Miss Pinchley had come to understand that once she sent him somewhere, the chainless day would capture Calvin for hours. It had become all right with the stoic woman years ago as he always returned home and always seemed to stay out of trouble. A somewhat pious woman, Miss Pinchley seemed to favor Calvin because of who his father had been. He hated that, but he hated feeling trapped even more, so he took advantage of the special treatment. None of the boys held it against him. In fact, they treated Calvin more like a hero than anything else.
The last few years at the orphanage hadn’t conquered his spirit completely. He just wondered when his brother Riley would be back for him. He'd said he’d come for him when he was older. He was seventeen now. He was old enough to live on the road, but even he knew in his sheltered existence how badly the Depression was sweeping the country. Maybe it was best for him to stay where he was for the time being.
He whistled as he wove down Main Street with Miss Pinchley’s package under his arm and two whole quarters in his wide pants pocket. He passed the movie house. That was an idea. Maybe he would catch a picture and have a hot dog and popcorn afterward. The movies played all day, so he didn't really need to worry about what time whatever was playing started. He could catch what he missed as it rolled by again for the next show. He loved hiding in the movie house almost as much as he loved hanging around Old Leo. People didn't bother him. People didn't stare. He arrived at the post office, which was just two buildings over from the theater.
“Hello, Miss Donovan,” said the man behind the counter to the young woman.
Calvin knew who she was in an instant. He’d seen her a few times in town over the past few years, but they’d hadn’t spoken, hadn’t really been in direct contact with each other since that day on her front lawn. She’d grown up. She wasn't so tall, but she wasn't short either. Her hair fell down her back in perfect dark brown spirals, and she appeared just as neat and rich as he expected Judge Donovan’s granddaughter to look. He went and stood in line behind her, the package he was carrying now gently perched on his shoulder.
“Hi, Mr. Johnson,” she said, handing the man an envelope.
Calvin shook his head, angry with himself for being momentarily mesmerized by the line of her olive arm as it returned to her side. He wanted to say something nasty to her but was unable to think of anything particularly venomous. He decided bothersome would suffice. “You know, Miss Donovan, you could mail that letter from home, and you wouldn’t have to walk all the way into town.”
“Do I know you?”
“Thankfully, no,” Calvin said. His nose twitched. She smelled good. He didn't like that.
Title: Forget Me Not
Author: Allison Whitmore
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theodora “Teddi” Donovan and Calvin Wynne have always hated each other. They didn’t have a choice after Teddi’s bootlegger father killed Calvin’s and left them both orphaned. The scandal has fueled gossip in quiet, quaint Brookhurst, New York, for over a decade. When a friendship develops between them as teenagers, they are ridiculed and shunned by the strict society that dictates life in their town. As they grow older, friendship turns into love, and Teddi and Calvin have to choose between their future and the scepter of their past. Spanning continents and decades, Forget Me Not is a coming-of-age story about truth, self-reliance, and the freeing power of love.
Allison Whitmore started her first novel, Forget Me Not, one icy morning in her dorm room in Southampton, NY. After many years of teaching high school English, she came back to the novel to rewrite it. Allison comes from a family who loves history and enjoyed immersing herself in the research that brought Teddi and Calvin’s world to life. She lives in her hometown, Los Angeles, California. You can find her on Twitter @alli_whitmore and her website: allisonwhitmore.com.
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Website:
www.allisonwhitmore.com
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https://twitter.com/alli_whitmore
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