Page 6 of Bring me Back

“I’ll walk around and see who’s hiring,” I told him. Even though I knew the only place I wanted to work and was planning on paying them a visit this afternoon.

“What about your… clothes?” he interrupted my thoughts.

I arched an eyebrow. “What about them?”

“I don’t want you forgetting about your profession because you’re here.”

I nodded. “Oh yes, I visited Mrs. Carr and volunteered to help with costumes for the school play.”

“You’ll be going to the school?” His eyebrows soared.

I pretended not to see the surprise on his face. “Yes, I will,” I defied.

He cleared his throat. “Good idea. I don’t want you to give up.”

“I’m not giving up.” I frowned.

“Sorry, bug, I didn’t mean like that.”

He never told me what he meant. I knew he was biting his tongue to ask me why I was back after five years. A year ago, I’d cower from walking around town. But now, look at me. Still shaking like a leaf but I facing the storm coming my way.

“Oh my, look what the cat dragged in. Torres, come over here!”

I brushed a hair strand out of my face, my cheeks warming from the reception I was getting. Marian watched me with a wide grin, waiting for her husband to come in front. Since the second I decided to go back to Bluehaven, I knew Torres’ was the only place I could be comfortable enough to ask for employment. At the moment, I had my fingers and toes crossed she’d say yes. Marian was mom’s best friend. She was loud and crude but also protective and the best person to have in my corner. Torres was a big burly man who flipped burgers in the back and had an exceptional hearing.

Torres squeezed his big frame through the kitchen’s door, and I beamed at him. Nothing in town made me feel like I belonged as the Torres’.

“Shit, kid. Give us a hug,” Torres ordered.

I stepped to the other side of the counter, going on my tiptoes to hug Torres. He was warm and smelled like my favorite foods. I hugged Marian too. Her bony fingers tipped my head up as we stepped apart. I was under her careful eyes, tracing my features as she searched for something.

“So no accident?”

“Huh?” She let my face go.

“No lost memory?”

I bit my lip and shook my head.

“You see, Torres?” Marian slapped her husband’s stomach. “So she’s alive and well.”

“She sure looks so, Mar.”

I winced. “I’m sorry.”

I had no excuse to give for my absence. I missed Marian and Torres terribly, but I was scared for so long, I forgot how not to be.

“It wasn’t about you. I’m sorry I didn’t visit more often,” I offered.

Marian had a tea towel over her shoulder as she shrugged off my apology. That was Marian’s superpower, she could make people feel comfortable in their own skin. It was a rare gift and worked even when I felt guilty.

“We missed you.” Marian pinned me in place with a look.

I spoke sincerely, “I missed you too.”

“Ok, ok, let the kid go…” Torres broke us apart. “What do you want?”

“Cheeseburger with crispy onions,” Marian answered for me.

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