Imagine That Read Free Page B

act.
    â€œMiss Sinclair?” Kara’s voice pulled her back again. “You comin’ or not?”
    Emily straightened her shoulders. “Comin’. I’m comin’.”
    â€œI wish I’d brought my books with me!” Kara said. “You could sign ‘em…”
    Emily smiled as Kara babbled on about making some other girl eat her shorts with envy. The words washed over her, but she didn’t pay any attention to them. Her mind stayed on Nate’s rust-mobile.
    Which had to stop. Maybe she’d started an early midlife crisis. She was only twenty-eight, so it seemed unlikely, but something had to explain her bizarre reaction to a complete stranger.
    All thoughts of Nate disappeared when she met Fred, who turned out to be a strapping, blond hunk, with shoulders like a linebacker. Emily blinked, but Fred’s image didn’t waver. Where was Covington Falls growing such fine specimen? His attire mirrored Nate’s in form and concept, except Fred had grease all over his hands instead of paint.
    Kara tugged Emily further into the bowels of the repair shop. “Daddy… look!”
    Daddy, with a matching amble shared by his daughter, reached them in a few steps. “What’s up, pumpkin?”
    â€œDaddy! It’s E.J. Sinclair! The writer! Her car is stuck out by the lake. Mr. Cooper gave her a ride here. Isn’t this the coolest ever?”
    He chuckled and flicked his daughter’s ball cap. “Sure is.”
    â€œThe name’s Emily,” she said when he switched his gaze to her.
    â€œMitch Baker,” he replied.
    She paused as confusion settled over her. “I thought you were Fred?”
    He flashed even white teeth. “Fred is my dad. Retired now, but he still comes in almost every day to tinker around.”
    She nodded. “Oh, well I do have a car stuck out by the lake. I was hoping I could get a tow truck to retrieve it.”
    â€œWe can get a truck out there, but it’ll be awhile. Gus — my driver — is out at the Russell place helping old Avery’s cow get out of a ravine.”
    â€œYou use your tow truck to rescue livestock?”
    He smiled, acknowledging the odd vagaries of country life. “Around here we do. It’s my only truck and there’s no telling how long it’ll be before they manage to get Belinda unstuck.”
    Her heart dropped to her feet. “What should I do until then?”
    â€œThe Old Diner is right down the street,” Mitch said. “You could get some lunch.”
    Emily didn’t figure she had much choice. “Can I leave my cat here for awhile? He won’t be any trouble.”
    The word cat penetrated Kara’s consciousness, and her eyes lit up. She stooped down to peer into the carrier. “Oh, he’s beautiful. I’ll watch him for you.”
    â€œGo on and take Miss Sinclair’s cat up to the house,” Mitch said, “It’ll get too hot in here for him.”
    Kara reached for the carrier and walked away, cooing nonsense words while Wordsworth rubbed against the crate door in apparent ecstasy.
    After getting directions, Emily thanked Mitch Baker and left the shop. At the corner, she hung a right and headed back to Main Street. She found T he Old Diner with no trouble and admired the vintage feel of the place with its black-and-white checkered floor, red vinyl booths and gorgeous photos of classic screen legends. She sat at the counter on a red vinyl swivel stool and ate a hamburger and fries. Washed it down with the most divine chocolate shake she’d ever tasted.
    And wished the entire time she had even a fraction of her old imagination. She knew there could be a story in here. Shoot, the entire town was ripe for inspiration.
    Hoping some of the magic would rub off, Emily went exploring after her meal. A dress boutique caught her eye and she came to a halt. A display of yellow sundresses had been arranged in the window. She