Chapter Six #2
Nora would have pursued it, but Kennedy came shuffling into the kitchen area, followed by Jade, and the morning meal was underway.
Except for Hannah, who sometimes talked to herself if no one else would join in, Fallon’s breakfasts were generally a quiet, though welcome, start to the day.
The rest of their meals became somewhat routine as well.
Tina proved to be proficient at helping to pack lunches, even remembering who was vegetarian.
Since Gwen flatly refused anything to do with cooking, she was generally called upon to do cleanup.
Dinner duties were rotated through the rest of the crew, and they held their nightly “What did I do well, and what can I do better?” conversation as the meal cooked.
The first week, everyone headed to their tents as soon as dinner and cleanup were done.
Between getting up with the sun and spending all day sawing and swamping, no one had the energy for extended evenings.
Into the second week, Nora was still following the pattern of her early bedtime when she heard extended conversation from the kitchen area.
“We should have special sawyer names,” Hannah said.
“Yeah, like Speedy or Killer,” Kennedy agreed.
Nora slowed as she recognized Fallon’s laugh. “Those are a little extreme, don’t you think? Shouldn’t nicknames fit our personalities or our looks or something more specific?”
“Easy for you to say, Falcon,” Delores teased. “You’ve already got your sawyer name.”
Nora kept walking, recalling that she’d heard some of the group using “Falcon” before. She actually liked it and wondered if Fallon did.
The days grew longer and dinners became livelier as the crew got accustomed to laboring for hours in their gritty clothes.
Delores had a lovely voice, and when she sang a familiar song, those who could carry a tune would join her, sometimes creating unexpected harmonies.
Kennedy seemed to have an endless supply of jokes, most of which were R-rated but not nasty.
Sometimes Nora stayed up and chatted, but she had a sense that the conversation was a bit more stilted when she was there.
She attributed the discomfort to her association with Gwen and Tina, even though the two of them consistently retreated to their tent as soon as cleanup was finished.
Nora couldn’t tell if no one else noticed or if they simply didn’t care.
What struck her as most peculiar was that Fallon never took part whenever the talk turned more personal.
No one tried to draw her out during these discussions, and Nora wondered about the cause of Fallon’s silence, especially knowing her belief about the importance of family.
They’d just finished breakfast on Sunday of the second week when Jade stood to announce that it would be a cleanup day.
“I do cleanup every day,” Gwen whined.
“So you’re not interested in going into Kamberto for a visit to the community showers, followed by the laundromat?” Jade asked.
Whoops and cheers greeted the offer. “My jeans are about to stand up by themselves,” Delores said, and Hannah added, “I was thinking of shaving my head rather than going through another day with it dirty like this.”
Jade nodded. “Okay. Twenty minutes to gather laundry and shower supplies. Reva’s on her way. She’s going to meet with the community managers and the fire marshal to evaluate our work thus far, so we’ll all ride together in the truck.”
There were four shower stalls in town, and the crew voted Jade should go first. She opted to include Nora, Tina, and Gwen in the first round.
Nora grimaced as she slipped on the only clean thing she had to wear after showering, her dress.
Gwen and Tina were in dresses as well, and their heels gave the appearance of two friends going clubbing, while Nora wore Chucks with her more conservatively tailored outfit.
She saw Fallon examining her with wide eyes. Taking a step closer, Fallon lowered her voice. “Would it be inappropriate to say you look exceptionally nice?”
Nora’s face flushed. “My mother insisted that I bring this outfit. I’m sure this wasn’t how she imagined me wearing it, but it’s the least dirty thing I have.”
“It looks exactly the right amount of dirty to me.” Fallon grinned, and Nora wondered if her sudden self-consciousness was obvious.
While the second group finished their showers, Nora sorted her laundry.
Gwen was on her phone conferring with Tina about some destination, and Jade was going over the grocery list. When Kennedy appeared, followed by Hannah, they were both wearing what looked like pajama bottoms and oversized, long-sleeved T-shirts.
Nora started to tease them about coordinating their outfits when Fallon emerged.
Her long hair was down, still damp, and she wore a tight, hooded, tunic-style coverup over board shorts.
She was obviously braless. Nora suspected they all were and probably commando too, but she was having a hard time not staring at Fallon’s breasts, which were even more exquisite than she remembered. Shit, I need to get laid.
The crew settled in at the laundromat, and Jade left to get gas and stock up on groceries after Delores promised to look after her clothes. Fallon threw her garments into a washer, revealing a stack of books in her basket.
“I brought these in case anyone wanted to do something besides sit,” she said.
“The way we’ve been working, sitting sounds pretty good to me,” Kennedy said as she looked into the basket. “But judging the books by their covers, I’d say you’re into sci-fi.”
“Yeah, I…” Fallon hesitated. “I used to like the escape.”
“Used to?” Nora asked. “And now?”
Fallon smiled shyly. “I like my reality a lot better now.”
“Aw.” Hannah gave her a side-arm hug. “We like you too, Falcon.” She pulled out a book with a spaceship on it. “But if you’re actually offering, I’ll take one.”
“Good choice, Gabby.”
“Why do I get the feeling that sitting around a laundromat reading is not something new for you, Falcon?” Delores asked.
Fallon held up her hands. “Guilty as charged.” She leaned over, pulling out a book with a view of an intricate galaxy. “But this is the story for a secret romantic like you, Lolo.”
Gwen turned from the washer she was loading. “What’s with these names? Are you all into secret identities or something?”
No one responded, busying themselves with putting their clothes into the machines.
Apparently, the conversation Nora had heard earlier had progressed to the creation of actual nicknames.
Nora privately thought the affectionate terms were cute, though she couldn’t help wondering if they had one for her.
She looked into the basket, seeing only one book remaining.
Feeling an odd resentment that Delores had nabbed the secretly romantic book, Nora started to turn away until Fallon said, “That is one of my long-time favorites. I’ve bought three different copies over the years because I keep giving it away. ”
“Maybe you wouldn’t be broke if you weren’t such a soft touch,” Gwen jeered.
Everyone had probably seen Fallon speaking to Reva when they arrived, obviously getting another advance on her paycheck in order to make use of the shower and laundry facilities.
But leave it to Gwen to be rude enough to mention it.
Nora had the sudden impulse to slap the smug expression off her face.
But Fallon cocked her head as if thinking. “You know, I came to Firecamp thinking I would change. That I’d get tougher, meaner, more self-serving. You’ve helped me realize that’s not who or what I want to be. So thanks.”
Kennedy and Delores edged closer, clearly concerned about the growing tension in the room. Nora stepped into the space between Fallon and Gwen. “Seafire, huh?” she read, picking up the novel and observing the water-themed cover. “You’re a long way from the ocean, you know.”
Fallon’s mouth opened slightly. “Yeah, I—” She turned to the washer, which had just started, clearing her throat. “I know.”
Nora wondered at the change in Fallon’s tone, but before she could think of what to say, Gwen announced, “The only thing I want to read is the label on a bottle of beer.” She grabbed Tina’s hand.
“Let’s go for a walk and see what we can find.
” Pausing at the door, she looked to Nora.
“You coming?” When Nora shook her head, Gwen said, “Then move our stuff to the dryer after it’s done.
” Without waiting for an answer, she pulled Tina out the door.
Fallon watched them until they disappeared. Standing abruptly, she pulled out her phone. “Shit. Kenn, lend me your phone, will you? I forgot to charge mine at the showers.”
Nora looked up from the book Fallon had given her. “Mine’s at about seventy percent if you want—”
“Here.” Kennedy was already handing Fallon hers. She moved closer, whispering in Fallon’s ear.
“Thanks.” Fallon tried the passcode, then gave a thumbs-up. She didn’t look at Nora. “This might be my chance to level the playing field.” Fallon was out the door without another word, walking cautiously in the direction Gwen and Tina had gone.
Hannah looked around. “Where’s she going?”
Delores cut her eyes at Nora before answering. “We think Gwen and Tina were blackmailing Fallon about something, don’t we, Kenn?” As Kennedy nodded, Delores lowered her voice. “She wouldn’t tell us, but Kenn said it had something to do with drugs.”
“Fallon’s doing drugs?” Hannah asked incredulously.
“No,” Nora said. She hated the idea that someone might mistake Fallon’s intentions. “She overheard Gwen and Tina talking about their stash. Gwen threatened to plant something on the rest of you if Fallon told.”