Raven looked down at the light wash overalls she’d bought at a boutique in town. She’d added a red flannel shirt underneath to complete the look.
“Okay, I need more, ladies,” Raven said. “Give me a word, an adjective.”
“Shapeless,” her mother offered.
“Rugged,” Linda said.
“Jesus, okay, into the no pile this one goes as well,” Raven said.
Since deciding to hold out and stay in Cedar Lake for at least the summer, Raven wanted to cement her commitment by purchasing appropriate work attire. Items that said, “I’m a local. I’m from here.” But so far, her mother and Linda were not impressed.
“I think it might help if you got ones that fit better,” Linda said.
“I agree with Linda. More Dolly Parton, less railroad engineer.”
“Well, I got these from the men’s section,” Raven said. “None of the women’s were long or big enough.”
“Would it kill traditional men’s fashion to adopt strategically placed darts that contour the ass?” her mom asked seriously.
“Okay, that’s it. I’m admitting defeat,” Raven said. “I think I’ll keep the rain jacket and the hiking boots but return everything else.”
The older women concurred with Raven’s conclusion.
“I gotta head back to the front,” Linda said before turning the phone on herself and saying, “It was nice to meet you, Patricia.”
“You too, Linda,” her mom said. “And I’ll definitely send you that flourless chocolate cake recipe.”
After Linda had left her room, Raven said, “Oh, I forgot to show you the books I got as well.”
She retrieved the tote bag with her purchases from the small bookstore and presented them to her mother.
“They’re both business-related,” Raven explained as if her mother would think books titledSo You Want to Be a Boss… Babe?andGirl, Incorporatedwere about anything else.
“I can’t believe you’re doing all this,” her mom said with some wonderment. “You’re fearless, honey.”
“Honestly, I don’t know if it’s fearlessness or pettiness driving me right now,” Raven said. She felt too much satisfaction recalling the vexed look on Silas’s face when he realized what was going on.
“I think Chuck would find this whole situation hilarious. He’d appreciate your stubbornness,” her mom said.
“You’ve been thinking about him lately?” she asked, catching the sad smile that crossed her mother’s lips.
“A little. For obvious reasons.”
“You never told me why you guys broke up,” Raven said.
Chuck was the only boyfriend her mom ever introduced Raven to growing up. She hadn’t appreciated at the time what a big deal that was.
“Oh, he loved Cedar Lake. Wanted to live there. Work there. And die there. I had you to think of. You had your friends, and I had a good job. We had different priorities.”
“Do you regret it?” Raven asked. “Your choice to not leave with him.”
“No, it felt right at the time, and who’s to say the relationship wouldn’t have fallen apart once we got there?”
Her mother’s words, while bittersweet, bolstered Raven’s decision to stay. The future was unknown, so she might as well fully embrace the journey she’d set upon.
ChapterSix
Silas hadno idea what to expect at work on Monday morning as he and the team waited for Raven to arrive in the break room. They were all seated at the table except for Silas, who leaned against a counter, too restless for a chair.
