Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 118733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Kent was a client and off limits as far as Palmer was concerned, not that she’d ever shoot her shot or let anyone know she had a crush on him. He was a favorite at the bank. All the tellers liked him and thought he was too cute for words. Palmer thought he was handsome, with his deep-blue eyes and dirty-blond hair. Kent kept his hair short and often buzzed it during the summer months.
“Hey, Palmer,” Kent said as he approached her station. Today, he wore normal clothes, or what he referred to as his “street clothes.” Most of the time when he came in, he was in his EMS uniform. “How are you today?”
“I-I’m well,” she stammered. “How are you?”
Kent smiled the most adorable, crooked smile Palmer had ever seen. “I’m well. How are you?” He ducked his head and his cheeks flushed with a pink hue, probably realizing he’d asked the same question twice. “I’ve missed you the last couple of times I was here.”
Over the years, Palmer had gotten to know most of their long-term clients, whether it was from being their bank teller, opening new accounts, or helping them with loans, which was how she’d met Kent. She had a knack for memorizing the little things when it came to the clientele, although lately she’d felt her memory slipping more than usual. Palmer loved to listen to their stories, always fascinated by what they could tell her in their minutes-long transactions, but it was her interactions with Kent that had left a lasting impression. He was a kind man and always had a compliment for the staff.
“You have to come at lunchtime,” she told him. “What can I help you with today?”
Kent slid a check toward her. “Just paying my car payment.”
Palmer brought the thin paper toward her and typed his name into her computer. “You know, you can make this payment online.”
“I know,” he said. “But then I wouldn’t get to come in here and say hi . . . to you.” He muttered this last part, so Palmer barely heard him. She tried not to smile, but the giddy emotions she felt took over. It was her turn to duck her head and be coy.
Palmer typed the information into the computer and began processing Kent’s payment. Her terminal was slow, and most days she hated it, except for now because it gave her a longer moment with Kent.
“Are you working today?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
He shook his head slowly and never took his eyes off her. “Tomorrow,” Kent said. “Then I’ll be off for two days, and then work for another twenty-four hours.”
“I’m sorry this is taking so long. My terminal is slow.” Palmer was embarrassed by how slow her machine moved. As much as she enjoyed having Kent at her window, she was sure he had other plans.
“It’s lunchtime,” he pointed out. “Everyone’s at the bank right now.” He looked around as if to prove his point. There was a line behind him, which increased Palmer’s anxiety.
“Thank you for being patient.”
“Of course. I don’t mind.” Kent leaned his elbows onto the counter and stared. Palmer looked everywhere she could except for at Kent. She didn’t want to let on that she had a crush or anything.
Finally, her computer seemed to kick into high gear, and all the extra clicking and key pressing she’d done now needed to be undone. She exited out and started over by typing his name into the system and then choosing the account for his car loan.
“Have you ever thought of a home loan?” she asked while she waited for the computer to register her request.
“Nah,” he said. “I sort of like living in an apartment.”
Palmer did as well. The complex she lived in was equipped with everything she needed, and by moving there, she’d been able to cancel her gym membership. Not that she ever went, but it still felt good to finally stop the autopayment each month.
“You know you could buy an apartment, right?” She processed his payment and went to press the enter key to produce his receipt. She could hear Kent talking, but his words were muffled. Palmer’s vision blurred, and black spots started to appear. She tried to move her hand, but it felt heavy and pinned to the keyboard. Somehow, she was able to close her eyes and brace herself against the counter, and then, everything was clear again. The hustle and bustle of the bank washed over her, and she looked around as confusion set in. What had happened? Had no one else seen whatever it was?
She slowly made eye contact with Kent, who bore a look of deep concern on his face. “Palmer, is everything okay?”
Palmer nodded and smiled. “Yes, I’m just a bit dizzy.”
“Are you sure? Because it looked like you had a stroke.”