Page 4 of Chasing the Sun

He turned, grabbing a muffin I’d baked yesterday off the island. “I’m fine.”

“You like it here, don’t you?” I asked, watching my son leave his garbage on the counter.

“I guess.” He shrugged, then paused. My breath caught in my throat as I waited for him to give meanythingelse. “It’s just ... not the same without her.”

Mary had been gone for years, but her absence still haunted us. I swallowed past the rocks in my throat. “I know.”

I struggled to find words of comfort and wondered where my bright-eyed little boy had gone. More and more the easygoing Levi I once knew was disappearing right in front of me.

Was it trouble with friends?

Girl problems?

Drugs?

“Good morning,” Helen singsonged as she pushed through the door, breaking through my spiraling thoughts.

I bit back a curse as batter sloshed over the side of the bowl. I wanted to finish my conversation with Levi, but when I looked up, he was already gone.

Helen was in her sixties, with warm brown skin and a smattering of freckles across her nose, like shadows of the sun. Tight coils framed her face, neatly styled in short twists that brushed her temples, streaks of silver threading through the black. She was always smiling, a hint of mischief sparkling in her deep-brown eyes.

“The couple who checked out of 2A just called and said they accidentally left a box of...”

I glanced up when she paused.

Holding back a giggle, Helen pressed her lips together,failing miserably at looking professional. “Um,special items. They’re hoping to get those back.”

My eyes closed. “Jesus Christ.” I exhaled, fighting my own smirk.Special itemsmost definitely meant sex stuff—it always did.

“Oh, well you’re going to love this next part.” She leaned in with humor dancing in her eyes. “They said they’re pretty sure the big one rolled under the bed.”

I dropped my head back. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit.”

“You should ask the boss for a raise,” she offered, knowing full wellIwas the boss in charge of salaries.

I held up my fist, ready to rock, paper, scissors Helen in hopes of getting out of sex-toy recon duty. It was how she and I settled most disagreements these days.

We pumped our fists, and when her rock beat my scissors, I let that curse fly. “Fuck.”

Helen laughed. “Have fun. Wear gloves ... maybe a hazmat suit.”

I waved her off and focused on finishing up breakfast before I lost what was left of my patience.

How the hell was this my life?

TWO

ELODIE

Transaction declined.

Two little words that punched me straight in the pride.

I blinked at the cashier as she swung the screen back toward herself, her acrylic nails clacking against the keyboard with the kind of irritation that said she’d already decided I was a problem.

A whoosh of embarrassed laughter escaped me. “I am so sorry.” I rubbed my credit card against the material of my slacks, hoping that it might help, and held the card up. “Can you try it again?”

Her bored expression had my heart rate ticking higher, but she sighed and clacked the keyboard. “Okay.”