Know Me Well (Wishful 3)

The clutch in Riley’s chest loosened somewhat. “Oh my God, Mom, she could’ve been an axe murderer.”

Sharilyn waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t be silly. Billy Jean is a twice-divorced grandmother of two. We had plenty to talk about across country.”

I’m sure you did.

As the shop bell jangled, Riley pushed out of the office, struggling to put on her friendly customer face. She thanked God it was only Jessie with their take out from Dinner Belles. She wasn’t ready to face anyone else until she’d had some privacy to process her shame.

“Mrs. G! Didn’t know you were back.”

“Only just. Hello, sugar.” Sharilyn walked back around the counter to give Riley’s tech a hug.

Jessie set their food on the counter. “How was the Great American Road Trip?”

Her mother’s smile faltered only briefly before coming back full wattage. “Got to see all kinds of amazing sights and go to places I’d only ever heard of. It was an experience. But I’m glad to be home. The long-term open road is not for me.”

“What about Hal?” Jessie asked.

“We parted ways, and he drove off into the sunset.” She said it like he was a lone-wolf cowboy riding off at the end of a movie instead of an asshole who’d abandoned her thousands of miles from home

Riley studied the dreamy expression. Was it a facade or had she really convinced herself it’d been tragically romantic? How could she be okay with what had happened?

Sharilyn hopped on the counter to perch. “So tell me, any funny pharmacy stories lately?”

“Oh, well yesterday Riley compounded muscle relaxer for a squirrel.”

“Get out. Really?”

“Jessie, we really aren’t supposed to talk about this.”

“What? It’s not like HIPPA covers rodents. Poor thing has puncture wounds in her leg. The squirrel—whose name is Roxy—also needed some Valium because her bladder was so distended that she couldn’t teetee. When her owner showed up to pick up the meds, he said he’d spent over $240 on her at the vet. The bill here was over $50. He said they’d bottle fed her from a baby and that his son would be really upset if they lost her.”

“Well, if she was a pet, I guess I understand that. How old was the son?”

“Thirty-one.”

Riley’s mom, who had no poker face to speak of, stared in disbelief. “Now, I’ve heard everything.”

“Oh no.” Jessie pointed with the straw she was unwrapping. “There’s more. She starts physical therapy next week. And they’re still planning on releasing her into the wild when she gets better.”

“My Lord. What did y’all say?”

“Good luck with that,” Riley replied. “Listen, the stuff you shipped is at my place. It’ll be a little while before I can shake loose to drive you to the house. Molly’s at a citizen’s coalition meeting until three and won’t be able to relieve me until then.”

Sharilyn crossed her legs. “Oh, don’t you worry about that, honey. I’ve got orientation for my new job.”

Riley managed not to do a complete double take. “Your new what now?”

“Matthew McSweeney hired me as a checker at the market. He told me to come on in when I got back to town to learn the system.”

Riley stared at her. When had she even talked to Matthew McSweeney? “You only just got back. How did you already land a job?”

“You probably don’t remember, but Matthew was an old friend of your daddy’s. They were in the service together. He always said if I ever needed anything, I just had to call. So I did, and he happened to have a position open.”

Dear God, don’t let her have set her sights on Matthew. “Does he know you don’t have any retail experience?”

“That’s the entire point of the orientation. I officially start day after tomorrow.”

“Well that’s—” Surprising. Astounding. Got disaster written all over it. “—great, Mom. It’ll be good for you to be working with the public. I know how much you love people.”