Chapter Four #2
Earlier, Nora had only needed a few words of explanation before Gwen and Tina were nodding in agreement.
Tina went to distract Fallon by asking about her car while Gwen had passed the word to everyone that ice cream was Fallon’s treat, admonishing them not to say anything, as Fallon wanted it to be a surprise.
Nora had spoken to the lady behind the counter, telling her that the tall woman with long hair at the end of the line would be paying for everyone.
When Fallon had come in, Tina had sidetracked her by pointing out various items in the shop.
Everyone else had left with their ice cream before Fallon got to order, and after several more minutes, she’d appeared in the doorway, murmuring something to Delores.
Upshaw was outside as well, checking her phone. “We need to go,” she’d called.
As Nora had watched, Delores relayed the message, and Upshaw had started getting out of the truck. Fallon had waved from the doorway. “Please take everyone with you. I should be there before too long,” she’d called.
“What is she doing?” Upshaw had asked.
“She said something about getting a different kind of surprise,” Delores had said, hopping into the truck bed along with the others.
Now Nora cringed as the lights of the ice cream shop came into view. The red Cadillac was still parked outside, and Fallon’s tall form could clearly be seen moving along an aisle of the shop. The owners were sitting on the bench outside holding hands.
“Hi, folks,” Reva said as she approached. “We seem to be missing a crew member. She was last seen enjoying some ice cream, so we thought we’d check at the scene of the crime.”
“Crime is right,” the man said, standing as he gestured at Reva’s uniform.
“We’ve always welcomed your crews here because they’ve never shoplifted or tried to rip us off.
Until now. Apparently, someone thought it’d be funny to stick that young lady with the bill for your entire group, and she barely has enough cash to pay for a single scoop. ”
“I apologize, sir. There was a misunderstanding about her having the staff credit card and—”
“It’s my fault.” Nora stepped forward. “I meant it as a joke, but—”
“A joke?”
Nora tried not to squirm under his glare.
“Well, I guess she didn’t get the memo. She’s been here since you all left, trying to work off what we’re owed. She’s washed the serving dishes and utensils, tidied our inventory, and now she’s sweeping the floor. I’d hire her full-time in a minute, but she said she’s hoping for something else.”
Reva offered him the credit card. “Yes, sir. Well, I’d like to pay off whatever’s left on our debt.”
He waved dismissively. “The missus and I have had a real nice time sitting out here, enjoying the evening. Without lifting a finger, we’re ready to open tomorrow, so I think we’re even.”
Nora wondered what it would take to even things between her and Fallon. But at Upshaw’s gesture, she forced herself into the shop.
Fallon watched as she came down the aisle. “It was you?” Accusation and sadness mingled in her tone.
Nora opened her hands before clenching them again.
“I’m really, really sorry. I honestly thought you still had the credit card.
I knew everyone would pay you back once you told them what happened.
” She tried not to notice how tired Fallon looked as she swept the debris into a dustpan and emptied it into the trash.
“Am I paid up now?”
Nora gestured to the couple. “I think so. They seem happy to have had the evening off.”
“That’s not enough. I don’t like owing anyone anything.” Fallon stepped closer. “In fact, I was going to give you money for the gas your father gave me once I got my first paycheck. But now I think I should send it to him directly. I’m not at all sure you’re trustworthy.”
Nora looked away, surprised by how much that assessment hurt.
Her gut tightened with the need to change Fallon’s opinion.
“That’s not true. And I’ll prove it to you, starting by working with you on your cutting technique.
” Fallon started to speak, but Nora pressed on.
“You’re doing okay, but I can make you better.
Faster. Save you wear and tear on your body. Deal?”
Fallon shuffled her feet. Nora could practically hear the wheels turning in her head.
“What if your buddies get suspicious of you spending extra time with me? I’m not going to let them get anyone else in trouble.
” Straightening, she stepped forward. “I mean it, Nora. I’ll protect this program, even if I end up ratting on you in the process. ”
Nora shrugged, not wanting to admit she’d been so focused on making things right with Fallon that she’d forgotten about Gwen and Tina. “I’ll tell them it’s part of my punishment for pulling this prank on you.”
“Are we all good here?” Upshaw asked from the doorway. Nora froze. How much had she heard?
Fallon bit her lip before nodding. “All good.”
“Nora?” Upshaw said. “Understand that regardless of any agreement you and Fallon have come to, you’ll have additional consequences for this stunt.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
“Giving lessons to that buzzkill and KP for the whole first week? That’s total bullshit.
” It was almost dark, but Gwen had declared she was dying for a real cigarette, so they’d walked far enough away from camp that the smoke wouldn’t be detected.
She’d dragged Nora along, claiming she’d get lost otherwise.
Nora didn’t like it that Gwen still referred to Fallon as a threat, but it’d be a mistake to protest too much. “Well, it’s like what Tina got, just in a different area. The thing with Fallon is for team building. You know, to make sure we can work together.”
“Still.” Gwen lit another cigarette off the one she’d finished, dropping the first one on the ground and kicking it aside. Nora picked up the butt and fieldstripped it before putting the filter in her pocket. “Oh my God. Are you turning into Smokey the Bear?”
“No, I’m turning into ‘I’m tired of having my ass in a jam, and setting the forest on fire would be way more trouble than any of us could handle.
’” Nora was about done with Gwen and her attitude.
At least tomorrow, they’d be in their own tents, and she could get some space.
Then a thought struck her. Surely, they won’t want me in with them.
Panic struck. She needed someone else to at least pretend they wanted to bunk with her.
Someone like Fallon? “Get in. Get out. Get on with your life,” Nora told herself again.
The atmosphere in the cabin was decidedly frosty as the crew readied for bed, though not in terms of actual temperature.
After bumping Nora’s arm, causing her to drop her shampoo and brush, Kennedy mumbled something that might or might not have been “Sorry.” Fallon took her turn in the restroom with Hannah, and Delores showed up to be with Nora.
After what felt like two solid minutes of Delores’s glowering expression, Nora finally snapped. “What? If you’ve got something to say to me, say it.”
Delores rinsed the soap off before toweling her face. “I hadn’t pegged you for a loser, but now I’m thinking I might be wrong.”
“Fuck you. You don’t know anything about me.”