Page 8 of Adventures in Spring

“Did you—” I start to say.

Rhett

It’s been three weeks since the first day I saw Emiko. And I still don’t know how to strike up a casual conversation with her. What the fuck is wrong with me? I don’t even know.

I look up from my window and see Emiko peeking around the corner of an isle. I smile at her. She’s fucking adorable. Just as I’m about to jump over the counter, she turns and walks away. Maybe she doesn’t want to know me? I mean I see her looking at me as much as I look at her when we’re close. But she’s never run the other way before.

Then I see my sister dragging her over to me. Emiko looks terrified.

“Rhett, this is Emiko. Emiko, this is my brother Rhett. You two should’ve met a few weeks ago. But for some reason you haven’t. I think it’s because you’re both shy and so I’m here to make sure you meet. You’re welcome.”

Before I can respond, Felicity runs off. My sister is crazy.

I smile at Emiko. I put my hand out to her.

“Hi. Felicity isn’t wrong. I’ve wanted to meet you for a while,” I blurt out. A little too loudly.

Emiko chuckles. “I’ve wanted to come and meet you too.”

I look down and realize I’m still holding her hand. It’s a really nice feeling. And I don’t want to let go.

“Can I help you find anything?” I ask her.

“Sure. I need to find some things that are on my kids’ school supply lists.”

“What grade are they in?”

“They’re in the first grade, Morgan Taylor is their teacher.”

I reluctantly let go of her hand and grab one of the first grade lists. Then I hop over the counter to join her. Instinctively, I grab her hand again and lead her to the area where the supplies are for the first grade class. I always keep things together for the parents so that they don’t have to search for things. They just have to pick what they want.

“This is the first grade area, you have your choice of colors and brands. Do your kids have favorite colors?”

“Kaito likes blue and purple, Miyuki likes green and red.”

I start pulling everything I can in those colors. I’m pretty sure I’m grabbing more than they need. But I don’t care. I want them to have as many supplies as they need.

“That’s more than the list says.” Emiko smiles at me.

“I know, but they’re kids and you never know if they’ll need more things.”

As we’re grabbing more off the list, Emiko’s family comes over to us.

“These are my parents, Kiyoshi and Keiko. My brothers, Kentaro and Tadashi. And these to munchkins are Kaito and Miyuki.”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet all of you. I’m Rhett.”

“Are you from Wintervale?” Tadashi asks.

“Born and raised. My grandparents came here and never left.” I chuckle.

“Do your parents still live here?” Kiyoshi asks.

“We lost my parents five years ago. But my siblings and I all live here.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you. This store was what they loved, so my siblings and made sure to keep it going.”

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