Julian Junk was often teased about his last name and his father's occupation as a garbageman. Mackensie Keller grew up privileged and spoiled. As teens, Junk and Mickey make plans for their future, but when Mickey is sent off to boarding school, he tells Junk their parents are probably right -- they just don't belong together.<br><br>Back in town ten years later, Mickey is all grown up. He and Junk reconnect as adults, but so much was said, and so much has changed. Though he asks for forgiveness, which Junk grants, though old romantic feelings are quickly rekindled, Mickey is reluctant to bring a new man into his young daughter's life after his last relationship's failure. He's also harboring a secret, one that threatens to spoil upcoming Thanksgiving plans.<br><br>Once Junk discovers the source of Mickey's dilemma, he devises a crafty plan to make everything right. Will it work out? Will Mickey accept his help, and can the two of them make a go of it with so much stacked against them?

One Man's Junk

Violet, just like always, was at the sliding glass door that led from the kitchen to a huge cedar deck. She waved back, her smile as bright as the sun. A chalkboard easel right beside her, the Tic Tac Toe grid had already been drawn, indicating she likely looked forward to our Wednesday games as much as I. Violet went to school. That much I knew. Six, seven, eight, I sucked at guessing the age of children. Maybe someday Mickey would tell me more about her and the husband, whoever, wherever, he was.


Violet and I played Tic Tac Toe once a week, a tradition going on nearly three months, now.


“You go first.” I said it, pointed at her, then put up one finger, since she couldn’t hear me behind closed doors. The game was always played in silence.


Violet drew a circle in the top left square, my left.


Chapter 5