Free Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman Page B

then came back.”
    “Got it.” She looked around, making an effort to back off yet still keep some thread of conversation going.
    “Just for a while, huh?”
    He was looking at her as if he knew she was hiding something. “Oh, you know, sometimes in life you realize the grass really was greener on your own side of the fence.”
    “I guess you’re right. I’m not sure whether or not I hope that proves true.”
    “Planning to climb out of your own pasture for a while, are you?”
    “I guess maybe I am. Actually, to tell you the truth, I got kicked out of mine. I got fired last week.” At that, he looked at her with such blatant disapproval that she felt she had to explain herself.For some reason, she couldn’t stand the thought of this man she’d only just met thinking ill of her. “See, I got a job out of college as a receptionist for a contractor, but then I found out he was cheating people, including a dear old woman who lived down the street from my parents. I told her about it, and the boss found out I told. I got fired. She got sent to an assisted living facility. I figured I’d done enough damage to that part of the country for a while, decided it was time for a road trip so I could mess up people’s lives somewhere else.” She faked a little laugh.
    He tilted his head back, as if considering whether or not this was a story to be believed. Finally, he said, “Honesty. It’s a good trait. You don’t see it all that often these days.”
    “Apparently not, unfortunately for me.”
    “You’re better off away from that place. You mark my word, before long you’d be included in the cheating—either by helping him cheat people or by him cheating you. Yep, you’re much better off away from there.” He nodded and stared off into the distance. Then he turned to look at her straight on. “I’ll bet your parents are proud.”
    Kelli shrugged. “I’m sure they would have been.” She hated how her voice cracked at the end.
    “Would have been? So, they are . . . ?”
    Kelli just nodded. She didn’t trust her voice just then.
    “I’m so sorry. How long?”
    “A little over a month. Car wreck. Killed them both.” Kelli put the water bottle on the counter, as she had run out of conversation ideas. “I guess this is it for me.”
    The keys on the cash register made a beeping sound as he entered the price. “That’ll be one dollar.”
    Kelli fished a dollar out of her wallet. “Thanks.” She started toward the door.
    “Hey, you know what, if you’re interested in a job, I’ve beenkind of thinking of hiring some help here, just for the summer. Would you be interested in something like that?”
    “Well, I . . .” Kelli was getting ready to answer no when she realized this might be the opening to more conversations with Ken Moore. She could pretend to be interested all week long and see what else she could find out. “Yes, I think I might be.”
    “Here, write down your name and number and I’ll give you a call in a day or two so we can talk more about it. Are you going to be in town for a while?”
    “A few more days anyway. I was thinking of spending a few days just poking through downtown.” Kelli wrote down her name and cell number on the piece of paper he held out.
    “It’s a nice little town. You should check out the City Center Church on Sunday. Nice place, nice people. I’m sure they’d make you feel right at home.”
    “City Center Church, huh? Maybe I’ll just do that.” In fact, one of the few things Kelli had found about her mother involved City Center Church, so she had already planned to go there and see if she could get at least a glimpse of her. She turned back to him. “Do you want me to take an application or anything?”
    “Nah. I work off my gut, not some mindless, formulaic paperwork. Besides, you already told me you got fired from your last job. I don’t reckon there’s any reason for me to check that reference.”
    “I guess not.”
    “I’ll be in