Page 32 of Lorna's Savior
“Why are all you people standing out here? Why don’t you go inside?”
“Because, we’re waiting our turn. They only allow a certain amount of people in at once. Otherwise, you’d never be able to find your way around.”
“Is the store that small?” Andy didn’t remember it ever being so small that customers didn’t fit inside.
“Not really,” the woman said.
“How long is the wait?”
“I’ve only been here for twenty minutes, but it shouldn’t be long. Maybe an hour at most.”
Andy looked at his watch, and decided to stay. Like he’d said, if he didn’t stop in, he’d never hear the end of it. An hour later, there were still twenty people in line ahead of him when there was a scream and a whirlwind of greens and blue flew through the air and landed in the middle of Andy’s chest. Shocked, Andy automatically wrapped his arms around the bundle of energy, and laughed as he twirled the girl around. They were both laughing when he set her down. The woman ahead of him in line looked at him in shock.
“Monkey, what are you doing here?”
“I was in the area, and knew if Mom and Dad found out, they’d disown me.”
“You got that right.”
“So, how are you Livvy?”
“Great, especially now that you’re here. Did you know that Mac and Ren are in town?”
“No.”
“They are. Pippi’s driving down as we speak. She’ll be here later. It’s so good to have all the family home.”
“You know Sunshine and Levi?” the woman he stood behind asked in shock.
“This is my brother, he’s the oldest of us children, and doesn’t make it home very often,” Liv said. “Why are you standing out here in line? Why didn’t you come inside?”
“Because I didn’t want to cut the line,” he said as he picked up his briefcase, and laughed as his youngest sister pulled him toward the front entrance of the shop. Hoping Liv would be discreet, and sneak in without any fanfare, he should have known better. She entered the store like the whirlwind she was.
“Mom! Dad!” Liv yelled at the top of her lungs as soon as she cleared the door. Everyone in the store stopped and looked in her direction. Andy stayed out on the front steps, but Liv reached out, grabbed his forearm, and pulled him into the store. Andy stumbled in and winced at the scream that sounded throughout the store.
“MONKEY!”Sunshine Ball screamed as she came out from behind the counter and ran toward her two children. Levi must not have been in the immediate area, because he ran out with a baseball bat in his hands. When he saw his wife approach a man, he dropped the bat and actually beat his wife to his son. Levi engulfed Andy in a hug and swung him around.
“Son! How the hell are you doing?” As soon as he sat him down, Sunshine was there. Andy engulfed his mother in a hug, and her scent reminded him of two things simultaneously. One, he was home, two, it wasn’t until he smelled his mother’s hair that it hit him the smell reminded him of Lorna. He frowned, wondering if Lorna was the type that would buy guru crap. Giving himself a mental shake, he smiled down at his mother, then kissed her forehead. As she stepped back, she had tears in her eyes.
“I know it’s too much to ask that you’ve moved back home, but what are you doing here?”
“I was in town on business, and thought I’d stop in.” He grinned at their shocked expressions. “I can stay until tomorrow.”
“Please, tell us you don’t have a hotel room, son.” Levi demanded.
“I don’t, thought I’d stop by here to see if you had room.”
“We do. It’s so great to have you home.” Sunshine gushed. She wiped her eyes and looked over Andy’s shoulder. Andy turned and grinned.
“Hey, old man,” Ren said as he grabbed Andy into a huge bear hug, then he was passed to his other brother, Mac. After they stepped back, they grinned at one another.
“How the hell have you been?” Andy asked his two younger brothers.
“Good, we stopped in here to talk to Mom and Dad about our stores. Are you finally coming into the family business? Opening a store up there in Big Sky Country?”
“Good god, no. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll ever do that.” He looked over and winced. “Sorry,” he said to his parents.
“Don’t be,” Sunshine said. “Your father and I raised you children to follow your dreams. If not running aPure Sunshinestore isn’t in the cards for you, then it isn’t. Don’t feel bad about that.”
