The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion

Author:Karen McQuestion [McQuestion, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: NIGHTSKY PRESS
Published: 2020-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

Niki was the only one in the store when Jacob arrived. Albert was in the back helping to unload a truck. She had offered to be the one to carry the boxes into the storage room—it made sense, since she was strong and about a hundred years younger than Albert—but he’d waved away her offer. “Old guys like me need to keep moving,” he’d said. “I’d rather wear out than rust out. You just stay inside where it’s warm.”

So she’d stayed behind the register, keeping an eye on the cars coming and going from the pumps. Only one guy came inside, and that was to buy cigarettes. He asked for Winston Lights, and when she turned to get them down from the shelf, he sheepishly said, “I vowed that if they ever got to be more than five dollars a pack, I’d quit, but that day came and went and here I am.” He handed her a twenty, and she rang up the purchase and gave him change.

“It’s a tough habit to break,” she said sympathetically.

“Tell me about it.” He stuffed the change in his pocket and told her to have a good day.

By the time Jacob walked in, Niki was glad for the diversion. She’d recognized him from a distance. There was something about the defeated way he walked, head down, face partially covered by the hood of his sweatshirt. He wore his bulky backpack slung over one shoulder.

When Niki greeted him by name, his face lit up. Niki knew that Sharon had planned to call child protective services that day to report the Flemings, but they wouldn’t have started their investigation yet, she didn’t think. As for Jacob, she’d planned to be friendly but not too friendly. Even though he appeared dejected, he wasn’t necessarily blameless in whatever was going on in his house. He was a source of information and nothing else as far as she was concerned.

She watched as Jacob decisively opened the soda cooler, selecting a can of Sprite before darting back to the snack aisle. When he came to the counter, he plunked a package of cupcakes down and set the soda right next to it. “Hostess CupCakes,” she said. “Good choice.”

“They’re not for me,” Jacob said, seemingly embarrassed.

“Then they’re an even better choice, because you’re getting them for someone else.”

“I guess.” He set his backpack on the floor and leaned over to rummage in one of the pockets. When he straightened up he had a crisp ten-dollar bill, which he slid across the counter.

Niki scanned the can and the cupcakes. After putting the money in the register, she said, “For your girlfriend?”

“What?” His eyebrows rose.

“The cupcakes. You said they’re not for you. Are they for your girlfriend?”

“I don’t . . . I mean, I—” He shook his head, appearing flustered. “No. Just for a little kid I know.”

“That’s so nice of you!” Niki put the change in his hand. “I bet she’ll love them!” She watched his face for a reaction.

Jacob nodded. “They’re her favorite.

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