On the Corner of Hope and Main Read online

  “It did, but my sessions with Paula have helped me be better at healing myself.”

  He knew she’d been meeting with the reverend. Personally, he couldn’t see himself ever revealing his inner self to a therapist, not even one as good a person as Paula. He was a warrior and warriors kept things like that under lock and key.

  “And Barrett, so you’ll know, I’m going to run for mayor.”

  For a moment, he thought he’d misheard her. “What?”

  “I’m going to run for mayor.”

  “You’re kidding, right? Is this your way of getting back at me about Marti? Not trying to be mean, but you don’t know the first thing about running a town.”

  The combative flare in her eyes signaled it had been the wrong thing to say, but his bruised ego spurred him on. “Is this something Paula put you up to?”

  “No one put me up to this. I know you think I’m not the brightest bulb in the box, but that’s because I’ve dimmed myself all these years so you could shine brighter. I graduated at the top of my class, Barrett. My IQ is probably just a bit south of our son’s.”

  His eyes went wide.

  “And I’ve never mentioned it before because I was raised to be a good little military wife, content to be in the background and let her man lead. But doing so has wrecked my self-esteem and made me so mousy and uninteresting, I don’t even know who I am anymore. So, I’m running for mayor, for me,” she declared, jabbing a red-tipped, manicured finger forcefully in her chest for emphasis. “Not because Paula put me up to it, not because you cheated on me with a woman with a Jheri curl, but because I’d make a damn good mayor. And if you don’t like it, you can kiss my behind.”

  He almost fell off the deck. She strode past him and inside, leaving him to wonder who this woman was and what she’d done with his wife!

  STANDING IN THE snack line for Movie Night at the rec, Robyn saw some of her schoolmates behind the counters and tables taking orders for popcorn, hot dogs, drinks, and everything else listed for purchase on the hand-lettered sign on the wall. When her turn came, she stepped to the table manned by Amari and Leah who smiled at seeing her. “Hey, Robyn. What can I get you?”

  She ordered popcorn and a cola. “Can I sit with you all?”

  Leah nodded. “Sure. We’re behind Zoey and Devon’s crew, so grab us a row and we’ll be down when we’re done working.”

  “Okay.” After paying for her order, Robyn left the crowded area and headed to the seats. She’d never been given the job of holding down seats for friends before and was admittedly nervous that she’d somehow mess up and pick a row no one liked. She saw Zoey waving crazily and it took her a moment to realize, the signal was for her. Feeling better, she made her way down the aisle to where Zoey sat with her set of friends.

  “You’re going to sit with us?” Zoey asked.

  “Leah said for me to pick out a row near you guys.”

  Devon said, “They usually sit two or three rows in back of us.”

  Wyatt cracked, “Can’t have anybody thinking they actually know us.”

  Robyn eyed him, wondering if he was serious.

  Lucas Herman came to her rescue. “That’s a joke, Robyn.”

  “Oh.”

  “Ignore him,” Zoey said, glaring Wyatt’s way. “He thinks he’s the king of sarcasm, but he’s really just a pain in the butt.”

  “You’re going to marry this pain in the butt one day.”

  “Only if you turn yourself into RM.”

  Alfonso Acosta snickered. “Burn.”

  Robyn wondered if every little girl in the world was in love with the members of BTS?

  Devon boasted, “She’s marrying me.”

  Zoey rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”

  Robyn noticed they threw shade at each other all the time, but never in a mean-spirited way. It was obvious they cared about one another. She’d only had a couple of friends in Blackbird, but her grandmother’s reputation as a witch meant none of them wanted to hang out at her house, and she certainly wasn’t allowed to hang out at theirs. Being around the Henry Adams crew made her wonder if her life would’ve been different had she grown up with a group of caring friends.

  “You okay?” Lucas asked.

  His question brought her back. “Yeah. I’m going to get the seats. I’ll see you later.”

  “We’re all spending the night at Leah and Tiff’s,” Zoey said before Robyn left them. “Are you going?”

  Robyn had no idea what she was referring to. Her first instinct was to say no, but she reminded herself that she was supposed to be trying to build some friendships. “Let me talk to Leah, and I’ll let you know.”

  Zoey smiled. “Okay.”

  Robyn picked seats two rows behind Zoey and the others. Settling in, she took a sip of her icy cola and glanced around the crowded noisy auditorium. Cousin Paula was seated up near the door. Beside her was Wyatt’s grandmother, Ms. Gemma. Next to her was a tall dark-haired man Robyn didn’t know. She wondered who he was, then heard her grandmother’s voice rage in her head about staying out of folks’ business. She sighed and wondered if she’d ever escape that voice? Paula planned to visit Ardella in prison sometime soon. She’d asked Robyn if she wanted to go, too. She didn’t. Maybe she’d change her mind when she got older and the memories of being punched, slapped, and screamed at didn’t hurt so much. For now, she didn’t care if she ever saw her grandmother again.

  Leah joined Robyn a short time later and by then every seat in the auditorium was filled with people of all ages, races, and sizes. They were attired in everything from jeans and T-shirts to nice suits and dresses. “Do people come here on dates?”

  Leah nodded. “All the time. Not much else to do on a Friday night around here.”

  “It was the same way back home, but at least you have this. Zoey said you’re having something at your house after the movies?”

  “Yes. Tomorrow is Pizza Saturday with our uncle TC, so everybody’s going to sleep over and hang out. You’re welcome to come if you want.”

  “I’ll have to ask cousin Paula.”

  “Okay; let her know the girls will be sleeping upstairs in our bedrooms, and the boys will be in the basement. My dad is real serious about being the chaperone.”

  “Do I need to bring anything?”

  “Just your sleep stuff. Zoey and her girls will be in Tiff’s room. You can sleep there or in my room like you did the last time you came over.”

  “Thanks, Leah.” The last time, Robyn had just moved to town and was so overwhelmed by being in a new place, and all the drama tied to the trial, and being so unsure of herself, she hadn’t had a good time.

  “Hope Reverend Paula says yes. We always have big fun.”

  Robyn hoped she’d say yes, too.

  And she did. After the movie, Paula drove her home and Robyn quickly threw her overnight gear into her backpack. When they reached the Clark residence, Robyn said, “Thanks for letting me come.”

  “You’re welcome. Are you going to stay and make pizza tomorrow afternoon?”

  “I think so. I’ll text you when I need to get picked up.”

  “Sounds good. Have a good time.”

  Paula waited in her truck while Robyn rang the bell. When Mr. Clark answered the door, Robyn waved goodbye to Paula who then drove off.

  “Good to see you, Robyn,” Mr. Clark said. “Everybody’s downstairs. You can put your backpack and jacket on the pile there and go on down.”

  “Thank you.”

  After adding her backpack and jacket to the mound of others, Robyn made her way down the stairs to the sounds of BTS and laughter.

  Tiffany called out, “Robyn’s here!”

  Cheers followed, leaving her both embarrassed and happy.

  The evening was the most fun Robyn ever remembered having. There was salsa and chips, pretzels, soda, and a big platter of grapes. Brain and Amari, Tiff and Leah, and Devon and Alfonso did battle with Fortnite Save the World on competing flat-screen TVs. Lucas and W
yatt declared war on each other on the Ping-Pong table, while Jasmine, Zoey, and Maria Acosta competed for the title of Queen of Jacks. It was loud and crazy, and Robyn spent her time going from competition to competition, laughing at the smack talk, watching victory dances, and commiserating with the agony of defeat.

  At 1:00 a.m., Mr. Clark came down and announced it was time to close down the fun. There were a few groans, but no real complaints. They spent a few minutes cleaning up and putting things away. Once done, the boys began laying out their sleeping bags and the girls trooped upstairs.

  Robyn and Leah had just changed into their sleep gear when a knock on the closed bedroom door sounded.

  “Come in,” Leah called.

  It was Tiffany. She looked upset.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “How often do you go through Brain’s phone?”

  Confusion lined Leah’s face. “Never.”

  Tiffany seemed surprised. “Why not?”

  “Duh, because it’s his phone.” Leah studied her sister. “Whose phone do you want to go through?”

  When Tiffany didn’t answer, Leah said, “I know this isn’t about Amari.”

  Tiff came to her own defense, “Girls online talk about going through their boyfriends’ phones all the time.”

  “Number one, you and Amari aren’t really official, and two, people online set themselves on fire and eat detergent pods. Why would you take relationship advice from them?”

  Tiff dropped her head.

  Leah said, “I assume you asked him, so what did he say?”

  “For me to leave him alone and come back when I grow up.”

  Robyn winced inwardly.

  Leah said, “Dumb move, baby sis.”

  “But how am I supposed to know if he’s calling other girls?”

  “Five-letter word: trust.”

  Tiff blew out a breath. “You’re no help at all.” And she left.

  Leah looked over at Robyn. “If she keeps acting like my mom, we may need to get an exorcist.”

  A short while later, they were lying in their respective beds talking quietly in the dark.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Robyn said. “I had fun.”

  “Good. Do you like living here?” Leah asked.

  Robyn thought over her response. “I didn’t at first, but I don’t think it had anything to do with being here specifically. I’d’ve probably been unhappy wherever I ended up. All the drama with finding my mom’s skull in the yard behind the house, and my grandmother going to jail. It was a lot.”

  “The first time you slept over you didn’t seem comfortable.”

  Robyn admitted, “I wasn’t a very good guest.”

  “I thought you didn’t like me.”

  “No. That wasn’t it. I was just—let’s say I was kind of intimidated.”

  “By what?”

  “You.”

  Leah laughed. “Me?”

  “Yeah. I came in this room, and you had a telescope, and your own flat screen, a ton of books—fiction—not schoolbooks. My grandmother never let me buy books.” She chased off the sadness that bubbled up and continued, “You had a closet full of clothes and shoes—and I didn’t have any of those things. I do now, but last year, no.”

  “I wanted you to come over because I hoped we could be friends. Everybody in the crew has a counterpart except me.”

  “You have Preston, though.”

  “I do and he’s great, but I don’t have any girl buds. Crystal and I are sorta tight but she’s older and has her own college friends.”

  “You really want to be friends with me?”

  “No, Robyn, I’m just lying, and I hate your guts.”

  Robyn laughed. “Okay.” She thought about all she’d endured and said quietly, “I’d like a friend, somebody to talk to, hang with. My life’s been a mess. Lots of pain.”

  “I have my share, too. My mom’s crazy. It’s good we have Reverend Paula. She’s been great helping me deal with all my mama drama.”

  “She’s helped me a lot, too. I got stuff inside I need to get out, but just thinking about having to talk about it hurts, you know?”

  “I do. So if you want to talk I’m here.”

  “Same.”

  There was a silence for a moment before Leah asked, “Do you like waffles?”

  “I do.”

  “I’m making them for breakfast. My friend gets the first one.”

  “Being your friend is a good thing, then. Thanks for having me over, Leah.”

  “No problem. Good night, Robyn.”

  “Night, Leah.”

  Robyn made herself comfortable and drifted off to sleep. She had a friend.

  Chapter

  5

  When Bernadine arrived at the Dog for Meet the Candidates Night, she claimed a table in the middle of the room. The place was filling up. She was pleased to see the kids had already claimed booths. Jack James and new teacher Kyrie Abbott had mandated the students attend as part of their civics curriculum. Rocky and her staff were putting the last touches to the buffet and bringing in extra chairs. Everyone was expecting a large crowd.

  Lily and Trent joined her a few minutes later. Discussing the agenda with them, she looked up and into the hostile eyes of the entering Big Al Stillwell. Fear raced up her spine. As if aware of her reaction he gave her an ugly little smile and walked to a table in the back. Watching him go, Bernadine exhaled a shaky breath.

  Sounding and looking concerned, Lily asked, “What’s he doing here? I thought he’d moved to Oklahoma?”

  Trent eyed Stillwell grimly. “Heard he’s renting the double-wide Leo was living in before he moved his McMansion from Franklin. Not sure if he’s back permanently or what.”

  Seeing Stillwell brought back memories of the nasty temper he’d turned on her, the deadly arson fire set by his mother, and his mother’s attempts to run Bernadine off the road. She hoped he wasn’t back permanently. She didn’t want to spend her days and nights looking over her shoulder wondering if he was lurking nearby.

  As more and more people arrived, Bernadine’s concerns about Big Al faded. Riley strutted in smiling, shaking hands and garnering eye rolls from folks all over the room. Anna Ruiz, mother-in-law of fire chief Luis Acosta, entered with her grandchildren and immediately came over to Bernadine and thanked her again for their new residence.

  “We want to have everyone over for dinner soon to celebrate.”

  “Just let me know.”

  “Will do.”

  As she left to find a seat, Bobby and Kelly Douglas came in pushing the double stroller holding their twins. Kiara and Bobby Jr., the town’s little darlings, were getting bigger every day. Dad, Bobby Sr., was doing well as a student at the community college, and as Trent’s right-hand man. Kelly was managing the hair salon as if she’d been a successful businesswoman all her life. They were fine young people and great parents. Bernadine was glad they’d made the decision to move from Dallas to Henry Adams to seek a better life.

  Genevieve Barbour, Riley’s ex-wife, was godmother to the twins and as she went to greet them, Leo walked into the diner. Bernadine did her best to keep the snarl from her face. Decked out in one of his tailored European suits—silver—and wearing an equally costly pair of Italian handmade loafers—brown—the sight of him made her want to punch him in his nose. As if having peeped her thoughts, he flashed her a grin before taking a seat in the booth where Big Al Stillwell was seated with a few farmer friends. The mayoral race was already enough of a hot mess with Riley’s candidacy. Add Leo to the mix, and the election was headed for Crazy Town.

  Eyes on Leo, Lily asked, “Is he really running?”

  “He says he is. Whether it’s for the long haul, or just until he aggravates me enough to jump off a roof is anyone’s guess.”

  “He’s not wanted here.”

  “Another one of the reasons motivating him, I’m sure.” Knowing Leo, he probably wanted to lay the blame for his no longer perfect life at her feet, but Bernadi
ne refused to own even a gram of it.

  Her musings were interrupted by Lily’s surprised voice. “What’s Thad doing here?”

  Bernadine was brought up short by the sight of Thaddeus July, the patriarch of the Oklahoma July clan, entering the Dog via his fancy white-and-gold-trimmed, motorized wheelchair. He was smartly dressed in a fawn brown, western-cut suit and matching boots. Twin gray braids hung from beneath the beautiful snow white Stetson covering his head. With him was Mal. His gaze brushed hers so dispassionately, her anger flared, but she let it go. By his side were Thad’s grandsons, Diego July, Crystal’s former heartthrob, and Griffin July, Amari’s bio dad. The smiling Thad threw Bernadine a wink before motoring over to the table where his sister, Tamar, sat with Marie, Genevieve, and Gen’s husband, TC.

  Bernadine prayed aloud, “Lord, please don’t let Thad be here to run for mayor, too.”

  “Don’t even speak that,” Lily replied with amused alarm.

  But with all the other craziness going on, Bernadine thought prayer might be needed.

  With a bang of his gavel on a table at the front of the room Trent opened the meeting. “We’re here tonight to introduce the candidates for mayor of Henry Adams. If you plan to run, please stand.”

  Riley stood first, beaming in his black suit. Barrett followed. Griffin got to his feet, “My grandfather’s running, so I’m standing for him, Thaddeus July.”

  “Jesus,” Bernadine whispered and saw Tamar hang her head.

  Leo stood. “I was going to run, but instead, I’m throwing my support behind Riley Curry.”

  Bing Shepard yelled, “Birds of a feather, lose together!” Laughter and applause followed that and Leo appeared angered by the reaction. Bernadine wasn’t sure why. Neither he nor Riley were well liked.

  Trent used his gavel to restore order. Once folks quieted, he asked, “Anyone else?”

  Sheila stood and Bernadine gasped. She and Lily exchanged looks of astonishment.

  “Sheila Payne,” she said loudly and clearly.

  Jaws dropped all over the diner. There were smiles too, from people like Gen and Marie. Amari and Preston executed a quick high five. On the other hand, Barrett eyed his wife like a malevolent dragon. Bernadine wondered if this was affecting their marriage. Yes, prayer was on speed dial.