Page 33 of Somewhere Without You
“Hi,”I approached,excited.“That’s areallycool castle.”
Shelookedup, her blue eyes mirroring the vibrancy of her hair.“One day, I’m going to live in a castlejustlike this,”she smiled, revealing a gap toothed grin.
“My names Emily,”I told her. Gran’s reputation made it difficult to make friends. My closest palswereKatherine, and whatever salamanders I managed to catch beneath the floorboards in the old barn.
“I’m Lilly,”she replied, her gaze returning to the castle. We stoodtherefor a moment, both of us lost in its miniature world.
“Do you think she’s real?”I whispered, a mix of playful curiosity and genuine wonder.
Lilly’s eyes stayed fixed on the princess.“I hope so,”she breathed.
“My Gran says magic is everywhere,”I confided.“Peoplejustdon’tseeit.Maybeshe comes alive at night, eating all the candy and having tea parties with the other toys!”
Lilly giggled, andthatmade me giggle too.
Then, a woman with eyes like chipped steel appeared, yanking Lilly away with a harsh tug.“It’s time to go,”she snapped, her unfriendly gaze lingering on me.“Now.”
“Butmom,”Lilly protested,“This is my new friend, Emily.”
Her mother didn’teventry to lower her voice.“That’s Mae Hart’s granddaughter. You are not to associate yourself with them. Do you understand?”
Lilly’s eyes filled with sad understanding. “Yes Mommy,” her struggle ceasing as her mother dragged her away.
Something cracked in my chest, like someonehaddroppeda heavy stone on it.
“Emily?”Gran’s soft voice startled me. I blinked back tears as I picked up the miniature castle,carefullysetting it back on the shelf.“Don’t you want it?”She asked. I shook my head, unable to speak without crying.
Katherinegentlyslipped her hand into mine.“Come on, let’s go.”
The car ride homewasquiet. Gran didn’t push me to talk, but she kept glancing at me, concern etched on her face. Everythingshe’dsaidabout magicfeltpointless now. After what happened, I couldn’t help but wonder iftherewasany magicpowerfulenough to change how peoplesawus.
That’s when I realized we lived on the outskirts of town for a reason—because wewerenevertrulywelcome in it.
Nineteen
InavigatedtheoldFord Focus into the small parking lot outside Hank’s grocery store, grabbing a basket from the metal corral before heading inside.
A wave of nostalgia slammed into me as I scanned the familiar aisles, the faded signage dangling from aluminum rafters under buzzing fluorescent lights.
I kept my gaze forward, doing my best to avoid eye contact as I started tossing random items into the cart. Macaroni and cheese. Bread. A jar of peanut butter. I needed to stretch the cash Katherinehadgivenme, but I also wanted to avoid another trip as long as possible.
Movingquickly, I crossed off items from the crumpled listI’dstuffedin my pocket before leaving the house. Shampoo. Trash Bags. Bottled Water.
OnceIwasdone, I rolled toward the back of the store. Hank’swasthe only place in townthatsold beer and wine—anything stronger meant a trip to Charleston, which Iwasn’tinterestedin making.
I didn’t bother reading the labels as I grabbed three or four bottles of wine, lining them up in the cart before heading for the register.
The cashier, a young woman with fiery red hair held back by a pink headband, scanned my items.
“That’ll be $46.87,”she said, snapping her gum as I pulled out three twenty’s and my ID.“California, huh?”I noddedimpatiently.“Always wanted to go to California,”she added with another pop.
I gave her a tight smile, waiting for her to hand over my change.
“Emily Hart. . . isthatyou?”A thick, syrupy voice cut through the air. I stiffened.“Oh mygosh,it is. Alabama,lookwhoit is—the infamous Hart girl.”
Georgia Baker, arm-in-arm with her twin sister Alabama, sauntered to the end of the register.
“Ihearda little rumor youwereback in town, but Ijustcouldn’t believe it,”Georgia purred.“Where’s your sister? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of you without the other.”
