Page 83 of Afternoon Delight
Ugh. Maybe that’s what was really bothering me. I was starting to really like Zak. Really, really.
My phone dinged as I was helping a customer. I patiently waited until they’d decided on the appropriate cock ring and bagged it up for them.
“Have a good day.” I waved them out, then saw the text was from Roddie, telling me he was next door.
I’m hungry. Get me a scone?
Zak asked me to stay with Dale.
His exit is here.
*ex
“What?” I said aloud, to the empty store.
Chapter 45
Zak
I heard the shop door chime and figured it was Roddie. This was about the time he usually arrived from school.
Out on the floor, Dad said, “You came back for the steamer trunk! I knew you would. I saved it for you.”
It continued to amaze me that he couldn’t remember how to flush a toilet, but knew how to draw in a customer like a seasoned carny.
“We’re not actually together. I’m Roddie. I help you and Zak after school,” Roddie said, then seemed to speak to someone else. “I’ll put my backpack away, then I’ll come help you. I’ll just be a sec.”
“I’m actually here to see Zak,” a woman replied. “Is he here?”
A jolt of recognition went through me. My limbs went numb and I dropped the sanding block I was holding. I quickly began stowing things in the cupboard, thoughts jumping all over the place. Why was Ric here?
“He’s probably in the back,” Roddie said, his voice getting closer. “I’ll get him.”
From the shop, I could hear Erica saying, “Hi, Dale. I’m Erica. I haven’t seen you since Thanksgiving last year. How are you feeling?”
“Erica. Of course. You look well.” I could hear the vagueness in Dad’s voice as he tried to place her. He had asked me a few times about her, but he mostly lived in the summer I’d been home from college before Mom died. People he’d met after that either remained strangers or became a version of someone he remembered from the early years—like how he thought Roddie was teenaged Kyle.
As I locked the cupboard, Roddie came to the door, brows raised in question.
“I heard,” I said and stepped into the bathroom to wash my hands.
When I came out, Roddie was still at the door. “I’m gonna go across the street. Mom wants a scone.”
“I’ll get it. Can you stay with Dad for a few minutes?”
“Sure.” He glowered at me like I’d kicked his dog.
I was just as surprised as he was, but I couldn’t keep an eye on Dad and have any kind of serious conversation with Erica. Maybe she brought papers for me to sign?
“Hi.” I came out to find her admiring the Royal Doulton figurine Dad was trying to sell her.
“Hi.” She smiled warmly, her eyes searching mine. She was pretty, with round cheeks and a few freckles that were downplayed by makeup. That wasn’t something she usually wore, which suggested she’d made a special effort for this trip. Her loose hair was held back by her sunglasses, and her blue slacks matched her blazer. She looked breezy and businesslike.
“Dad, this is Erica. We were living together in Vancouver before I moved back here.”
Her smile dimmed, and Dad winced.
“Of course. My memory isn’t what it used to be,” he said. “How are you, Erica? How are your parents?”
