A Place to Belong by Abbie Williams

Author:Abbie Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Central Avenue Publishing
Published: 2020-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

LANDON, MINNESOTA

A BLIZZARD WATCH WAS POSTED FOR THE GREATER Landon area, but as usual, this did not deter anyone’s evening plans. I sat at the bar with Rae, both of us clapping along with the music of a foot-stomping bluegrass band. The annual winter music fest, typically held at Eddie’s Bar, had been moved to Shore Leave at the last minute, due to a dead generator at Eddie’s. With the heat produced by the riled-up, beer-drinking crowd, though, a furnace seemed completely superfluous. Our entire family was in attendance: Mom, Grandma Joelle, Aunt Jilly, and Barry, the daytime bartender, were busy serving drinks, and the atmosphere was typical mid-January, cabin-fever crazy.

“I didn’t know Zig was such a good singer!” Rae said, putting her mouth directly beside my ear so I would hear over the music, referring to Eddie’s grandson, currently onstage.

“Yeah, usually he just plays the drums.” I reached past Rae’s right shoulder for my hot chocolate, taking a careful sip before replacing it well beyond anyone’s stray elbow. Unlike my cousin, I had not added a generous glug of rum to my drink.

“He’s so sexy,” Rae gushed, staring with rapt attention, squeezing my knee. “When did he graduate, again? He can’t be that much older than us … ”

It was the third Saturday of January; we’d only just composted the two Christmas trees that had adorned Shore Leave during the holiday season, and the café appeared a little forlorn in their absence. Tonight, however, the mood was one of happy abandon, the café packed to the gills with locals and out-oftowners alike, people clad in jeans and sweaters and snow boots, keg cups in hand. The music fest drew bands and singers from across the state, a perfect excuse to celebrate and fend off the winter blues. Tables had been shoved aside to create a makeshift dance floor; I spied a couple dancing close despite the fast pace of the current song, smiling at each other as if the rest of the crowded bar didn’t exist.

I looked away, focusing my concentration in other directions with all my effort, wondering if I should offer to help take orders. Mom had said not to worry about it, to just enjoy myself, but suddenly I could no longer abide sitting motionless. I poked Rae’s side, leaning in close.

“I’m going to see if they need help with drinks,” I told her.

“Don’t leave me!” Rae cried good-naturedly, gripping my elbow. “At least wait until Evan gets here.”

“There he is,” I said gratefully, spying her boyfriend entering from the dining room. I waved him over. “Here, take my seat.”

Evan asked, “You guys want to get out of here? I’m having some people over later.”

Rae tugged on my wrist. “Come on, it’ll be fun. You could use a night out.”

I mumbled, “Maybe later.”

I met up with my mom behind the diner counter, where she was brewing coffee.

“You need help?” I asked, already tying my server apron into place.

Mom looked over her shoulder and I tried to pretend I didn’t notice the way she was gauging my mood.

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