Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Her face looks frozen. Her eyes are searching over my face like she’s looking for something.
“Oh dear God,” she whispers. Her old hands press to her face. She breathes in and out. Lowers her hands to her sides. “What happened?”
“I-I … c-can’t …”
“Why did you shoot him? I don’t understand. River, why would you do that? Answer me!”
She moves toward me in a quick movement, grabbing for my arm, and I stumble back.
“Don’t touch me!” I cry.
She freezes. She’s staring at me. Then, her expression crumbles. “Oh no. Oh God, no. River … did he … did he hurt you?”
“I c-can’t. M-Mama said …”
“Oh God, River. I’m so sorry. But it’s going to be okay now.”
No, it’s not. It’s never going to be okay again.
“What did your mama tell you to do?”
I swallow. “To not tell anyone what really happened that day.” To not tell anyone what he did to me.
“People won’t understand, River. They’ll treat you differently.”
“And you haven’t told anyone other than me?”
I shake my head.
“Okay. You don’t speak this to another soul, you understand? You keep that promise to your mama. If you need to talk to someone, you talk to me.”
I nod my head.
She reaches out to touch me but stops and holds her hands together in front of her. “No one’s ever going to hurt you again, River. I swear to you.”
I nod my head again.
“Do you have homework to do?” she suddenly asks me.
“No,” I tell her.
“Good. We are going to carry on like everything is normal because, sometimes, that’s the only way to get through things. And normality would mean punishment for getting into a fight at school.”
“So, am I grounded?” Not that it would matter. It’s not like I go anywhere, except to school.
She gives me a look, like she’s just read the words in my mind.
“No, your punishment is to help me out in my workshop.”
“Making that glass crap?”
My grandma does glassblowing. She has a workshop out back. She makes vases and shit and sells it to people.
She gives me a disapproving look. “Don’t use that word. And it’s not crap. It’s art. And you, River, have way too much anger inside you. You need to learn how to handle that anger of yours, channel it, and the best way to do that is to work with something that’s easily breakable.”
Carrie
I’m sitting on my back porch on one of the Adirondack chairs I found for sale online for an absolute bargain. The two chairs came with a small table, which is where my achy feet are currently resting. The seller delivered them for free, which was a big help, as I still haven’t invested in a car yet. So, I’m still walking everywhere. Honestly, I quite enjoy it, especially the walk to the diner every morning—where I’ve now officially been working for two weeks.
I love it.
The atmosphere in the diner is great.
Sadie is a brilliant boss, and she’s also becoming a friend, I think. And Guy, who is the cook, seems like a nice person. I’ve only met one of the other waitresses, Shelley, as we have a brief shift crossover. She’s a single mom, and she works when her kids are in school. She seems nice, too.
Folks in this town have been really welcoming and friendly. I’m enjoying meeting new people. It’s wonderful, just being able to chat with them while I serve them without fear of retribution.
Not that I get a lot of time to stand around and chat with the customers because the diner is plenty busy from the moment the door opens. It’s popular with locals and tourists.
I learned pretty quickly that Canyon Lake is a tourist town. People like to come here for the lake, those who enjoy water sports, and the warm weather.
I know the place is pretty as heck, but the continuing warmth is a nightmare for a heat-hating pregnant gal like myself.
It’s supposed to be butt-freezing cold at this time of year. But, of course, it’s not. I’m totally blaming global warming.
I mean, surely Texas must get cold at some point. Right?
I have at times questioned whether I made the right call in moving to Texas, but then I think about Neil and how this is the last place he’d think to look for me, and I know I did the right thing.
Even if it is eleven thirty and I’m as hot as balls, hence why I’m sitting outside with an iced tea, trying to cool down.
The electric fan I got for my room is doing nothing. I even tried taking a cool bath earlier. It worked just fine while I was in it. The moment I got out, I was uncomfortably warm again.
I cannot wait until I’ve earned enough money to afford to have air-conditioning fitted.
Leaning forward, I grab my iced tea from the table and take a sip, and then my eyes go straight back to the book I’m currently reading.