Page 8 of Ten Years Later
Keaton parked.
Seconds later, he walked into the store. Elementary aged children packed the place, there for a painting party. Parents roamed the noisy clumps, supervising. One adult with a green apron hurried around, getting supplies. The smell of cookies and fresh paint drifted through the room.
The dark-haired girl stood in the back already dressed in a green apron and busy washing brushes. She worked there.
“Emily!” the adult employee called out.
The dark-haired girl turned.
“Need more bowls over here.”
“Okay!” Emily called back. She gathered plastic bowls, and as she began distributing them to the tables, she spotted Keaton standing just inside the door.
He smiled.
She did too, just a little.
She finished handing out the bowls and came to stand in front of him. “I saw you at school.”
Again, her voice came much deeper and raspier than he imagined. “I was there to possibly volunteer.”
“Oh. Are you a parent?”
“I am, yes.”
Emily glanced around the packed room. “Which kid is yours?”
“None here.”
“Oh. At my school then?”
“Yes. Her name is Vivian Young.” Carefully, he watched her face. “Do you know her?”
“Don’t think so.” She shifted from one foot to the other. “I don’t get it then. Why are you here?”
He laughed.
She shrugged and chuckled. “Sorry, guess I should be official. How can I help you, sir?”
He liked her personality. “I’m looking for work.”
“Weird.”
He laughed again. “Why is that weird?”
“I don’t know. Aren’t people your age supposed to already have jobs?”
Amused, his gaze roamed her face, taking in the brown eyes, disorderly hair, nose that turned up a bit on the end, and the birthmark.
Self-consciously, Emily covered it with her hair. The gesture seemed out of character for her previous outgoing nature.
He said, “It’s where an angel touched you when you were still in your mommy’s belly.”
She flushed.
Keaton didn’t mean to embarrass her. He stuck out a hand. “I’m Zane Young.” He didn’t know why he gave his brother’s name. It just happened.
Her return grip came firm and confident. “Emily.”
