The Right Window by Kate Sweeney

Author:Kate Sweeney
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Intaglio Publications
Published: 2015-09-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The Avery sisters argued back and forth while June and Vinnia tried to leave. All the way down the front steps, the two old women bantered.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, June,” Ester said, pulling June down in a monstrous hug. “You have Vinnia bring you back here anytime.”

“Thank you, Ester.”

“I have to get back to my canning.”

“Oh, why don’t you forget that?” Emma said angrily. “You can all those tomatoes, and we still have enough to feed the entire town.”

“Oh, shush. You don’t seem to mind when you eat a whole jar on your own.”

“I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

Vinnia gently pulled June down the steps. “They’ll never miss us,” she whispered in June’s ear.

“Since when? You’re constantly berating my canning skills. I’ll have you know—”

“Yes, I know. You won the blue ribbon.” Emma laughed. “Twenty years ago.”

“That is not true, and you know it!”

“Bye, ladies,” Vinnia called out.

June laughed as Vinnia pushed her into the passenger seat, then ran around and slid behind the wheel.

“If you can wait, I’ll have some tomatoes,” Ester said. “Or some pickles. Oh, I wanted to remember to give you a few bottles for Adelaide.” She slapped at Emma’s shoulder. “See what you did?”

“They’re not leaving the planet, Ester!” Emma yelled at her. She then waved as Vinnia pulled around the circular drive. “Hurry up before Ester makes you take some pickled green beans with you!”

Vinnia and June waved as they drove down the drive.

As Vinnia pulled back onto the highway, she let out a sigh of relief. “I could use a drink,” she said, wiping her brow. “But I was tempted to turn back when Emma mentioned the green beans.”

“Are they always like that?”

“As long as I can remember. They’re a hoot. I love ’em.”

“I can see that,” June said, stealing a glance at her.

“Go ahead,” Vinnia said, watching the road.

“What do you mean?”

“You can ask me anything. I mean, we did share a kiss last night and all.”

“About that.” June had no idea what she was about to say, and when Vinnia didn’t offer any help, she bit at her bottom lip but said nothing.

“You were sayin’?” Vinnia said softly.

Again, June remained silent. Her heart was beating in her chest, and her palms began to perspire. She hoped she wasn’t having a heart attack.

Vinnia turned off the highway, driving down a gravel road, then pulled off that onto a dirt road. June got a little nervous when Vinnia took her deeper into the woods; she reached up and held on to the handle above her door as they bounced around the rough terrain. It took several minutes of driving in silence. She was surprised when she saw the water rippling over the rocks ahead of them.

“Um…where are we?”

“Fraser Creek. Or part of it.” Vinnia shut off the engine of the truck. “Let’s go for a walk.”

June’s stomach flipped when Vinnia reached over, giving her hand a reassuring shake.

She followed Vinnia to the creek’s edge; the sound of the rippling water instantly calmed her.

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