Labor of Love by Emily Franklin

Author:Emily Franklin [Franklin, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 978-1-4804-5226-8
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2013-09-27T21:57:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

When I decide to so something — go to London, write a paper, get back in shape by running every day — I usually do it. So when I wake up at dawn, and a combination of inspiration and desperation compels me to the Oak Bluffs library to write my college applications and essays, I pretty much know I won’t emerge until they’re done to my satisfaction.

Leaving behind the newly named café, I shake off the heated memories of the naming ceremony. The crowd was decent-sized, thanks to on-beach advertising and good word of mouth about the free blended drinks — my signature Mochanilla Chiller. Ula and Doug unveiled the new sign — a rectangle in which Mable’s is carved and painted in gold leaf — and I gave a few words about Mable and her spirit, her warmth, compassion, love for her job, and how most of all she was the best person to curl up with a good cup of coffee and talk to. Then they erected the sign and people cheered before scooping up Mochanilla Chillers and mingling. In this crowd were Charlie — who stood near me, and Jacob, who stood near Chloe Swain, Nick Samuels et all, and Chris, who kept eyeing Haverford. I looked mainly at Doug and Ula and the sign, once at Henry Randall, whose dad owns the café property. Henry gave me the prep school half-hello that translates into I know you, we might have been friends or hooked-up, but now we’re sort of just acquaintances. I never hooked up with him, but he and Arabella had a summer fling, and I don’t harbor ill-feelings toward him. More a void. But when my eyes traveled the crowd and landed on Jacob, I couldn’t help but try and see what — if anything — was happening with him and Chloe. It’s not that I’m invested in him, but I’ve definitely got too much curiosity — if his mind were a journal, I’d love to read it. I couldn’t detect any direct body contact, but the image of his mouth on hers in the tunnel of hell came back to me while I was staring. And just as I thought I had gotten away with sneaking these glances, I felt someone else’s gaze on me. Charlie’s eyes were glued to me as I looked away from Jacob. Charlie’s eyes didn’t register annoyance or hurt, but he definitely took note. When I’d given Charlie a smile, I flicked back — once — to Jacob — and caught him looking at me, too.

Covert glances, lustful longings, and reproachful gazes aside, I gather everything I need into an overstuffed backpack and drive to the Oak Bluffs library. I choose Oak Bluffs because the library is a little removed from town and where I’m less likely to run in to another Hadley person checking email. I can’t run the risk of sitting near a window and watching people go by that I know lest they lure

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