Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Then the moment passed and we continued on our respective quests. Item by item, Nadine’s not-so-short list was whittled down to its last few items, which were to be fetched from T&S’s Shoppe, a bakery that’s apparently owned and run by Nadine’s son-in-law Billy Tucker-Strong, which I guess makes him Jimmy’s brother-in-law. Not that I can be bothered to work out the Strong family tree. Feels like that family owns half the town already, and the Parkers are about to be swallowed into them just like the Tuckers were.
I don’t even live here and I know the Strongs’ influence.
It’s something you don’t want to mess with.
“Oh, awesome, TJ’s workin’,” says Samuel as we approach the front of T&S’s Shoppe. “He’s a sweet guy, even if he comes from the edge of town where the richies live.”
“Richies …?”
The interior of T&S’s is smaller than you’d expect, with a very narrow entryway that opens to a not-much-less narrow room with a display counter, a few scattered tables (literally none of which are occupied right now), and a strapping young man in a white, formfitting T&S polo shirt. Upon seeing Samuel, the guy livens up and waves. “Hey there!”
“TJ, my man,” sings Samuel as he approaches the counter. “Why are you here and not at the Strongs’?”
“Billy considered being closed all evening, but with it being so close to Christmas, I didn’t want to leave money on the table, so to speak. Besides, I’m enjoying my winter break away from school. Being at work beats sitting around my house doing nothing … or stuffing my face at the party.” He pats his tummy—or lack thereof. “Gotta watch my figure. Freshman fifteen was no joke last year.”
Samuel chuckles at that. “Well, I’m afraid we can’t stay long. Have to get back to the party and can’t return empty-handed.” He slaps the list on the counter and slides it over. TJ takes a look, his handsome face scrunched up as he reads it. “You know how it is. Nadine needs what Nadine needs when Nadine needs it.”
“I get it. Last person in town you wanna let down is Nadine—or my boss Billy. Don’t worry about this,” he says, giving the list a smack of his hand. “Easy cheesy, lemon sneezy. Oh, you brought a friend.” He takes notice of me with a dimply smile. “Hi, there.”
“Malcolm,” I state for a greeting. I realize it came out kind of cold and detached, so I add, “I’m the son of the caterer.”
TJ nods in thought. “Isn’t that whole thing being catered by Nadine’s restaurant?”
“A restaurant,” Samuel cuts in, “at which a lively fellow from Fairview by the name of Mario Tucci is the executive chef, which makes this nice fellow Malcolm Tucci.”
“Ah, okay, okay.” TJ shrugs. “Cool. Nice to meet you, Malcolm! It’s great to have more friendly faces in town.”
“It might be a stretch to call me ‘friendly’.”
Unexpectedly, my remark causes TJ to laugh. He eyes Samuel. “I like your friend. Known him for half a second and I already trust him more than half the folk who come through those doors.”
Samuel props an elbow up on the counter. “Malcolm’s … not exactly in town voluntarily.”
“Few are, unless you’re born here.” TJ adjusts his nametag on his chest, which was cockeyed since we came in. “Don’t worry, Malcolm. Spruce is a great place to let loose, be yourself, and—”
“I’m only here until the wedding’s over,” I state, then realize I sound cold and detached again. I guess my mood is a bit of a black hole that won’t let me go. “But it’s nice, I guess. Spruce seems … quite festive this time of the year. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a town that’s more filled with … um … holiday spirit.”
TJ studies me for a moment. He seems to see right through my empty words. “I know Spruce can be … a bit suffocating at times. Everyone knowing everyone. Someone always up in your business. Gossip, rumor mills, all that. Hell, being a McPherson, everyone thinks they have this idea of me because of my parents, but … no one really knows me, know what I mean? Maybe that’s how Jimmy and Tanner feel sometimes, being Strongs.” He frowns. “Makes me wonder sometimes why we aren’t closer. We’d probably have a lot in common. But Jimmy’s consumed with his new gym … and Bobs, of course. Tanner and Billy have their hands full with Marcus and Josh, their kids … Oh, sorry, went on a tangent. Anyway, despite all that, the town still has a way of keeping its ears more open than its mouth, if you get what I mean. Minds can change fast. Curiosity always looks worse than it is. Does that make any damned sense?” He lifts his head suddenly and looks at Samuel. “Sometimes I say stuff and don’t know whether it’s coming out my brain or my ass.”