Among The Wildflowers

𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕥𝕪: Welcome Back, Stranger

It's two weeks after Nic's birthday, and Gina is trying very hard not to lose her patience.

For the past few days, Nic has had a terrible attitude and it hasn't gone away. Gina thought it might be school or something, but Nic won't talk about it.

She's in the cafe's kitchen, piling plates of food onto her tray when Nic comes through the swinging door.

"Gina," Nic whines, approaching her mother,"I'm bored."

Gina's expression hardens when she turns to her daughter.

"Haven't I told ya to stay outta this kitchen?"

"Well, yeah, but I'm bored."

Gina turns around and starts walking away, Nic trailing behind her.

"Wait!"

Gina continues walking and enters the dining room. She goes over to a nearby table and deposits the plates of food.

"Gina," Nic says, stomping her foot.

"Anything else I can get ya?" Gina asks the table.

"No thank you."

"Alright, well just holler if ya need anything," she says, turning and walking back to the kitchen.

"Ugh, Gina!"

Once in the kitchen, Gina turns on her daughter.

"What is it ya need, young lady?" She asks, sternly.

Nic's expression goes sour and she crosses her arms.

"I'm. Bored."

"Then go outside," Gina says, walking over to the stoves.

"But, Gina," Nic groans, following her mother,"I wanna do something fun!'

"Quit your whining before I make ya clean the house."

Nic rolls her eyes once she's sure her mother can't see.

"Can I go into town?"

"That's fine," Gina says,"but ya better be back in an hour."

"An hour?" Nic yells,"that's not enough time!"

Gina stops what she's doing and turns to her daughter. Her expression is hard.

"Raise your voice to me one more time," she says,"I dare ya."

The tone of her mother's voice makes Nic's scowl disappear. She looks away from Gina's glare.

"Go to town and be home in an hour or so help me.."

Before Gina can finish the sentence, Nic is out of sight.

Sighing to herself, Gina picks her tray back up and goes to put more plates onto it.

"That girl needs some discipline," Lila Morgan comments.

"Yes. Yes she does."

-

Nic quickly leaves the cafe's kitchen, not wanting to hear the finished threat.

She goes to the back door and slides her shoes on before walking outside.

One hour, Nic thinks, what the hell can I do in one hour?

She walks over to the first store she sees. By now, she has the whole town memorized, so she knows there'll be nothing new for sale inside.

After a while, Nic is bored again. She's gone into almost every shop in town and it hasn't changed her mood.