Georgia On My Mind Read Free Page A

deep blue eyes.
    Taking the garbage bag from her, he peered inside and winced. “Are you aware that Styrofoam never breaks down? It’ll still be sitting in the landfill when your great grandchildren become grandparents.”
    Georgie stared at him, unable to breathe, let alone form a coherent word. Apparently, he had the same effect on her when he was outraged as he did when he ran by the house dripping with sweat.
    “Where’s your recycling Dumpster?”
    “We, um, don’t have one,” she sputtered.
    “Are you kidding me?” His face got very red. “You jam all this Styrofoam into a regular Dumpster every day ? Oh my God!”
    Wiping away a piece of flounder that had somehow gotten stuck to her cheek, she felt the surge coming and couldn’t stop it. It was only two o’clock, but she’d already had more than enough of this day. She burst into tears.
    He stared at her, seeming shocked by her emotional reaction.
    “What’s going on here?” Bad Gus demanded from the doorway. The other old men followed him as he pushed Jogger Guy out of the way and put his arm around Georgie.
    “What did you do to her?” Walter asked, invading Jogger Guy’s personal space.
    “Nothing,” he insisted. “I asked her why she wasn’t recycling all this Styrofoam.”
    Georgie’s tears descended into deep, gulping sobs that had little to do with garbage and everything to do with months of unbearable stress.
    Good Gus took over from Bad Gus, leading Georgie into her office while whispering gentle words of comfort. The others made a barricade at the door to keep out Jogger Guy, who had followed them.
    “There, there, now Georgie, honey.” Good Gus squatted next to her, offered his monogrammed handkerchief, and gripped her hand. “Someone get her a glass of water.”
    “I’ve got it.” Pushing past Jogger Guy, Bill stopped all of a sudden and eyed the younger man with suspicion. “Where do I know you from?”
    “I work with your daughter.”
    “You’re a cop?”
    “Detective Nathan Caldwell, Newport Police Department.” He extended his hand. “I’ve seen you around the station with Roxy.”
    Because he was too polite not to, Bill shook Nathan’s hand while continuing to give him the once-over. “You made Georgie cry. We don’t care for that.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I was just driving by, and I saw her—”
    “It’s not me you need to apologize to, young feller.” Bill nodded toward Georgie, who was still mopping up the torrent of tears.
    The men parted to let Nathan through.
    Good Gus stood up but didn’t leave his post at Georgie’s side.
    They waited expectantly.
    “I’m sorry I yelled at you,” Nathan said.
    If he’d had a hat, it would have been twisting in his hands. The old men could be intimidating when they wanted to be, a discovery Georgie found intriguing—and endearing.
    “It’s okay,” she said, mortified by the entire episode.
    “I was just wondering why you don’t recycle,” he mumbled.
    “My mother requested a recycling Dumpster from the city a year ago.” Georgie gestured to the stack of paper on the cluttered desk. “There’s a copy of the form here somewhere. Apparently, she didn’t get anywhere.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Nathan said.
    “So go arrest someone at City Hall,” Bad Gus growled. “And stop picking on Georgie.”
    “I wasn’t picking on her—”
    “You can move along now, son.” Walter tugged on Nathan’s arm to lead him from the office. “We’ll take care of her.”
    “I really am sorry,” Nathan said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” On his way out, he brushed past Walter and Bill, who was returning with the glass of water.
    “I’m okay, you guys,” Georgie insisted. “I’m sorry to make such a scene.”
    “You have nothing to be sorry about,” Good Gus said.
    Georgie took a long sip of water. “Thanks. Go on back to your game. I’m fine. Really.”
    They began to filter back into the common room for their afternoon round of