All I Ask(2)

It hits me like a bullet to the chest. Not only did I lose the love of my life today, but I also lost my best friend.





Chapter One





Teagan




Present



“Thank you, Mrs. Dickman, I’ll definitely let you know if I get any more of the chairs in from that set,” I explain with the phone to my ear as I try to tidy up the store.

“Okay, Teagan, you do that, but I’ll call tomorrow to be sure.”

She always does. It wouldn’t be another glorious day in Chincoteague Island if Mrs. Dickman didn’t remind me she still wants those damn chairs. I run an antique store, and our stock is whatever we find on any given day. But it makes her happy to check with us, so I smile and do my best to make her day a little brighter.

“Mom!” Chastity comes running down the stairs, her fabulous thirteen-year-old attitude already on display. “Why did you stick Mr. Stinkers outside again?”

I should’ve known the cat would be today’s argument.

“Because I told you that we can’t have a cat in the apartment.”

“Grandma will let me. I know she will.”

“She won’t. I’m not about to ask her and piss her off when we need to live here.”

We live above the store rent free, which means it’s the only place we can afford. Even though Mom says my living arrangement is part of my salary. Chastity doesn’t understand that I can’t feed another living thing. Or that the car is about three thousand miles overdue for an oil change and needs new tires, which means I say a prayer each time I start it. I leave out the part that I can’t afford to buy her new sneakers because I make minimum wage in my parents’ antique store—as the manager—and that I haven’t seen a dime from her father in thirteen years, since he signed his rights away. Not that my parents couldn’t pay me more, but they feel that choices have consequences, so me getting pregnant, dropping out of college, and allowing Keith off the hook means I need to suck it up.

“The cat needs to be inside where he can be loved.”

Yeah, kid, I need to be loved too.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I really am, but we can’t have a cat or dog or any other stray thing you bring home.”

She huffs. “Animals need me.”

My daughter is really a great kid. She gets straight A’s, always listens, still thinks I’m sort of okay, unless we’re talking about animals. Then, she’s a lunatic. As much as I’d love to give her what she’s asking, it’s not possible. I’m saving every penny so I can get us out of this town and into a better life.

“Yes, they do, and all of this is fascinating, but you’re going to miss the bus and I can’t drive you today, so…” I grip her shoulders, turn her about, and start to march her toward the door to the apartment. “…off you go, my Ace Ventura.”

She shakes her head. “You’re really lame.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Do you think we can go see Dr. Hartz today? Maybe I can volunteer at the clinic or help with the animals.”

Immediately I feel my chest constrict.

“You can,” I say with a tight smile. “I’m sure he would appreciate the help.”

Dr. Hartz is Derek’s father, and even though I haven’t spoken to Derek in over thirteen years, I still feel anxious just hearing his name. An unbreakable friendship that dissolved the day Chastity was born. I have no idea why or what happened to make him disappear. All I know is one day the phone rang and when we hung up, we never spoke again. It’s been so long since it all happened, and still it hurts.

There was no more help or calls. No more late-night talks where I had my friend, my only friend. It was like he vanished, and I was left completely alone.

“Good, then I’ll go see Dr. Hartz after school.”

Derek’s parents have always been kind to me. They’ve never judged me or made me feel small, which is great, because living in this tiny town doesn’t lend itself to avoiding people. It’s just that whenever we talk, it’s superficial because what do two people talk about when the common thread between them has been severed?

“I’m sure that’ll cure your itch regarding the animals.”

“Not likely, but I think I could do some good,” she says.

There’s my girl, always wanting to help. Her heart is ten times too big for her body. She would do anything for anyone. At her age, my life revolved around Friday night football games, my stupid boyfriend, and my friends—who were, I’m ashamed to say, the mean girls.

Chastity is my polar opposite. And I’m so thankful for that.

“I know you could. Let me know how it goes with Dr. Hartz, okay?”

She wraps her arms around my neck, squeezing me tight. “I will! Thanks, Mom!”

I kiss the top of her head, grateful that she still thinks I’m cool enough to hug.

“Don’t bring home any animals. Understood?”

Chastity smiles and I know that look. “I make no promises.” She rushes out the door, avoiding any response I could toss back.

And I begin my mundane day.

Once I’ve had my coffee, I head downstairs to the store. It’s the end of summer, which means tourists are gone and the town is going into off-season mode. The antique shop hours have dwindled, the beach crowd has thinned, and everything is a bit…calmer.