Page 25 of Never Let You Go

And, in my experience, things always go south with women. And I don’t mean that in a dirty way.

I just hope Alexandra has what it takes to be successful in the apprenticeship, because if she doesn’t, I’m losing my grant. But hey, that’s a risk I have to take.

seven

Alexandra

After showering in Christopher’s bathroom, I quickly dry my hair, tie it in a braid, throw on a pair of jeans and a sweater, and grab my puffer jacket, a hat, and gloves.

The bakery smells heavenly, and my stomach growls as I hurry down the stairs. The low hum of conversations grows, then Skye’s voice pipes before I can see her, “That’s her! That’s Alek-zandra!”

And the bakery goes dead silent.

The customers lined up at the register turn their backs to the counter and face me. Most are smiling. Some are plain gaping. Skye is beaming.

A young woman crouched in front of her stands to greet me, pulling me out of my stunned freeze. “I’m Grace,” she says, extending her hand. She has Skye and Christopher’s jet-black, curly hair, and her dark irises seem to dance with her smile. Her handshake is soft and firm and short. “Let’s get you outta here,” she says with a side glance to the line of customers, and a giggle.

Skye grabs my hand. I wave faintly to the customers and am rewarded with full-on smiles.

Once outside, I shiver, more from sheer pleasure than from the cold. Sometime overnight it must have snowed again. A pure white layer covers the street, and the sun now glistens over the village. I squint while Grace pulls out a pair of sunglasses.

She shakes her head. “Sorry about the welcome committee,” she says as we step onto the sidewalk.

I chuckle. “That was actually cute.”

Skye trails her mittened hand alongside a white picket fence, gathering snow in her little fist, then throwing it in the air. Tree branches trimmed with white powder, hang low over the sidewalk. The few cars out this morning tread slowly on the unplowed street.

“Christopher says you drove in last night? How were the roads?”

Dark and slick. I shrug. “I made it.”

Grace eyes me sideways with a grin. “What kinda car you have?”

“A rental,” is my answer. I don’t know anything about cars. “Which I need to return. It’s costing me a fortune.”

“Ah. I’ll ask my brother to return it for you.”

Um… “That’s not nec—”

“He’s a mechanic,” she adds as if that was explanation enough. “He loves cars. You’ll be doing him a favor. He’s always looking for an excuse to drive around.”

Well, then. That settles it.

As we reach the school, Skye lets go of Grace’s hand. “Caroline!” she calls as she runs to meet a little girl bundled in a light pink coat with matching boots. Caroline is holding the hand of a woman tightly wrapped in a sleek, black puff coat who appears to be her mother.

Despite the frigid temperature, the cold doesn’t seem to bother Caroline’s mother. She’s not wearing a hat, and her beautiful blond curls bounce freely around her shoulders, while her breath escapes her plump, pink lips in cute little puffs as she exhales and smiles our way. “Hey, girl,” she says, giving Grace a quick side hug while she glances at me. “I’m Emma,” she adds and extends her hand to me.

“Alex. I’m apprenticing at the bakery.” I try not to flinch at the strong grip she has on my hand.

“So I’ve heard. Are you staying with Grace, then?” she says, finally releasing my hand.

“No—I’m... I’m staying at the bakery.”

“So it’s true.” She squints. “Well I guess… Welcome to Emerald Creek?”

“Thanks.” I turn my attention to Skye entering the school with her friend. At the last minute, she turns around and waves at me. “Bye, Alek-zandra!” she says at the top of her lungs, a huge, gap-toothed smile lighting her entire face.

I blow her a kiss back. “Wow, she likes you already,” Emma says.

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