“Be right back Chuck,” I say, and toss my book onto the counter.
I chase after him but I’m too late. He’s gone. Probably a good thing, I remind myself. I need to get over this obsession. He may be the sweetest boy I’ve ever met but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to break my heart. I return to the store and make my purchases.
Saturday proves to be harder to sit through than I thought. The books are just not doing it for me, not distracting me the way I wanted them to. I sit up, resign myself to doing something outside. I promise myself that I am not getting out to search for Elliott today but even I know that’s a lie. I push my books from my lap and onto the bed and head to my dad's study.
“Pop? Want to walk into town with me?”
“I would schnitzel but I’m swamped.” Schnitzel is a nickname he gave me at two.
“No prob Bob. I’m gonna’ go to Sadie’s shop then. Take a look around. See if there’s anything good on the shelves today.”
“You know your mother hates it when you shop at the thrift store.”
“Yeah, but it’s the only place I can find pre-loved jeans the way I like them loved.”
“Alright, have fun.” I've been dismissed.
I walk to Sadie’s and open her door.
“Sadie?”
Sadie is in her early thirties, never been married, though I can't see why. I think I remember something about her being in love with a boy from town and when he left town for college he promised to return for her but never did. Tragic. I can't see this in Sadie though. She's too independent and strong in her self-worth. I bet it was more like she refused to wait and ended up alone anyway. She never brought it up and I never asked. Everyone has their secrets.
“Yes, darlin’. I’m back here.”
I head in the direction of her voice and stop sharply in front of a wicked dark orange velveteen floor length fitted jacket. I pick it up and toss it over my shoulders in front of the mirror she has close to the front of the shop. I gasp. It is the cutest thing ever and it fits me like it was tailored for me.
“No doubt I’m buying this today.”
Sadie appears from behind a rack. I love Sadie. She’s a kindred spirit.
“I was wondering when you were going to pick that up. Had a little bet going on with myself. You beat my estimated date by three days.” She laughs. “Had to pry it out of some young girl’s hands last week, probably one of those Bluefield girls trying to be you.”
Sadie holds this delusional notion that since I am quirky the way she was in high school and she was popular therefore it is safe to assume that I am popular as well.
“Sure Sadie. Apparently you haven’t heard, so I’ll enlighten you. The name Julia Jacobs is synonymous with ‘Bluefield Pariah’.”
“Nonsense.”
“Sadie, Sadie, Sadie. It’s true.”
“Hmmm,” she says.
I change the subject.
“Do you know the Gray family Sadie?”
Awesome subject change Julia. You numb skull.
“Mark and Shelby? Wasn’t their boy Elliott your best friend growing up?”
That hit too close to home. My heart begins to ache.
“Yeah.”
“Well? What about them?”
“Oh, nothing, just curious to know if you knew them or not.”
“Ohhh, I see. You’re smitten with Elliott Gray.”
“I am not! Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“I can just tell, always had a feeling about you two kids. This is good Julia.”
“No, it’s not,” I say.
Did I just admit to being smitten with Elliott Gray? To Sadie? Out loud?
“Yes, it is. Now come over here. I have some awesome new jeans that just came in.”
I follow Sadie.
“I saw him yesterday,” I whisper.
“Who?” She teases.
“You know who Sadie! Sheesh.”
“Where?”
“The grocery store. He did something extraordinary.”
“What? Did he use paper instead of plastic?”
“Hardy, har, har.” I swallow. “He helped a woman in need.”
“I’m not surprised. He was always such a generous boy.”
“She was with her baby and he bought them food and supplies to last them awhile.”
“That’s incredibly sweet Julia.”
“I know,” I admit quietly, “and he did it while keeping her dignity intact. I’ve never seen anything like it.” A lump forms in my throat.
There he goes, affecting me again.
I stick around Sadie’s shop for about an hour. I lounge on the dark purple settee she has in her window, people watching and chatting with Sadie about nothing in particular. That’s when I see him. I jump up and crouch behind the settee, my head just above the tufted back. He walks over to the newly renovated old fashioned train station and sits on the bench just outside it. What are you up to now Elliott gray?
“What are you doing Julia?”
“Shh, get down.” I grab her sleeve and pull. “I’m spying on Elliott Gray.”
Sadie crouches down beside me.
“What’s he doing?” She asks.
“He’s just sitting there. Wait! Someone’s coming!”
“Isn’t that Robyn Larson?”
I accidentally growl through gritted teeth. Oops. Sadie laughs. Robyn Larson is an incredibly sweet girl but she’s rather popular with the boys at school. I tried once our sophomore year to get her to be my friend, thought it would help her self-esteem a little, get her to realize she was something worth waiting for but it wasn’t happening. She knew what she wanted. I tried, at least.