Page 62 of Small Town Sizzle

“I…” I begin. “Thank you.”

“Come on inside, sugar, let me make you something to eat.”

“I actually didn’t come here for me. I wanted to grab dinner for Maya and the kids, but I don’t know what they normally would order and—”

She holds her hand up in the air for me to stop before she gestures for me to follow her inside.

“I know their orders well. Come on inside, and I’ll get it together for you.”

“Really?”

“Of course,” she laughs. “I didn’t realize you and Maya were close.”

“It’s new, I guess you could say.”

She smiles knowingly. Once inside, she gestures to the stools at the front counter before she disappears into the kitchen.

I look around. The place hasn’t changed much, and it’s like stepping back in time. The black and white checkered tile, the red booths, and the vinyl seating. Each table has a miniature jukebox for customers to play music. It’s all been updated to look new, but it’s like nothing has changed since my childhood.

“Garrett? What are you doing here?” Laura asks as she walks over to sit next to me.

“Thought I’d pick up some food for Maya and the kids.”

She grins widely. “Well, that’s such a sweet gesture. She’ll love that.”

“She doesn’t seem to accept help easily.”

“She’s always been the one doing the helping,” Laura says as she puts her hand on Garrett’s back. “Keep being you with her, Garrett. It goes a long way.”

I nod slowly. I’ll do whatever I can to show Maya that I’m not going anywhere.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Maya

The glow of the TV lights up the dim living room as I sink deeper into the couch, Alex on one side of me and Jaz sprawled out on the other. The three of us are wrapped in blankets, half-watching a movie we’ve seen a dozen times before. Alex is focused on his phone, one earbud in as he pretends to care about the movie, while Jaz keeps cracking jokes about how bad the special effects are.

It’s a rare kind of night, peaceful and lazy. I haven’t had one like this in what feels like forever. The stress, the questions, and the constant worrying all fade for a little while.

This is our go-to when the world gets too heavy. We watch familiar movies and TV shows that make us laugh, and it always helps. Except today.

Since the police and Devon left, I’ve been numb. I was supposed to go grocery shopping and didn’t, so there’s no food in the house, really—nothing easy, anyway—and I just don’t have it in me to cook anything.

I’m disassociated, because even the movies and this family time aren’t doing much to pull me out of this funk.

If this had happened a year ago, I would have let Devon in, and while I should be focusing on that huge growth, I’m not. My brain keeps going to the negative and replaying what could have happened if I hadn’t called the police when I did.

“Mom, what’s for dinner?” Jaz asks. “I’m starving.”

“Me too. I had a test to make up today, and I skipped lunch,” Alex adds.

I have a moment of panic. I don’t even have the energy to get up and go into the kitchen to pour cereal into bowls.

“I…uh, I…forgot to go grocery shopping.”

“Oh man,” Jaz sighs. “Can we order pizza?”

“It’s not—” I start.