Something Old, Something New by Beverly Jenkins Page B

over to Franklin and pick up the girls. Last day for them at the school there.”
    â€œHope things go well when they start here tomorrow.”
    â€œMe, too.” Gary stood and said quietly, “Thanks, Trent. For everything.”
    â€œNo problem. Let me know when you’re ready to move. I’ll help.”
    â€œWill do.”
    â€œLooking forward to kicking your butt in horseshoes when summer rolls back around, too.”
    â€œYou wish,” Gary replied with a grin. “I’ll give you a call in the morning.”
    Gary departed, and Trent was left to ponder the town’s newest resident. They’d been best friends growing up; close as brothers, folks would say, then separated by life and time. Now they were on the road to renewing their friendship. In a way, it mirrored Trent’s relationship with Lily; the old and the new.
    His reverie was broken by the arrival of Amari strolling in with Devon and Zoey.
    â€œHey, Dad.”
    â€œHey, you.” Trent turned his smile on Devon and Zoey. “Hey, you two, too.”
    All three kids grinned.
    â€œHow was the day?” he asked
    â€œCan we have juice boxes first?” Amari asked.
    â€œSure can.”
    While Amari went to the old stand-up fridge Trent had resurrected from Tamar’s barn, Trent gestured Zoey and Devon toward the old leather couch against the wall. They took seats. Amari passed out the juice and then pulled up one of the ancient lawn chairs that also served as seating. Trent could see Zoey’s eyes darting around as she took in the orderly but still chaotic interior of his domain. He couldn’t remember if she’d ever been inside, but the way she was looking around made him think she hadn’t. In the center of the room, hidden beneath a large brown tarp, sat the car he and Amari were restoring. He watched as she studied that, too. Devon, on the other hand, looked very uncomfortable. Why, Trent didn’t know.
    â€œWas that Mr. Clark I saw leaving?” Amari asked, bringing Trent’s attention back.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œPreston says the Clarks may be moving here soon.”
    â€œHe’s right. In fact, the girls will start school here tomorrow.”
    Alarm filled Amari’s eyes. “What! No! Why?”
    â€œBecause kids who live here go to school here. They’ll be moving into one of the trailers on Tamar’s land.”
    â€œHow long are they staying?”
    Trent shrugged. “Forever, maybe.”
    â€œNo! I hate that girl.”
    â€œHate’s a pretty strong word, son.”
    â€œI know, but it’s how I feel. Leah’s okay, but what’s her name? Tiffany Adele. She still sounds like a store in the mall, and she’s mean.”
    â€œI understand, but cut her some slack if you can. She and her family are having a rough time right now.”
    Amari slumped down in his chair. “She’s going to be meaner than ever then.”
    â€œMaybe, maybe not. Coming to a new school, she’ll need some friends, though, probably.”
    â€œBetter find her a pen pal, because I’m not it.”
    Devon piped up, “Zoey and I will be her friends, Mr. Trent. Won’t we, Zoey?”
    Zoey nodded enthusiastically around the plastic straw between her lips.
    Amari responded with a roll of his eyes. “You’re too young to even know what this is about.”
    Trent ignored his son’s grousing and replied to Devon’s offer, “Thanks, Dev. You, too, Zoey.”
    â€œYou’re welcome, Mr. Trent.”
    Amari shot Devon a withering look before asking, “Is this family trouble something a kid like me can be told about?”
    â€œI suppose. Their parents are getting a divorce.”
    Amari paused. “Oh. That’s rough.”
    â€œWhich is why I’d appreciate it if you’d try and be nice to her when you see her in school tomorrow.”
    â€œOkay, but if she goes off on me, all bets are