Tar was not about to forget it.
Dodging her way through the day, Helen made it to work that
evening with something like relief, until she realized that a lot of
kids from her school were coming in to buy a single piece of candy
or one can of soda.
?Why don?t you go to the back and do some stocking for me??
Kate asked, giving Helen a gentle pat on the arm. ?They?ll stop
coming in to gawk if they think you?ve left for the day.?
?Don?t they have anything else to do on a Friday night?? Helen
asked hopelessly.
?What island did you grow up on?? Kate replied sarcastically.
Helen rested her forehead briefly on Kate?s shoulder, stealing a
second of comfort before she straightened up. ?You may as well do
the inventory, too. And take as long as you want,? Kate added as
Helen headed toward the back.
Inventory was not usually Helen?s favorite job, but it was that
night. She was so occupied counting every object in the store that
before she knew it, they were locking the front and going through
the ritual of closing down.
56/395
?So. What really happened between you and that Lucas kid??
Kate asked without looking up from the stacks of bills she was
sorting.
?I wish I knew.? Helen sighed as she rested on her broom handle.
?Everyone?s talking about you two. And not just the kids,? Kate
said with a half smile. ?So what?s up??
?Look, if I had an explanation, believe me, I?d be shouting it in
the streets. I don?t know why I attacked him,? Helen said. ?And the
worst thing is that the attack isn?t the worst thing.?
?Oh, you?re going to have to explain that,? Kate said. She put