at her. Iris is an amazing woman – everyone in town knows and loves her. They all respect her, and not just because she took in a fifteen-year-old girl with no family. They love her because she’s a beautiful person. It’s not hard to imagine why Jordan turned out to be the incredible person she is – and I don’t just mean physically.
“I’d love to meet your daughter.”
“I’m sure that you two would get along really well.”
“Well, if she’s anything like you…” She winks at me. She’s always had a soft spot for me – unlike her granddaughter.
“Why don’t you both come round?”
“To your house?”
“For dinner. I’m always on my own, and I wouldn’t mind a bit of company.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just tell me you’ll come for dinner tonight and I’ll be happy.”
“Are you sure Jordan wouldn’t mind?”
“Jordan has her own life, and I have mine.”
Her invitation seems sincere, and so does her desire to meet Skylar. Why not?
“If you don’t mind eating late, of course. You know I don’t finish up here until the evening.”
“That’s no problem for us.”
“Good. I’m curious to meet this girl.”
I already know that Skylar won’t take this well, but I think that getting out of the house and meeting people will help her feel less lonely.
Niall
“Could you try to smile?”
