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PETER’S MOM OWNS AN ANTIQUE store called Linden & White in the cobblestoney part of downtown. She sells furniture mostly, but she has jewelry cases too, arranged by decades. My favorite decade is the aughts, which means the 1900s. There’s this one gold heart locket with a tiny diamond chip in the center; it looks like a starburst. It costs four hundred dollars. The store is right next to McCalls bookstore, so I go in sometimes and visit with it. I always expect it to be gone, but then it never is. #2 в контекст | | |
We once bought our mom a gold clover pin from the 1940s for Mother’s Day. Margot and I ran a lemonade stand every Saturday for a month, and we were able to chip in sixteen dollars for it. I remember how proud we were when we presented Daddy with the money, we had it nice and neat in a ziplock bag. At the time I thought we were paying the lion’s share and my dad was only helping out a little. I realize now that the pin cost a lot more than sixteen dollars. I should ask Daddy how much it really cost. But then maybe I don’t want to know. Maybe it’s nicer not knowing. We buried her with it because it was her favorite. #3 в контекст | | |
I’m standing over the case, touching my finger to the glass, when Peter comes out from around back. “Hey,” he says, surprised. #4 в контекст | | |
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Peter gives me a look like I’m a dummy. “My mom owns the place, remember?” #6 в контекст | | |
“Well, duh. I’ve just never seen you here before,” I say. “Do you work here?” #7 в контекст | | |
“Nah, I had to drop something off for my mom. Now she’s saying I have to go pick up a set of chairs in Huntsburgh tomorrow,” Peter says in a grumbly voice. “It’s two hours there and back. Annoying.” #8 в контекст | | |
I nod companionably and lean away from the case. I pretend to look at a pink-and-black globe. Actually, Margot would like this. It could be a nice Christmas present for her. I give it a little spin. “How much is this globe?” #9 в контекст | | |
“Whatever it says on the sticker.” Peter rests his elbows on the case and leans forward. “You should come.” #10 в контекст | | |
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“You just complained about how annoying it’s going to be.” #13 в контекст | | |
“Yeah, alone. If you go, it might be slightly less annoying.” #14 в контекст | | |
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I roll my eyes. Peter says “you’re welcome” to everything! It’s like, No, Peter, that was not a genuine thank-you, so you do not need to say you’re welcome. #17 в контекст | | |
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“Come on! I’m picking the chairs up from an estate sale. The owner was some kind of shut-in. Stuff has just been sitting there for like fifty years. I bet there’ll be stuff you can look at. You like old stuff, right?” #20 в контекст | | |
“Yes,” I say, surprised that he knows this about me. “Actually, I’ve kind of always wanted to go to an estate sale. How did the owner die? Like, how long was it before someone found him?” #21 в контекст | | |
“God, you’re morbid.” He shudders. “Didn’t know you had that side to you.” #22 в контекст | | |
“I have lots of sides to me,” I tell him. I lean forward. “So? How did he die?” #23 в контекст | | |
“He isn’t dead, you weirdo. He’s just old. His family’s sending him to a nursing home.” Peter raises an eyebrow at me. “So I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven.” #24 в контекст | | |
“Seven? You never said anything about leaving at seven in the morning on a Saturday!” #25 в контекст | | |
“Sorry,” he says contritely. “We have to go early before all the good stuff gets snatched up.” #26 в контекст | | |
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That night I pack lunches for Peter and me. I make roast beef sandwiches with cheese and tomato, mayonnaise for me, mustard for Peter. Peter doesn’t like mayonnaise. It’s funny the things you pick up in a fake relationship. #28 в контекст | | |
Kitty zooms into the kitchen and tries to grab a sandwich half. I smack her hand away. “That’s not for you.” #29 в контекст | | |
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She climbs onto a stool and watches me wrap the sandwiches in wax paper. Sandwiches look so much prettier wrapped in wax paper than encased in ziplock. Any chance I get, I use wax paper. “I like Peter,” Kitty says. “He’s a lot different than Josh, but I like him.” #32 в контекст | | |
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“I don’t know. He’s really funny. He jokes around a lot. You must really be in love if you’re making sandwiches for him. When Margot and Josh first became a couple, she made three-cheese macaroni and cheese all the time because that’s his favorite. What’s Peter’s favorite?” #34 в контекст | | |
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Kitty gives me the side eye. “If you’re his girlfriend, you should know what his favorite food is.” #36 в контекст | | |
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“That’s because mayonnaise is gross. Josh hates mayonnaise too.” #38 в контекст | | |
I feel a pang. Josh does hate mayonnaise. “Kitty, do you miss Josh?” #39 в контекст | | |
She nods. “I wish he still came over.” A wistful look crosses over her face, and I’m about to give her a hug when she puts her hands on her hips. “Just don’t use all the roast beef, because I need it for my lunch next week.” #40 в контекст | | |
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“See that you do,” Kitty says, and zooms off again. #42 в контекст | | |
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At seven thirty I’m sitting by the window, waiting for Peter to pull up. I’ve got a brown paper bag with our sandwiches and my camera, in case there’s anything spooky or cool I can take a picture of. I’m picturing a crumbling, gray old mansion like you see in horror movies, with a gate and a murky pond or a maze in the backyard. #45 в контекст | | |
Peter’s mom’s minivan pulls up at seven forty-five, which is annoying. I could’ve slept a whole hour longer. I run out to the car and hop inside, and before I can say a word, he says, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. But look what I brought you.” He passes me a donut in a napkin, still warm. “I stopped and got it special, right when they opened at seven thirty. It’s mocha sugar.” #46 в контекст | | |
I break off a piece and pop it into my mouth. “Yum!” #47 в контекст | | |
He gives me a sidelong glance as he pulls out of my driveway. “So I did the right thing being late, right?” #48 в контекст | | |
I nod, taking a big bite. “You did the exact right thing,” I say, my mouth full. “Hey, do you have any water?” #49 в контекст | | |
Peter hands me a half-full water bottle and I gulp it down. “This is the best donut I ever had,” I tell him. #50 в контекст | | |