She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re too good for this place, Alex.”
“Nah,” I said, smiling. “I like it here. Machines I can fix. People . . . I’m still figuring out.”
Marcy’s grin softened. “You’re doing fine with both.”
Once I was settled in my office, my phone buzzed.
Becca - Just reminding you, the Reapers' spring picnic is Saturday. Are you coming?
I looked at my phone. Was I going? Yeah, I was. I wouldn't miss it. Leo loved it. But my thoughts drifted to the woman from rehearsal and the drop-off lane this morning. Maybe it was time I started to find something for myself.
Alex - Yep, I'll be there.
Becca - Do you mind if we switch nights for Leo? That way, you guys can leave early if he isn't feeling it.
Alex - Totally fine.
Becca - Thanks! You're the best!
I set my phone down and pulled up some tickets to get to work on. Still, the want of something more clung to me in a way it hadn't for a long time.
7
ELEANOR
The drop off went much better today than it had been going. It had taken a couple of weeks to get adjusted, but Ava was actually starting to like her school.
When I pulled back into my house, I saw Belle's van sitting in the driveway. My shoulders relaxed as I put my car into park and climbed the stairs. She was an ember of warmth in my mother's cold house.
When I entered the house, it was the same pristine place it always was, except for some music in the kitchen. Good music. The Ramones, if I'm correct. And I was always correct when it came to music.
When I entered the kitchen, I saw Belle bent with her head in the bottom cabinet, humming to the song.
"Hi," I said as I poured myself a fresh cup of coffee.
Her head hit the top of the cabinet as she gave a little oof. She emerged from the bottom cabinet, rubbing the back of her head, and set a cutting board down on the counter next to the fresh carton of strawberries.
I leaned against the doorway. “You know, my mother would have an aneurysm if she saw you using the wrong cutting board for fruit.”
“Oh my God! You can’t sneak up on a woman with a knife in her hand!”
I laughed. “Consider it payback for all the times you’ve caught me crying in random hallways. And to be fair, you didn't have that knife in your hand when I snuck up on you,” I said as I took a sip of coffee.
“Fair enough. Want some strawberries, or do you only eat food your mom disapproves of?”
“That’s becoming my new diet plan.”
Belle grinned and pushed the bowl toward me. “Smart. Rebellion with vitamin C.”
I took one, still smiling. “You always this cheerful before noon?”
“Only when I’ve had coffee and good music,” she said. “And because your mom’s not home. I swear, that woman’s tension could curdle milk.”
“She was born clenched,” I said before I could stop myself.
Belle laughed so hard she nearly choked on a berry. “Bornclenched!I’m stealing that.”
For a minute, we just stood there laughing, the kind of easy laughter that felt like stretching after being cramped too long.
