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I nodded along while I watched people—most of whom I knew—walk around and shop.
Eric was over at the playground nestled near the old library. Jackie told me he would be fine, and true to her word,he was already playing with Tommy and a few other kids who looked to be around the same age.
“Come on,” she said. “The Nordic baker from the town over came today. I need to stock up.”
Jackie looped her arm through mine and dragged me into the chaos. She bought bread. Then cake for Eric. Then talked to a bunch of people she knew. For a small town, it was sobusy.
I stayed silent, even when Jackie tried to pull me into the conversations she easily held with the vendors. She was so friendly that talking came easy to her.
I wasn’t as lucky.
“You’ll have to open up if you want this,” she said as we did one more lap around the square.
“Of course I want it, but all of these people ... It’s too much.”
“I figured that one day of misery would be enough. You can get everyone at once.”
“Maybe this is hopeless. The lawyer said I needed as many letters as I could get, but yours would be enough.”
“Are you sure?”
And that was the issue. I could delude myself, but I knew the truth. I needed more.
My eyes drifted to Eric, who was still on the playground. I’d never felt like more of a failure.
But my nephew wasn’t even looking at me. His eyes were on the road, and he took off suddenly.
“Mollie!” he yelled.
And there she was, in a striped sweater and jeans. I hadn’t told her about this, and I was pretty sure she hadn’t heard of the market.
Yet here she was.
“Son of a—I’ll be right back.” I raised my voice. “Eric! Don’t run across roads!”
“But they’re closed!” he said, pulling out of his tight hug with Mollie.
“I’m stealing him,” she said. “Especially sincehetells me about the farmers market.”
“There are signs in the square,” I replied.
She patted Eric’s back before drawing a dick in the air and pointing at me.
“Jackie’s here,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “She might show you around.”
“I think I want you to do it.” She crossed her arms. “As penance for not telling me.”
“I willnotbe doing that.”
“Please?” Eric begged. “I’ll go too.”
“I thought you wanted to play with your friends,” I said.
“Mollie’s my friend.”
“Two against one,” she teased. “You’re overruled.”
I was hopeless against Eric’s begging anyway—not that I would tell her that.