Page 2 of Love in Overdrive

Chapter 2

“Did you hear about the Browns?”

Delaney Hunt had indeed, but said nothing. She pushed the next item across the scanner and let MaryLou continue.

“They’re getting a divorce. Seems Marge has a little gambling problem. Poor dear.” The other woman placed one fuchsia-tipped finger to her lips.

Laney internally snorted. If anyone needed a reminder not to gossip, it was MaryLou, not her.

In the few months she’d been working at the local grocery store, she’d heard more news about Gray Duck Grove and its people than in four years’ worth of the local newspapers.

Laney shook her head and rang up the last of MaryLou’s items. She’d perfected the art of being surprised without commenting on the town gossip. She’d heard this juicy piece of news five times so far this shift… once from Marge’s own aunt.

She placed the last of MaryLou’s groceries in the bag and handed them to her. Laney stretched her back and smiled. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Almost quitting time.

The older woman picked up her bag, but didn’t seem in a rush to leave. “Well, you be careful now. Especially with a criminal in town.”

“Criminal?” Laney wondered what the Dixon boys had gotten into now. Gray Duck Grove didn’t have much crime, but the adolescent twins already had a stint in juvie under their belts.

“Oh, didn’t you hear?” MaryLou’s expression brightened. She scanned left, then right. “The couple who bought old man Dodd’s house… Oh, it had to be at least ten years now.”

Laney remembered Mr. Dodd and his wife, but she’d been in college at the time they moved into a senior living facility. Between school then work, she never really got to know the new owners.

“Anyway, their son just got home from prison this week.”

Prison? Air clogged in Laney’s throat.

“Rumor has it he killed a man.” MaryLou adjusted her grip on the bag. “Well, I better get going before my ice cream melts. Stay safe.”

Laney swallowed the knot of dread that stuck in her throat. Gossip, that’s all it was. If she’d learned anything growing up in a small town, it was not to make judgments based on rumors and speculation.

Would she double-check all the locks in her house tonight? Yes. Yes, she would. But she wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Surely, by the end of her next shift, she’d have all the facts on this newcomer to town.

The bell over the door rang, and Laney glanced to see who the new patrons were. A cold chill of dread slapped her in the face.

“Fudge nuggets!” The last people she wanted to see had strolled through the entrance. Laney dropped behind the counter and pretended to straighten the bags.

She peeked at the clock on the register. “Please tick faster.”

Five more minutes until she could slip out of here. No way she wanted to be at the checkout when they were ready to leave.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Laney stiffened. Someone was knocking on her conveyer. Was it them? She peeked from her hiding spot. Relief washed over her at the sight of her friend Addison.

“Oh, hi. I was just, uh…” Laney fumbled to straighten her smock.

“Avoiding your cheating ex? Yeah, I saw Pete and DeDe come in.” Addison leaned on the counter, examining her manicure.

“Oh, did they? I was just straightening before I punch out.” Okay, it was a lie, but she didn’t want to get into it now.

“Really, Laney. It’s been almost a year since the divorce. Haven’t you run into him before?”

“Him, yes. Her, no.” She quickly closed out her till and motioned Addison to follow her to the back. She’d had more than one blowout with Pete. But not her ex-friend. She couldn’t bring herself to look her in the eye. The ache over her ex-husband had dulled. Truth be told, they had issues for years. But DeDe? Laney was blindsided by her betrayal. The pain still pierced her heart when Laney thought about the woman she’d considered one of her closest friends.

“I could go spill a jar of tomato sauce on her.” A devilish smile crossed her friend’s face.

“Thanks, but no. It would clash with her purple sweater.”