Two months later…
When I stepped off the plane a couple months ago, I was relaxed, as if I had just been massaged from head to toe. That’s not the case anymore. I came home to a stack of bills that need to be paid. I haven’t fallen behind yet, but tourist season was down for me compared to prior years.
I push away all those pressures, walking into the auction Clara is having to raise funds for the library extension. Even with business being slow, I donated an item because that’s what you do in a small town.
My stepbrother, Xavier, is already seated, his body tense and stiff. I take the seat next to him and he glances in my direction. We joke around about the grandmas in the front row before Clara bangs the gavel for everyone to quiet.
Clara auctions off what I think are all the items,
