Page 24 of Nick

“Let me see it. Take your shirt off.”

“I don’t need you to look at it.”

“Let her look at it,” Opal cried.

“Damn it. Then here.” I pulled my shirt over my head, and I heard the ladies behind me gasp. I ignored them. Ruby looked at it, and then Opal came over with a wet cloth. She started wiping the blood away.

“You have to be more careful. What would happen to Julia if something terrible happened to you?” Ruby and I were both watching her. She was crying as she cleaned my entire arm. Ruby looked at me.

“I’m going to be okay; I promise,” I whispered so only Opal could hear.

She looked at me. Then she really looked at me.

“Get your shirt on, for crying out loud. Go home to your daughter and take care of that arm.”

I pulled my shirt over my head and left more confused than ever. But there was a spark around my heart. I didn’t know why but there was a bounce in my step that wasn’t there earlier.I think maybe Opal cares more than she lets on.

12

Opal

“Ican’t believe I let him kiss me like that.”

“What I find more interesting is that you fainted. Why was that?”

“Who knows, my emotions were way off. I don’t know why.”

“I think you do,” Ruby said, looking at me with that raised eyebrow.

Then Amber walked in. “Why do I feel like you two planned on meeting me here?”

“You missed all the fun,” Jenna told Amber.

“Tell me what I missed.”

“You didn’t miss anything.”

“Yes, she did,” Jenna said, taking Amber’s hand. “Nick kissed Opal for a long time. He touched her butt, and then she saw his arm bleeding and fainted.”

“What? Opal, tell me what is going on. Why did you faint?”

“Why does everyone want to know why I fainted? I don’t know why. I was upset that Nick was shot.”

Amber shook her head. “That’s not it. I’ve been shot with you standing next to me, and you stopped the bleeding, you didn’t faint then.”

“Help me make some bread if you are going to stand back here with me. Jenna, can you help Tina in case someone comes to buy some bread?”

“Okay. I have to go to work now,” she said to my sisters.

We were making bread dough my sisters didn’t say a word. They waited for me to talk. I waited as long as I could before Ruby started up again.

“I might be sick. I’ve had strange things going on with my body, so I made an appointment with Ashley. If anything is wrong, I’ll call and let you know.”

“I’m going with you,” Ruby said. “When is it?”

“I’m going too,” Amber said, wiping a tear from her cheek.

“Why are you crying?”

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