Page 62 of The Promise Of Rain
Because I had Ansel who was worth ten of Deacon’s father.
My cell phone buzzed with a notification.
I swiped the tears from my eyes and braced myself.
Deacon: I’ll give you tonight to wrap your head around what’s happening between us, but if you don’t text to let me know you’re okay, I’m coming to check on you myself.
No.
He couldn’t see me like this.
I opened the message and tapped out a brisk message.
Jenny: I’m okay.
Deacon: Good.I’ll see you tomorrow, baby.
I dropped it onto the floor beside me.
Baby?
As much as I loved it, I’d do well to remember, I was no one’s baby.
I’d never been anyone’s baby.
12
Let Them Talk
Deacon
All morning, I waited, hoping she’d reach out.
By late afternoon, I realized she couldn’t.
Not yet.
And though I was getting tired of showing up uninvited, it was necessary.
Buns and Biscuits closed at three.By six, I was in the truck, heading to her place.Driving around to the lot in the back, I texted.
Deacon: I’m here.We can go out for coffee, or you can invite me in and make it for both of us.
Her dots bounced, then stopped momentarily, before beginning again.
Deacon: When I say ‘invite,’ I mean I’m going to be at your door in thirty seconds.
Jenny: Wait!I’ll come down.Give me two minutes.
Deacon: Take your time.I’ll wait.
I watched her door and waited for the light to come on.Instead, the door opened and she stepped out, a faint blush shadow obscured by the black of the late winter afternoon.
Looking around the parking lot pissed me off.There wasn’t nearly enough light.And while Moose Lake was the sleepiest of small towns, it wasn’t immune to bullshit.
A fact Jenny knew far better than I did.
I stepped out of the truck and walked around to meet her halfway.
