“Gonna stop at the hardware store first,” Charlie says as he makes a right at the stop sign.
“We can walk to the grocer,” I suggest.
“All right, then. I’ll meet you there.”
He parks in an open spot on the street in front of the hardware store, since there are no parking lots here, notlike in the city. I don’t think all the cars in this town could fill up the spots on the road on the square. At least, not the road-vehicles. Farming equipment could fill this square ten-fold.
Rhett’s eyes wander from building to building as he steps out, taking it all in. I try to remember how much of this has changed, but I can’t quite recall what it looked like all those years ago. I was too caught up in myself, not really paying attention to what was going on around here, especially because I was already ready to get out of here at the time.
I love Grannie, but this small-town life was never for me. I love the animals, obviously, but it’s the area. Feeling stuck and alone all the time. This place still doesn’t feel right, not when I venture into it and see this small square and the same people day in and day out. But when I’m on the farm… that’s different. That feels like home. But how can I stay there without having to come here?
My goal was to go to school. Become a vet. Work with animals. Icoulddo that here if I chose to focus on larger animals, but… I’m not so sure that’s what I want todo. It’s certainly not what I wanted to do before I came here a few weeks ago. And where even is the closest school? I never looked because I wanted to get away. I didn’t want to stay here, but… it could be worth a search.
Rhett’s hand finds mine, and I smile up at him.
“You doing okay?” I ask.
“Everything looks exactly the same.”
“Is that disappointing?”
It is for me. Boring.
“Not really. It’s… comforting. Feels like we didn’t miss out on much.”
I squeeze his hand. “I’m glad.”
We make our way to the grocer. I wave to Devin, who is behind the register, helping—
“Ugh,” I groan quietly.
“Ellen Mathews,” Rhett says, equally as quietly.
I pull him toward the back of the store where the coolers are.
Rhett is mesmerized by the drink options, looking at the different types of pop and juices, and coffee drinks.
“One thing this town has in common is their addiction to caffeine,” I mutter.
“Excuse me,” comes a snooty voice.
We both look behind us to see Ellen Mathews looking down her nose at us. We part, giving her room, and she pulls open the cooler door, grabbing a small container of cream from the bottom shelf.
I raise a brow as I watch her clutch it to her chest like it may run away as she hurries to the counter.
“Something wrong with her cows?” Rhett asks.
“Maybe.”
Rhett shrugs and pulls out a bottle of Coke.
“Though, if I was her cow, I wouldn’t want to do what she asked either,” he says.
I laugh, reaching for a ginger ale.
“Should we get something for Gus and Wade?”
Rhett’s brows furrow. “Yes.”
