6. Elka
Chapter 6
Elka
T he phone rang again for the fifth time today and I continued to ignore the sound, humming along to an old Aerosmith song while I packed up a few orders that needed to go in the mail today. The problem was, I didn’t have an account for pickup yet and I still had no working vehicle, which meant a long tedious road ahead. Another good reason to ignore the ringing phone. The other good reason was that the only two people who might call were the only two people I had no desire to speak to.
Technically, there were three people I had no desire to speak with, but one of them didn’t have my number and I was learning to appreciate the little victories in life. Like the fact that I hadn’t been shot last week in the parking lot of a small-town pub. Or arrested.
The phone rang again and I just shut the damn thing off. Why they insisted on calling now when they’d made it perfectly clear that I had outlived my usefulness to them once Austin had died, I didn’t know.
More importantly, I didn’t care. They told me how they felt, or rather how they didn’t feel, and I’d respected it. By leaving.
Without the constantly ringing phone, I could get back to work packing up about fifteen orders. Well, I could have if the bell hadn’t started ringing next.
Penny was on the porch with another woman, this one with jet black hair and eyes the color of emeralds. A camera hung from her neck.
“Um, hey?” I said.
Penny flashed a smile I was sure got her just about anything she asked for. It made me nervous. “Hi, Elka. How are you?” Her voice was warm and welcoming. A little too welcoming, if I was reading things correctly.
“I’ve been better, Penny. How are you and your friend?”
The other woman took the opportunity to step forward and shove her hand into mine. “I’m Janey. Professional photographer and general pain the butt. We need your help.”
I wanted to groan and maybe bang my head against the door but then I remembered that this was why I moved here. I let out a long sigh and stepped back. “I’m not promising anything but I’m willing to hear you out.” They followed me inside and I led them to the kitchen. “Lavender mint tea?”
“Sure, thanks.” Penny, it seemed, was the subdued one.
“I’ll have a pop if you have any?”
Opening the fridge, I spotted one final can of the six pack I bought to see if cola was my thing. It wasn’t. “So what is it you need from me?”
Janey popped the tab and sucked back at least half the can before she slammed it down and smiled. “I’m sure you’ve noticed the atrocious state of Tulip’s Tribute. We’re doing a fundraising calendar to get the money for repairs. Hometown Heroes.”
The fact that the town wasn’t going to let the tribute stay in that horrific state was calming. I nodded. “That’s a wonderful idea! I can give you some cash, but my new checks haven’t arrived yet.”
Penny and Janey exchanged a look that I’d seen my parents exchange plenty of times. “We’d rather you donate your, ah, time,” Penny said diplomatically, but Janey rolled her eyes and took another long pull of her soda.
“We don’t want money or else we’d just go to that viper Sabrina. There’s a craft fair this weekend and one of the artists broke her back while rock climbing, which means we have an available booth with a Hometown Hero to act as your assistant for the day.”
That didn’t sound so bad. “I don’t know anyone in town but you, Penny, and more importantly, no one knows my business, so I think it would be a waste of everyone’s time.” After what happened at the pub, I wasn’t all that sure I could or should show my face around town.
Penny arched a perfectly sculpted brow. “Are you seriously questioning how well I know your business?”
“No.” The reminder of just how thoroughly I’d been researched was somewhat endearing and whole lot unsettling. “I would love to do it, honestly, but I can’t.” The idea of seeing any of the people who’d been in the Black Thumb, who saw the way Officer Vargas treated me and aimed his gun at me, was terrifying. Humiliating.
“Why not?” Janey demanded an answer and I knew I would have to own up to it or they wouldn’t leave until I agreed.
“I’d really rather just donate money if it’s all the same to you.” My stomach clenched with anxiety and I wrapped my hands around the mug to stop them from shaking.
“We donate our time in this town,” she insisted.
“Maybe I don’t want to run into anyone who saw me being held a gunpoint for trying to help a hurt old man!” I dropped my mug in the sink, grateful it didn’t break since it was my favorite, and walked off. “I’m sorry but I can’t help you.” The moment I locked the bedroom door behind me, I could have laughed at the irony. This whole cottage was all mine but here I was, hiding my tears in my room. Just like the bad old days, except back then, I had Austin.
I don’t know how much time had passed as I let my tears silently fall into my pillow but the sound of the front door closing said it was safe to leave the bedroom. I locked the screen door before heading back to the kitchen for another lavender tea and let out a blood-curdling scream at the sight of Penny still sitting at the kitchen table. “What are you doing here?”
She looked up at me, not at all fazed by my outburst. “I knew you’d come back out eventually. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.” Busying myself making another mug of tea gave me time to get my emotions under control without her watchful gaze. “Look, I’m happy to donate some products to the cause but I’m not ready to face a crowd.”
She sighed behind me. “I’m sorry about what happened to you, Elka, but you’re a hero. You saved Buddy’s life and he’s grateful.”
“I’m glad to hear he’s all right.”
“What’s the plan, Elka? Stay inside this house until you die?”
My shoulders fell. “Of course not. I need groceries and I have to ship orders so that’s not an option.” That didn’t mean I wouldn’t be more careful about where I went. And when.
“Antonio was wrong and I’m sure if you gave him the opportunity—”
“He’d put a bullet in my head or run me out of town. Look, Penny, I’d love to participate but right now I just can’t.” Moving was already a big deal, so was being out on my own. It was too much all at once. “I’m sorry.” When I finally turned around, Penny’s eyes were sympathetic and that only made me feel more emotional.
“How about this … I’ll give you a ride to the post office to mail your orders if you take three hours at the craft fair?”
The offer was too damn tempting considering it was unseasonably warm, or maybe it was just the right amount of warm for Tulip, Texas. Either way, a ride sounded divine. Was the cost was too steep? But this was what I wanted: to be part of a community. To belong. “Fine. Just leave the details.” Before I was finished talking, she was pulling a folder from her black leather bag.
“This is all the details, including a map of where your booth is and its dimensions. If you have any questions, feel free to call.” The look in her eyes said she knew I wouldn’t, but that the offer still stood.
“Thank you, Penny. And you don’t have to give me a ride. I’ll manage.” It felt dirty to extort a ride out of someone trying to do something charitable.
“I don’t mind.”
I did. “I still have to pack them up and check them, so it’ll be hours. Honestly, Penny, I’ll do the fair. No strings.”
She gave me a long, assessing look that nearly made me squirm. Luckily, her stare was nowhere near as intimidating as my mother’s. “If you’re sure.”
“I am,” I told her and walked her to the door with a promise to call if I needed anything. We both knew it was probably a lie, but thankfully Penny just waved and walked away.
And because I didn’t like lying, I waited a full hour after she was gone to start my trips to the post office. It took three trips and by the time I made the last one, I was beyond exhausted and reconsidering my opinion on my own physical fitness. The sun hung bright in the sky, mocking me for being so determined to do things myself. Well, if the sun knew my story, I was sure she’d understand.
The sound of a car nearby put me on alert, but I kept walking. I didn’t have the energy to turn my head and risk the boxes falling to the ground.
“Need a ride?”
I knew that voice, and it’s owner was the last person I’d take a ride from. Even if I was marching through the desert without any water in sight. Instead of saying that, I decided to employ one of the lessons drilled into me as a child. If you can’t say something nice, say nothing.
“Look, I’m sorry about my behavior, okay?”
Some apology. Not that his lack of sincerity mattered. I was sure once the truth came out, the sheriff would force him to apologize. I didn’t want it, because he didn’t mean it. I kept walking, ignoring the way my arms trembled and the sweat trickling down my neck and onto my back.
Officer Vargas didn’t give up until I walked inside the post office, all without saying a word in reply. It was enough to make a girl smile with pride. I did, once my arms were free. Not only did I have a wide, confident smile, but I stopped and picked up a juicy burger with cheese and bacon, waffle fries, and pickles on the side.
Despite everything that happened, I was starting to like the new me.
I just wondered if she belonged in Tulip.