Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
I grunt because all I care about is protecting her. If I have my way, she’ll never even find out about my debt. She shouldn’t have to carry the burden just because I walked into our marriage owing more money than I can possibly pay off in a lifetime.
Chapter 13
Mira
“I’m Emma May,” a woman with a silver braid, bifocals, and a big smile introduces herself. She’s standing in front of a small mom-and-pop grocery store and looking peaceful despite the fact that the building bears her name and has clearly taken some damage from the storm.
“I’m Mira. Just put me to work,” I tell her as she falls into step beside me. We enter the store, stepping around broken glass that’s been swept into a neat pile. There’s plenty of sunlight coming in through the skylights, so despite the lack of electricity, it’s not dim.
“I know who you are, dear,” she says. “I was so excited when Lizzy mentioned you.”
I blink. “Who is Lizzy?”
“Oh, she’s friends with Lauren. They’re in book club together, which you’ll be joining shortly.”
“But I just got into town yesterday, and wait, what’s this about book club?” I ask, trying to keep up. I don’t think I’ve met with Lizzy yet.
She sends me an amused smile as she leads me to the back of the store where the frozen food section is. “I know, dear. Don’t worry. The only thing to know today is that everyone is happy you’re here, and you’re going to make amazing new friends.”
Several women are in various coolers, already working. Like the lights, the coolers aren’t on. One bald woman gives me a wave of her fingers despite her pink rubber gloves that stretch to her elbows before she goes back to filling her trash bag with wasted items.
“The backup generator failed after we lost power in the storm,” Emma May explains, “And the food has to go before it becomes a biohazard and attracts pests. Lizzy here will help you get started.”
The bald lady comes over me and gives me a bright smile, introducing herself as Lizzy. “I run the bookstore, One More Chapter, with my grandpa, and my bossy husband, but don’t mind him. He’s a sweetheart under all that gruffness. What about you? I heard you married Cord. Congratulations,” she says everything in one breath, and I get the idea she might be feeling just as nervous as I am.
“Thanks. Cord is an amazing man. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter guy,” I tell her, meaning every word. “Now how can I help here?”
Lizzy shows me where the gloves are kept then walks me through the process of cleaning out the freezers. The entire time, she keeps up a steady conversation, going into detail about the alien romance she’s reading now. By the time she’s finished summarizing the book, I want to read it too.
“You could show up at book club tomorrow night,” Lizzy says. “You don’t have to read the book. Just show up and have some wine with the girls. It’s the best part of my week. Well, other than coming home afterwards. You’ll find the husbands here are very supportive of their wives reading smut.”
“I was planning to stick around for a couple more days,” I tell her. As soon as I saw the mess the storm left behind, I knew I’d want to call into work and take some time off. I suspect Cord is going to do the same. He loves this town.
After we’ve worked for several hours, Lizzy tugs off her gloves. “Come on. It’s time to grab some lunch. You can sit by me.”
I eat a simple lunch of a cold sandwich with sweet tea, provided from a place called Ernie’s Diner.
“You’ll have to try his burgers when we get electricity going to the place again, and everything has been restocked. Best burgers in the state. That’s not just local pride talking either,” Lizzy explains. “That’s fact. Printed right there in The State Daily, North Carolina’s most popular newspaper.”
I find myself smiling and thinking how kind the people are here. If I had Cord’s life, I’d never want to leave. It’s more than just a town that makes good food or has down-to-earth people. It’s the community he’s part of.
When I’m done with lunch, Emma May waves me over to the white tent. She’s talking to an older man with silver hair.
“Can you help Mr. Cartwright with his office cleanup? A lot of glass blew into his place. He’s worried about cleanup since some of his information is sensitive in nature.”
“Sure,” I take the broom from her and give the older man a bright smile. “Point me in the right direction.”
He has a sweet, grandfatherly vibe that instantly puts me at ease. “You can call me Henry. I’m the town lawyer. Try not to hold it against me.”