Chapter 7 #2
“I’ll get it,” Sage shouts, jumping off the chair and hustling for the door.
“Slow down, bug. We don’t know who it is.”
She opens the door, and I come up right behind her to see Nan standing at the front door.
“Oh, hi, Nan,” Sage says with a wave.
“Hey there, kiddo.” She lifts a little white paper bag in her hand with the words “Batter Up” written on the side in pink ink. “I brought my girl a first day of school treat.”
My girl.
My heart flutters in my chest at the kindness this woman is showing to someone she just met only days ago. It’s a small gesture to welcome my daughter and me to town. It makes me feel at ease that we have these people around us during our time here.
“For me?” Sage sparks up at her comment.
Nan nods. “Only the best treats we have in town come from the local bakery.”
“Treats? Oh my god.” She turns around, looking up at me with pleading eyes and hands in prayer. “Is it okay if I have some? I know I just had a snack, but my other tummy is ready for more.”
“Other tummy?” I laugh.
“Yes. The treat tummy. It’s empty and needs something sweet.”
Shaking my head in disbelief, I glance over at Nan, who’s laughing behind her hand. “Do you want to come in?”
She doesn’t answer but crosses the door’s threshold, entering as if she’s been here a hundred times before. She goes to the kitchen with Sage in tow, rummaging through the cabinets for a small plate. I’m mildly taken aback by it, but intrigued by this strange woman and who she is in town.
She finds one, stuffs her hand into the bag, and pulls out a piece of crumb cake larger than my hand. My eyes widen, but I don’t stop her. Sage is beaming with happiness right now.
It’s all I’ve ever wanted to see from my little girl.
Nan slides the plate in front of Sage, and she dives right in. Nan then takes the second seat at the small table across from her. “How do you like Bluestone Lakes so far?”
“I love it.” She emphasizes the word. “The squirrels are a little different from back at home.”
Nan chokes. “The squirrels?”
“Yeah, the ones back home are mean. I think I once heard one growl like a tiger!” She puts her hands up, curling her fingers like claws. “The ones I saw when we were by the school just stay on the trees.”
“Interesting observation, kid.”
“I agree,” I add.
“Anyway,” Nan continues. “How was the first day of school?”
“So good,” she says with a mouth full of food and eyes in the back of her head. Almost as if she’s talking about the crumb cake and not just school. “I already have a boatload of best friends.”
“A boatload, huh?” Nan laughs.
“All of them.”
“Well, that’s great to hear, kid. And you like Miss Barlow?”
“How did you know that’s my teacher?”
Nan scoffs. “I know everything in this town. Did you know her sister owns the bakery and made that special treat just for you?”
Sage’s eyes widen even more. “That’s so cool. I love my teacher so much. She likes puzzles just like me!”
“She most definitely does,” Nan confirms. “She gets lost in them all hours of the night. We always know where to find her after seven in the evenin’ if we need her.”
“I could too. But I have a bedtime.”
Nan leans in, keeping her voice low. “Me too, but don’t tell anyone.”
Sage doesn’t say anything back; she keeps going to town on her treat. Nan swivels in her chair and eyes me up and down as if seeing me for the first time. It’s a kind of uncomfortable feeling, if I’m being honest. She looks like she’s ready to scold me or judge me. I can’t tell.
She stands up, coming to stand on the other side of the door frame, mimicking my stance as she leans against the opposite side. We both watch Sage as she gets lost in her own world. Bopping her head side to side as if some happy music is playing while she eats.
“You got a cute kid, Dallas.”
Crossing my arms, I turn my head to face her. “I do.”
“So, I heard a rumor.”
“Yeah?”
“Tucker says you’re starting a fun little adult league thing at the barnyard at night.”
I nearly choke in laughter. “He did, did he?”
“Yep. He won’t stop talking about it. He’s kind of obsessed with you, if you haven’t noticed.”
“Can’t say I have. Don’t you think it’s getting a little cold here to be playing outside?”
“Nonsense. We’re used to that type of weather around here. Only thing that’s ever stopped this town before was snow up to my tits. Otherwise, you say the word and we’re playin’.”
My hand covers my mouth to cover the laughter that wants so badly to erupt. This woman is certifiably insane. She has to be. That’s the only logical explanation.
“Come on, Dallas. It would be fun for you to have some friends around here. Besides, you seem like the extroverted type that needs people to talk to or you’ll go insane.”
“You know me that well already, huh?”
“I have a keen eye for things. I see everything.” She winks.
She’s not wrong. That’s definitely who I am, even though I’m trying like hell to only focus on my daughter. I could use some friends around town while I’m here.
Tucker seems wild, but I can tell he means well.
Griffin sounds a lot like me, and I know we will get along just fine.
And Poppy? We can be friends.
I internally laugh at myself, because who am I kidding?
You don’t think about your friends the way I think about Poppy.