In Between // OBX (K.C)

23

Brenna sighed wiping down the counter for what felt like the millionth time this hour.

"Hey, Ren!" John B smiled as he entered the shop, the bell ringing at the front door as it shut.

"Hey," she tried to force a smile.

"You good?" he asked reading her emotions.

"I'm grounded, so not really," she explained walking behind the counter.

"Well shit," he said leaning on counter in front of her.

"Want something?"

"I've got some news to share with everyone," he smiled holding up a folded piece of paper, wiggling it in the air, "Can you come?"

"I'm kinda working and like I said, grounded," she explained, beyond annoyed with her Uncles.

"Oh come on, Ren, you know you wanna!" he teased.

She let out a sigh, making John B smile knowing he was right.

He was right, she wanted to continue the treasure hunt not clean tables.

"Maggie?" she called over her shoulder, another brunette girl emerged from the back.

"Mhm?" Maggie asked.

"Can you handle," she paused reading the time on the register, "Twenty minutes here alone?"

"Probably, we've been pretty dead," Maggie shrugged.

"You're the best!" Brenna smiled, taking off her apron.

"You didn't see me leave," Brenna called as she followed John B out of the shop.

"Saw nothing!" Maggie called back.

A few minutes later the two pulled up to John B's house.

"I have to run inside quick," he said.

"I'll come," she smiled, opening the door to the van and following him in.

They headed through the house to Big John's office.

John B started rummaging through papers, Brenna's mind automatically went to the file she had seen last time.

In record time she found it again, 'the girl', she opened the file.

On top was a letter, she moved it, most of the writing was faded, then there was a strip of ultrasound photos, Brenna squinted at it, confused on what she was looking at, all she could see was a couple small blobs.

She lifted that, another letter she skimmed, the writing faded and messy, it was signed AC, that could be a million people, Brenna thought to herself.

The last thing in the folder was a copy of birth certificate with her name on it, Brenna Noel Carlson.

"John B?" Brenna questioned, her eyes still focused on the paper in her hands.