Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
My hand automatically reaches for a pad of paper next to the cash register and I start fanning myself. “Lord, that’s hot.”
Lowyn winks at me. “Isn’t it?”
“Well, Amon hasn’t gotten there yet. He’s just…” I roll my eyes up and swoon again just thinking about how he’s pulling out all the stops for me. “‘Dreamy’ really is the right word. He’s sweet, Lowyn. He says romantic things.”
“Like what?”
“He said that if he had one wish, he would wish that I was never alone, or unhappy, or scared.”
“Aww,” Lowyn coos. “That is sweet. Collin recited the Revival wedding vows to me once.”
My eyes light up. “Well, that counts, my friend. That counts.”
“I think so too.” Now it’s her turn to sigh. “You do realize that we’re automatic best friends now, Rosie. Right? Because if Amon and Collin are besties, then it’s practically the rule.”
“It is, Lowyn. And we are.”
“And you know what that means?”
“A double wedding?”
She laughs. “I hadn’t gotten that far yet, but maybe. I was gonna say that we’re sisters now.”
“Mmmm,” I hum. “I’ve never had a sister, so this is an upgrade. And you know what else?”
“Tell me.”
“Amon has four sisters. And you have one, aside from me. So that makes seven of us. Seven sisters. I like the sound of this.”
“It’s quite the extended family we’re gathering, isn’t it?”
I nod. “It is. I love my family. They’re very good people. My mama and daddy stood by me when I got pregnant in high school, as did all my brothers. But you know what I’ve figured out, Low?”
“What, Rosie?”
“That you can’t have too much family. You just can’t. There can never be too many people who care about you.”
She reaches across the glass and takes hold of both my hands. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my friend-life with you, Rosie. We’re family forever now.” Then she gives my hands a squeeze, lets go, and starts walking towards the break room. “I’m gonna work on my schedule for next week. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will, Low. I will.”
And if I did need something, she would be there. I’ve always thought I could depend on Lowyn McBride, but now I know it for sure.
We’re family.
And that’s that.
Lowyn leaves around noon and not more than five minutes go by before the teenage boys show up to join the girls. The next thing I know, the jukebox is jumping and they’re all bouncing around in the middle of the store like this is someone’s basement rumpus room instead of a business.
But I hate to break it up. It looks fun, actually. So I let it go.
Cross comes by about an hour later, a couple of his friends tagging along. Cell phones are pulled out, messages are sent, and the next thing I know, McBooms is having a party.
I might dress like a teenager, but I’m an adult. I am not the cool mom. Cross and I are not friends, he is my son. I don’t believe in that sort of thing, I believe in parenting. I am one hundred percent mama bear. But I don’t really mind that they’re all here, kinda sorta taking advantage of Lowyn and me, because I like knowing where they are. I like knowing that they’re all safe.
So I don’t say anything when all the chairs have a teenage butt in them and all the rugs are getting cut with dance moves. I don’t even mind when Leland Bowers shows up with seven pizza boxes and all the kids dig in their pockets to pay for it. They come up five dollars short, but I pitch in and take my two pieces back to my counter and just watch pretty much every kid over the age of ten have a good time in McBooms.
The funny thing is, I don’t think Lowyn would mind either. I mean, they’re not destroying nothing and rarely do we have walk-in customers on Thursdays. This is what small-town life is for. You don’t get all the bells and whistles of the city. You don’t get bright lights or crowded streets filled with possibilities.
You get a spontaneous afternoon party at the local semi-famous vintage thrift store where no one’s gonna yell at ya, and no one’s gonna hurt ya, and everybody’s gonna be themselves and have a good time because there isn’t a single strange face for miles in any direction.
This is why I fought so hard to stay in Disciple and be the only single mom in town back when I was fifteen.
It’s worth it.
This is the best gift I could’ve given my son.
And sure, one day he might leave. One day, he probably will leave. But that’s years away, so I don’t have to think too hard about it. And anyway, if he did leave, I think he would come back.