Thrift Store Trolls by Shawntelle Madison

Author:Shawntelle Madison [Madison, Shawntelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781734451009
Publisher: Valkyrie Rising Press, LLC

Chapter 19

I was too ashamed to face my grandma and camped out in the car with Aggie that night. Thorn didn’t return home either. He pulled up behind us in his SUV and fell asleep. Aggie did the same from the backseat, but slumber never found me. The shadows kept shifting from the fast-moving clouds. A summer storm passed through around two AM, rattling the trees and leaving me restless.

By the time the harsh weather passed around six AM, I was bleary-eyed, but a couple cups of coffee would get me back on track. Aggie still snored in her resting place, and I tried to shut the door softly as to not wake her. She didn’t stir one bit. Damn, I wished I could do that.

I got out of the car to circle the house. From one end of the street to the other, all was quiet. The rain left a bit of debris, some branches and leaves on the street, but anyone would say this was great weather to water their backyard gardens.

I checked around the house and everything was quiet and clear. Just like Grandma predicted. I stuffed my hands into my pockets. Maybe I was worried for nothing, but the fear settling into my bones remained.

The sweet scents of breakfast wafted from my parents’ chimney. If I closed my eyes, I could taste a fried egg between two pieces of buttered toast. Grandma would be sitting at the kitchen table with coffee.

Instead of heading inside to shake off sleep with my family, I trudged to my car and started it up. I’d be back to apologize later.

“We’re leaving?” Aggie said, her voice thick with sleep.

“Yeah, you hungry? I gotta report to Kramkar’s at eight.”

Through the backseat mirror, I caught Aggie’s grin. “Donuts with sprinkles are my best friends. Hot cake and sausages are my friends with benefits.”

Of course, sausage was where it was at for Aggie.

Aggie climbed into the passenger seat from the back. “I want a permanent relationship meal this morning,” she purred.

I laughed her way. Aggie’s hair was tangled and her morning breath questionable, but I relaxed a bit as she rolled down the window and rested her head outside the window.

“What would I find in a permanent relationship meal?” I asked.

“A gigantic cinnamon roll…covered in not only pecans and powdered sugar, but also with strawberries, pineapple, and blueberries.” The happiness in her voice made me roll my eyes.

Off to find a permanent relationship meal, I decided and pulled away from my parents’ house. Thorn remained behind. A quick text showed he caught my departure: Stay safe.

As we reached the drive-through at Dunkin’ Donuts, I was ready for some of that cinnamon and sugar Aggie was talking about. “I can practically smell the steam rising from fresh donuts.”

At the order window, I bought a sizable breakfast feast: a dozen donuts, two pancake platters, and four cups of coffee.

A few minutes later, breakfast was in my car, and Aggie bit into a sausage with gusto, talking as she chewed.

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