Read Why Now? for Free Online Page B

in the car that it dawned on me the girl I helped was my neighbor.
    Her family was new to our street and I couldn’t remember her name, so I called her Killer. I figured it fit since she was brave enough to take on three boys all on her own. I still call her Killer from time to time.
    It didn’t matter that she was smaller than them, she wasn’t the kind of girl who would ever watch someone or something being hurt and not step in.
    She’ll be the type of mother who will move heaven and earth to protect her kids. Old Man Graham ended up adopting that dog since Kacey’s dad was allergic and Grams was scared of big dogs.
    The dog was only a puppy when Kacey saved it, a pit puppy. He grew to be massive.
    That didn’t stop Kacey from tackle hugging him every time she saw Old Man Graham walking him.
    Used to crack me up, that dog scared everyone but her. Only the three of us knew why he’d never bite her. She would always be his hero, and in a way, I was hers.
    It was on that thought that I fell asleep.

    Thanks to my internal alarm clock, I’m showered and dressed before Heath. Not wanting to raid his fridge, I venture out for breakfast, leaving him a note and taking his spare key with me.
    The sleepy little town I grew up in has changed over the years. One thing I hope never changes is Lola’s Diner. There’s a decent breakfast crowd this morning so I head for the counter instead of waiting for a booth.
    “Haven’t seen you in ages, Jake. You still working on that rig?” I get by way of greeting as I slide onto a stool.
    “Morning, Mrs. Fairlane. Yes ma’am, still on the rig.”
    “Honey, you’re old enough to call me by my first name now and have been for at least a decade. How many times do I need to tell you that?” She doesn’t wait for me to answer since she already knows what I’ll say. “You want a coffee and the usual?”
    Grinning at her, I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
    She clucks her tongue at me before turning to call out my order and pour me a cup of coffee. The mugs are all mismatched at Lola’s. Somewhere amongst them is a Santa Barbara mug I gave them.
    Over the years, almost everyone in town has given her a mug or two.
    They have so many that they had a cool shelf put in to cover the back wall of the diner to display the ones they aren’t using.
    They rotate them out too, well the ones that aren’t too fragile or don’t have a particular special meaning.
    Those mugs are on the top shelf of that unit and never get used for customers anymore. The mug I got today is shaped like an owl and the base reads Owlbuquerque, NM.
    Lifting it to my nose, I inhale. The coffee we drink on the rig resembles sludge it’s so strong. Lola’s coffee is a thing of beauty in comparison.
    Mrs. Fairlane interrupts my unconscious homage to her coffee. “How long are you in town for, Jake?”
    Setting my owl mug down I straighten. “Not sure. Maybe long enough to finally talk you into running away with me.”
    Mrs. Fairlane could easily be my grandmother. It’s still fun to make her blush.
    “I’m too old for you and we both know it, Jake Whitmore,” she laughs.
    “Jake?”
    Both of our heads turn at the sound of my name being called.
    The voice belongs to a woman I don’t recognize. She’s pretty, though, with a rockabilly look to her. Her black hair is pulled up in a ponytail; blunt cut bangs covering her forehead. Tattoos peek out from the sleeves of her polka dotted dress, an apron tied at her waist.
    She works here but I still have no idea who she is even though she obviously knows me.
    It’s Mrs. Fairlane to the rescue. “You remember my granddaughter, Sydney, don’t you?”
    My eyes widen. “Sydney Fairlane? I didn’t even recognize you. I thought you had blonde hair.”
    Sydney grins as Mrs. Fairlane shakes her head. “I dyed it.” She hitches her thumb towards her grandmother. “It drives Gigi nuts.”
    Mrs. Fairlane looks upward and addresses the ceiling. “The good Lord gives her beautiful