Free Healing Touch by Jenna Anderson Page A

your
sister?”

    “Because there’s nothing to gossip about.
They’re just normal people. Townies see them everywhere and already
know their business.” I fell into his trap and didn’t realize it
until it was too late. “The town folk are used to them.”

    “Exactly.” He pushed me off his shoulder and
kissed me again. For a moment I forgot my name or what country I
was in. “Tracy, I like you too. In fact, I really like you.” He
pivoted and pinned me beneath him on the couch. Laughing he said,
“You better agree to be my girlfriend or I’m going to feel awfully
bad about attacking you.”

    I gave a mock scream and tried to wiggle
away, but not too seriously. “Please no, help me.”

    We kissed and I noticed how well we fit
together in this position. I found the path under his shirt again
and he untucked my sweater. For once my mind and words didn’t put
an end to the situation. I liked him and he more than liked me. The
vision in my mind showed me that we’d get through this some how.
The happy scenarios with the three of us outweighed the
embarrassing gossip situations.

    He stopped nibbling my ear to force me to
answer his question. “Are you?”

    I ran a hand over his face and ran it through
his curls. “Yes, you can call me your girlfriend, but only if you
promise to keep it between us for a little while.”

    “Ugh!” He laid his head into the pillow.
“You’re killing me.”

    I was about to give him a sassy reply when
something buzzed against my hip. I thought I knew the male anatomy
pretty well but this was a new one for me.

    “What the hell is that?”

    “Oh crap!” Jeremy said as he jumped up off
the couch and dug the phone out of his pocket. “Yes. Yes. I’ll be
there right away.” He flipped the phone closed and ran to the back
door. “I’ve got to go to the clinic. That was Sherriff McCabe. One
of the high school kids tried to jump a bonfire and didn’t quite
make it.”

    “Oh my God!”

    “It’s not bad enough to take him to the
hospital in Des Moines, but he needs my attention right away. The
kid’s dad is bringing him in to the clinic.” Before he bolted out
the door he turned around and kissed me quickly. “Meet me at the
bakery tomorrow at ten.”

    “What? Wait, um, no I can’t.” But it was too
late. He was gone. “That is a horrible idea Jeremy,” I said to no
one. “That is the complete opposite of keeping things between
us.”

    ****

    By seven a.m. I was awake and had it all
planned out. Leah and I would go to the bakery with all the kids.
Leah would talk to Jeremy by herself and tell him that I’d call him
later, but he was not, for any reason, to talk to me at the
bakery.

    I called her a little before nine with my
plan. She had to hear the whole juicy story before she agreed to
help. By nine-fifty I was on my way to the bakery feeling like I
was back in middle school. ‘You tell Sandy, to tell Jessica that I
like her cousin Tom but only if he says he likes me first and I
don’t like-like him I just kinda-like him.’

    The bakery was packed. Early church services
got out around nine forty-five and the next ones didn’t start until
around eleven. Most folks were still in town for the homecoming
festivities. The bakery served as a perfect spot to meet and say a
final goodbye to out of town guests and relatives.

    The five of us piled in to the crowded room.
After a quick scan and not noticing Jeremy we made our way to the
display counter. Zach and Cody left nose prints up and down the
glass as they tried to decide which sugary treat to get. Leah and
Rachel stopped to talk to one of the other dance moms near the
door.

    “Pick out something small, guys. You’ve
already had pancakes this morning.” I put two fingers up to the gal
behind the counter when she waved a coffee cup at me. I also
indicated the little guys and signaled three. She knew that meant
three milks.

    Cody turned to ask if he could have a
particular item and I saw his face