Free Snow Dance by Alicia Street, Roy Street Page B

peeked in, eyes and ears on alert.
    Her inner wimp longed for that macho Mr. McNeil to show up and protect her. He sure looked like he could hold his own in a tussle. But Amanda reminded herself she’d moved out here to get away from men. They always let you down and this guy would be no different.
    She stiffened her jaw and told herself to put on her big girl panties. Inching her way across the floor, she ignored her usual obsession about letting in the cold air and left the door ajar as an escape route. Just in case some prowler was lurking behind a clothing rack or ready to spring from the tiny office on her left.
    After bravely dipping her head inside the office doorway, scouting the six racks of dresses and coats and checking the storeroom, it was obvious she was alone. Returning to the business at hand, Amanda toted her supply of paint into the shop and placed it against the wall in the far corner.
    Slam!
    Amanda let out a gasp and pivoted toward the jarring noise. How to scare the hell out of a woman .
    But it was only the front door. Pulled shut by the wind.
     
    ***
     
    Fifteen-year-old Casey Richardson sat next to the bed, balancing a notebook and geometry text on one knee and a third grade geography book on the other. Jenna, her eight-year-old sister sat curled on the floor to her right, waiting for Casey’s opinion on her homework questions.
    To her left, the man who’d been the foundation of their family slept for now. But the ticking of his oxygen tank, his protruding cheekbones and sallow skin left no doubt in Casey’s mind — and her shattered heart — that he would soon be gone.
    She couldn’t concentrate on the homework. It seemed so unimportant now. Worries flooded her mind. And fear. And anger at the woman sleeping off her latest drunken bender in the next room. Thanks again, Mom .
    Casey had read lots of blogs and posts on the sites telling cancer patients and their families how to cope. But they seemed stupid to her right now. All she could think about was how she and Parker would get the money to heat the house this winter, how to buy Jenna the new boots she needed, what to cook for dinner tomorrow. And of course making sure her dad was comfortable.
    Parker shuffled into the room. He stood by the bed a moment and then turned to Casey. “Okay. My shift.”
    “But you haven’t eaten. I made chili. It’s on the stove.”
    Parker took the books from her lap. “I want my two sisters to keep me company while I eat.”
    Casey shook her head. “I can’t let him wake up to an empty room.”
    He tugged her arm. “We’ll make noise in the kitchen so Dad knows we’re here. And Jenna can be our runner for checking up missions. Right, baby sis?”
    Jenna sprang up and gave an eager demonstration of her speed by sprinting to the kitchen and back.
    Parker used a gentle, but firm, grip to nudge Casey out of the room. “You’ve been here too many hours. Besides, I’ve got news of a job offer for you. Something you might like. Get you out of the house. Make a few bucks. But remember to tell her you can only work after school hours.”
    She couldn’t possibly miss his implication. No matter how many bills they had or how much school Parker missed, he was always on her case for skipping class or falling behind in her homework. Casey was about to challenge him by asking when she’d have time to take care of their father if she spent her days in school and her evenings at a job. But she didn’t want to hear his answer. She knew her big brother was trying to make sure she had plenty to keep her occupied once Dad passed away.
    In the kitchen Casey set milk and cookies on the table for her hyperactive little sister who charged off for one more sick room check before climbing on to a stool and spinning around on the smooth wooden surface. Casey switched off the low flame she’d had under the chili and dished out a bowl for Parker. “Let me guess. Freddie Huntz has finally decided to hire me at the