Mornings On Main

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Jillian lifted the camera and sat it on the counter, but Derrick’s gaze continued to stare at her chest.

To Sunnie’s surprise, Jillian’s smile seemed to say that she thought of Derrick as a boy, not a man. “Take off for lunch if you like, Sunnie. You did a good job this morning. You need a break.”

The woman had obviously heard Derrick’s question, but she couldn’t have seen him touch her. She’d turned her attention back to her camera, totally dismissing them both.

Derrick didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. “You from around here, Jillian?” He said her name slow and low as he turned away from Sunnie.

“It is Jillian, isn’t it? I know I would have remembered seeing you.”

“No. Just passing through.” She didn’t look up.

“It’s a shame. I like your name, among other things.”

Sunnie watched as Derrick’s gaze rolled over Jillian like thin paint.

She had heard the phrase undressing someone with his eyes but she’d never seen it happen before. Derrick’s look was pure predator, like he’d just tossed aside a rabbit for a deer in the trap. Only Sunnie was the rabbit, and she had a feeling Jillian was the deer in his sights.

Sunnie didn’t hear Jillian’s answer. She was too furious to breathe as she grabbed Derrick’s arm and almost dragged him out of the store.

“What?” he yelled. The door chime sounded more like a clank.

7 (#u3d987ccc-abdb-5344-9062-ec860c7eae48)

Jillian had been accused of looking younger than her age, but nineteen? The guy must be brain-dead. Or more likely his eyes never made it to her chin. She’d seen his type in every town she’d ever been in. They never change. They simply zip their brains up in their jeans every morning and go hunting.

A few had thought to take advantage of a woman alone. She’d learned to correct that thought swiftly. Trying to go easy on a guy like that only led to more trouble. Only this time, she’d hesitated because of Sunnie. This boy was obviously her friend.

Boys like Derrick were dying off though, or disguising themselves at first. Women no longer put up with them.

Obviously, Derrick wasn’t even good at playing grown-up. Maybe that was why he was dating sixteen-year-olds. A few weeks from now Sunnie would be smarter, and he’d be looking for his next puppet to manipulate. Jillian was glad Gram was a wall away in the office and hadn’t witnessed the scene.

Moving to the side of the front window, Jillian watched them arguing in the street. Sunnie was mad, jealous, or maybe just embarrassed, and Derrick was an idiot. An interesting pair to square off.

He reached to touch her and she slapped his hand away.

Jillian’s glance caught Connor’s outline in the newspaper office window directly across Main. He was staring at them, arms folded, feet wide apart. She could see the anger in his stance, but if he stepped outside, his daughter would turn on him and Connor was smart enough to know it. If he broke up the fight, Sunnie would hate him for treating her like a child. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t speak to him for allowing her to make a fool of herself to the whole town. Sometimes, no matter what a dad does, he can’t win.

But Jillian saw something else going on. Sunnie was growing up in the middle of the argument, in the middle of the street. She was winning. Derrick was backing down, feeling cornered—and, like a wild animal, he might attack.

A memory of the first guy she’d dated flashed in Jillian’s mind. He’d knocked her to the floor the first time they’d argued. When she’d cried to her pop, he’d told her one black eye was a cheap lesson. Step away. Don’t get involved.

Jillian didn’t want Sunnie to have to learn that lesson.

Neither of the kids seemed to notice people stopping to watch. If this fight escalated, Sunnie would be the one talked about. The one hurt.

A sound came from the kitchen as Jillian reached the door.

Gram must have dropped something.

For a second, Jillian froze, not sure which way to run. “Gram?”

“I’m fine, dear. Just dropped this old teapot and splashed hot water everywhere.”

Jillian chose her crisis. She rushed outside and did something she never did. She stepped in and got involved.

“Glad I caught you, Sunnie,” she yelled as if she hadn’t noticed Derrick was spitting out swear words.

“What?” Sunnie’s question was sharp, but she didn’t turn back to Derrick.

“I need help. Gram is in trouble. I think she’s hurt.” It was only a small lie. Gram hadn’t sounded hurt, just flustered, but it was all Jillian could think of in one second.

“Come on, Derrick,” Sunnie ordered and took off running for the shop.

“Yes, come,” Jillian encouraged in a lower voice. “Someone’s got to clean up the vomit while we rush her to the clinic.”

Derrick held up one hand and backed away. “I’m not good with old people. Or sick people. Or helping. I got to go.” He wasn’t smart enough to think of an excuse, so he just ran.

Jillian grinned and caught a glimpse of Connor’s smile in the newspaper office window. He might not have heard the words exchanged, but he was aware that she’d broken up the argument.

She ran back into the store and found Sunnie kneeling at Gram’s chair near the office door. “Now, Gram, you have to tell me where you hurt.” Tears wiped away some of the girl’s black makeup. “Maybe I can help.”

Gram brushed her wrinkled hand over her great-granddaughter’s light blond hair. “I’m just getting old, sweetie. We all do. Sometimes my grip isn’t as good as it used to be.” When she saw she had all Sunnie’s attention, she added, “I feel a little faint. I scalded my hand with the boiling water I’d warmed for tea. It’s nothing. It’ll stop burning soon.”