week after week, sometimes moving around, sometimes staying put. Sometimes they had real food for dinner, like tacos, and other times it was just barbecue chips and SunnyD. But Fern had school most days, and her teachers always told her she was real smart even if her test scores showed she was a little behind. Unfortunately, being smart didn’t matter when Fern came home to a house without electricity—again—and a daddy who sometimes didn’t bother to come home for three days.
Fern knew her daddy loved her. She knew he was doing the best he could, at least he was right up until he dragged her out here to Cataloochee County. Because that was when he stopped trying. He just sank into the stink of meth and got his brain damaged so bad that he forgot she was even there.
They reached the top of the old concrete steps and stepped into a big kitchen full of long, shiny counters and oversized sinks and ovens. A very pretty woman with a bunch of blond curls greeted them and smiled down at Fern like she was happy to see her.
“Well, hello! I’m Candy Carmichael. You must be Fern Bisbee. Very nice to meet you.” She stuck out her hand and Fern shook it, a little in awe of this person. It felt downright weird being around pretty ladies with bright, perfect smiles and who smelled so fruity and clean and dressed so nice. She’d had some pretty teachers back in Raleigh, before her daddy made her stop going to school, and there were a couple in Bigler, too, but none of them were as pretty as Tanyalee and this Candy lady.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Carmichael,” Fern said, trying her best to smile.
Candy laughed in surprise. “My goodness! It’s a pleasure to meet a young lady with such wonderful manners.”
Fern shot a quick sideways glance toward her mentor, and had to keep herself from giggling. Tanyalee’s mouth was hanging open in shock.
“Come on in.” Candy placed a soft hand on Fern’s shoulder. “I guess Tanyalee has told you about my new business?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, now, I should tell you that my husband is Sheriff Halliday and his assistant is Bitsy Stockslager, so I heard through Bitsy that you recently came to live with your great-grandmother.”
“Oh.” Seriously, it seemed to Fern like you couldn’t pick your nose in Bigler without everyone knowing about it. This town was as small as a deer tick on a Chihuahua’s butt.
Candy continued, her hand still on Fern’s shoulder. “We only have days until we open, and we’re putting the finishing touches on the customer areas, like the hallways, restrooms, dining room, and our Internet café. Plus I’m trying to get the business office organized. Would you like to help me with that? Do you know anything about computers?”
Fern felt her eyes get big. She loved computers, but the last time she’d got to use one had been over a year ago, when she was still enrolled in school back in Raleigh. She hadn’t yet had a chance to work in the computer lab in her new school. “I know a little,” she said.
“Do you think you could help me connect the printer and install some software tomorrow after school?”
“Yes!”
“I can’t pay you … except in cupcakes.”
God, she completely loved this Candy Carmichael chick. Fern couldn’t remember the last time she’d really, truly smiled, but she couldn’t help it. She made sure the smile didn’t go on too long, though, since she didn’t want Miss Crazyberry getting any ideas. “I guess that would be okay,” Fern said, with a small shrug. “As long as it counts toward my mentor hours and all.”
Tanyalee exhaled dramatically. “God forbid you should spend a few extra minutes learning something useful.”
Before Fern knew it, she was shooed out the door and into the Cadillac convertible. “Where to now, Mr. Miyagi?”
Tanyalee shook her head. “You can call me whatever you want, Fern. Doesn’t bother me in the least. But you’re going to be singing my praises by the end of the afternoon.”
“Oh, yeah?” Fern clicked her seat belt and settled down into the comfortable leather. “Why? You gonna let me drive this pimpin’ ride?”
“I will do no such thing. You’re only twelve!” Tanyalee started the car, checked her mirrors, then put on a pair of big, black sunglasses. Next, the woman did something that made Fern slink down into her seat from sheer embarrassment—she put a silky scarf over her head and tied it under her