Page 17 of Wild Dreams

Chance turned his body slightly toward Joey. "What are you working on in school?"

Joey talked about playing football in PE, and I knew the conversation was over. Chance didn't want to talk about his family's issues in front of Joey. But I wanted to know more. I wondered if Scarlett ever saw anything. Sometimes, I think she was so focused on not fitting in that she missed other things.

In her mind, she'd never live up to her parents' expectations. I never heard her talk about her parents being unhappy with each other. It was more about Scarlett disappointing them.

When I went home, it was just me. It was lonely. I had a lot of time to read and do whatever I wanted. But I longed for something more like the St. Claires' home. And I vowed to fill my home with light and laughter one day. Now, I was starting to think it wasn't going to happen.

"Marigold, how are you today?" Johnny O'Shrine stopped by our table. I assumed he was here in his official capacity as a county representative, where he went by Johnny O.

"We're great. Are you working today?"

John smiled. "When I'm in the community, it's always work. Right, Chance?"

Chance looked from me to John. "That's right."

"But I still make time to have a personal life."

"That's important." I wasn't sure what else to talk about with him. He stopped in at the library occasionally, and I'd see him around town. He always stopped to talk to me, but I thought it was more in his capacity as a local politician than any interest in me.

"I'll see you around, Marigold. Nice to see you, Sheriff." He nodded at the other family who was gathering their things to leave.

When John walked away, Chance asked, "John talks to you a lot?"

I frowned. "He seems to talk to everyone."

"I think he likes you."

My gaze swung from John, where he was talking to an elderly lady, to Chance. "What?"

"He likes you. I think he wanted to talk to you alone. He was irritated I was sitting here with Joey."

"That's ridiculous." I laughed, but then I thought back to the other times I'd run into him. Had he ever made any overtures? The invitations were usually to town events or charities. I didn't think it was anything more than being seen with the librarian for the sake of the community.

I'd always turned him down because I preferred a quiet night at home rather than going out. But now I wondered if I'd missed him asking me out.

"Marigold and John sitting in a tree…" Joey began singing.

"That's enough of that," Chance said sternly, and Joey stopped. "Adults don't like to be teased any more than kids do."

Joey sighed. "Fine."

"Are you almost done? I was thinking of taking you to the games area."

"We have time?" Joey asked.

Chance looked at his phone. "We have twenty minutes before I have to get you back to your dad."

Joey's mother wasn't around often, but his uncles more than made up for her absence. Joey had so many people looking out for him.

"Yay!" Joey hurried to finish his fries, and then we gathered our trash.

"You want to come with us?" Chance asked.

I shrugged. "Why not? I have more time on my break."

Chance smiled, and Joey said, "Yay!"

We walked toward the games area where there was a maze of hay bales, a ring toss, and a tractor to climb. Joey took off as soon as we neared the maze. We could just see the top of his head as he made his way through.

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