Page 43 of Death By Llama
“And cute,” I prompted.
She nodded, blushing a little bit.
“Does he live nearby?”
She shook her head, and tears threatened to tumble down her cheeks again.“No, he lives in Skowhegan.”
“Is that far away?”I still didn’t know many of the towns in Maine or where they were located.
“Like almost two hours.”The way she said it, this boy might as well live on the moon.And I suppose for kids who were fifteen and didn’t drive yet, it pretty much was.
“Did you guys exchange numbers?”
She nodded and smiled a little wistfully.“Yeah.We’ve been texting, but I just don’t know if I’ll ever see him again.”
I gave her a reassuring smile.“I bet you’ll see him again.”
She sighed.“I hope so.He was really…” She paused, her expression growing dreamy.“He was really fun.”
“What was his name?”
“Sam.”
“Sam’s a good name.”
She nodded.
I walked over to her and gave a quick hug.“Would you mind hanging out with Jack for a little while so he can get some exercise and eat some dandelions?”
She smiled fondly at the giant llama next to her.“You must be happy that the dandelions are everywhere,” she cooed to him.
“I know he’s happy you’re back.”
That made her laugh, and she hugged Jack around the neck.“I did miss him.And pizza.”
Jack rumbled softly deep in his chest.A sure sign of happiness.
“If you could just let him out for a while and then put him back in his stall when you leave, I have to go back to the inn.”
“To see Cameron?”she asked, her eyes brightening.
I knew at her age, I was always fantasizing what it would be like to have a real boyfriend.I didn’t have the heart to tell her that sometimes it wasn’t always that thrilling.
“Yes, to see Cameron and because my parents are in town.They’re staying at the inn as well.”
“Really?They aren’t staying with you?”
I gave her a “what can you do” look.“You know my mom.She prefers the inn.”
Hannah didn’t really know my mom.She only knew what she had picked up on from when I talked about her, but she nodded as if she understood.
“Thank you for your help,” I said.“And enjoy that pizza.”
As I left the barn, she already had her phone in hand and her arm outstretched, trying to find the perfect pose for a selfie.I had no doubt Sam would be receiving a photo of Hannah and a llama very soon.
I headed across the lawn toward the pub.When I stepped into the kitchen, I saw that Jimmy manned his usual place at the grill.He only bobbed his head when he saw me, so things seemed pretty much back to normal.
In the pub, the supper crowd had begun to arrive.I assumed that many of the unfamiliar faces were tourists, but I also saw a few regulars, including George Sprague perched at his usual spot at the end of the bar.
