Gran hugs me close, then joins her friend. I let out a sigh and run a hand over my face as I turn away and head to Gran’shouse. I try to make myself look open and friendly. No slumped shoulders or frowns allowed. That’ll only reinforce every idea they have about me. The fact that not even the friendliest dog in the world has made me look good in some townsfolks’ eyes is kind of baffling. But we live. We learn. We leave Beaver Creek as fast as possible once the crutch of Gran is gone.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I almost don’t take it out. But then I remember her.
Adelaide’s name pops up on the screen with a photo of Bev.
Adelaide
Hey same
My heart skips a beat. Maybe not literally, but it sure as hell felt like it jumped. I’m in danger. Deep shit. If I go back to the park, I’m admitting how much she has a hold on me. Texts are one thing. Intentionally meeting each other is another.
I stand motionless in the centre of the sidewalk. I watch the eight turn into a nine on my phone screen, then suddenly, it’s exactly 7:00 p.m.
I eye the park. Bev beckons with her yellowing tail from years of superstitious good luck touches. Maybe I should have rubbed her tail like everyone else when I was a kid. Lucy whines and my eyes fall to hers. She pants and pulls at her leash, edging her way toward the road. I swallow, glance back at Bev, see a flash of vibrant red and a patchwork of rainbow colours.
Everything in me melts. It’s Addie.
Chapter Six
Adelaide
“Hey,” I call when I spot Zander and the sweetest shaking ball of fluff across the street. “Do you want to get ice cream?”
His face remains impassive for a moment, eyes shifting left to right. Is he making sure no one heard me? What if I misread his texts and he didn’t want to hang out with me? I probably misread this whole thing and he was just being nice about the book.
Through my doubt spiral, I notice the lazy grin take shape on his face. His ball cap shades his eyes, but I know from the deep dimples in his cheeks that the smile reaches them. I check for any unusual traffic before jogging across the street. Zander holds out a hand and pulls me up from the curb. And though it’s unnecessary, I take it. I don’t let go.
“Hey,” he says. “Ice cream?”
“Up at Scoopers. I’m sure you’ve been before.”
“It’s been years, but yeah, I have.”
“Perfect,” I say then immediately plop down on the ground and let Lucy attack me with kisses. “Oh my goodness, I am so happy to finally meet you, princess.”
Zander laughs. “You’re technically right about that. She is royalty. I named her after Lucy Pevensie.”
Who is this man and why is he something I dreamed up in a journal when I was ten?
“I wanted tobeLucy when we readNarniain grade four.” I rub Lucy’s golden ears and kiss her between the eyes. In return, she licks up and down my jawline. “I hear you’re a queen, aren’t you?”
I let Lucy cover me in kisses until she’s fully satisfied and sits in my lap. Zander stares down at us, a slightly dazed look in his eyes. My cheeks heat. I clear my throat and attempt to push Lucy away.
“Luce, c’mere, girl,” Zander says, smacking his lips together to get her full attention.
Lucy huffs out one of those hilarious little dog sighs, as if she’s in a horrible life crisis. She pads over to him, dejectedly looking back at me as she goes. I laugh and push up off the ground. I smooth my dress as I stand and shoulder my tote bag. A silent conversation passes between me and Zander, where we look into each other’s eyes and start walking together as one. It makes me feel a little crazy, and maybe a little dumb, because it has never been that easy with anyone.
“So,” I say once I’ve regained the ability to speak, “what brings you to Beaver Creek today?”
“Gran needed my help. Oh, uh, you might know her. She used to work at Beverly’s Blooms. Retired a few years back.”
“Maybe…”
I mentally scan through all the older ladies I know who could be related to Zander. Would they have the same last name? Is Browning a penname? IsZandera penname?
“Peggy,” he adds. “Her name’s Peggy. Peggy Browning.”
“Oh, that’s so funny,” I say and follow Zander as he turns left up Maple Street. There’s a few ways you can get to the ice cream shop. I also would have picked this route. “She’s in the embroidery club at the library.”
