Chapter 13
Elle
I’ve never seen myself as a small town girl. Growing up, we were city dwellers through and through. You would think that’s where my heart would be, right? In the city I grew up in? Hate to tell you, but there are exactly four things I miss about the city. Jorge, Chelsea, my brothers, and my mom and dad. And maybe that all-night diner on the corner across from the baseball stadium.
Here, the rhythm of my day is different. There’s not as much stress and fewer demands. If I want to sit in front of my window for an hour and daydream, no one is here to tell me I can’t do that. Or that I have this meeting I need to be in or that social engagement to go to. Absolutely no one around here is judging me for living in leggings and hoodies or jeans and jerseys. I haven’t even gotten a sidelong glance for not wearing any makeup. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m the topic of conversation for the gossip crowd, but it’s not based on my appearance other than to compare my size to Tiny’s. People have asked about the studio above the shop. They want to know what kind of art I make. It’s almost like they are genuinely trying to get to know me, to find where I fit in with them. Random people who I haven’t met yet stop me on the street to introduce themselves and to wish me a good day. It’s been…nice.
The girls include me in things, have made me one of theirs. Tonight, we’re going to a cookout at Trish and Davis’s house. I’m riding with Ginny because it seemed stupid to take two cars.
“Hey, how was art-ing today?” she asks when we pull out of the driveway.
“It was arty. How was music-ing today?” I smile at Ginny.
“The music was great. The kids? Ugh. My job would be so much easier without the hormone brigade.”
She’s full of shit. She loves every minute with those kids, even when they have raging hormones.
“Just think, a few more weeks and it’ll be spring break and you’ll have an entire week off. And then it’ll be summer before you know it. And I bet you mope around all summer without those kids around. Don’t you?”
“I don’t think I like that you know me that well. You’ve never been here over summer.”
When she pulls up to a stop sign, Ginny crosses her arms over her chest, effecting one of those hormonal teenagers, and I laugh. She quickly joins in, and we talk about what’s happening around town for the rest of the drive.
Once we’ve gotten to the house, I greet everyone and Tiny pulls me in for a hug. I’ve missed my brother. And while I have him, I find myself missing my other brothers. And my mom. She’s been to town to visit a few times, mostly at Tiny’s, where she can spoil both Nat and Lottie. They need it. She’s seen the studio and met Ranger, who she’s shipping me with hard. I’ve tried to tell her there’s nothing there and she just winks and smiles. She’s seen Barbie and brought her some pastries from Diamond Cove after Barbie told her that’s the one thing she misses about the city. Everyone loves my mom.
“Elle,” Nat calls my name and runs into my arms from the backyard.
“Nattie!”
“When can we go get pizza again?”
“We’ll have to ask your mommy.”
“Tiny Big Guy says you can take me whenever you want.”
“I bet he does,” I laugh.
I have no doubt what my brother and Lottie are getting up to the minute Nat is out of the house. And I’ve actually seen enough to know I don’t need to know. But I don’t mind. Nat is fun to hang out with, and she loves the good pizza over in Rockton.
“Hey, Nat, can you do me a favor?” I ask, pulling her into my side.
“Uh-huh. What do you need?”
“I’m wondering if you can take this note to Ranger for me, but don’t tell him it’s from me?”
“What’s it say?” she asks, always the little investigator.
“It’s just got some times on it for my studio inspection.”
“Oh.” Her face falls. “I was hoping it was an invitation to a date.”
I laugh. “I’m not dating Ranger.”
“You should be. Harper tells me he’s cute and I love him and I love you, so you two should love each other.”
“Out of the mouth of babes,” Trish laughs, coming up next to me as Nat skips off with my note to Ranger. That is, in actuality, a request for a date. Just not the kind of date she wants us to go on.
“How are you feeling?” I ask her, smiling at the bump that’s growing more and more each day.
“I finally don’t feel like sleeping all the time or throwing up.”
“That’s good. Any good cravings?”
“Not really. But, man, I’m horny,” she whispers, rolling her eyes. “It’s like I can’t get enough.”
Laughing, I shake my head. Have I mentioned that I’m one of them now?
“Okay, okay, I’ll change the subject. Are you settling in? Finding your new routine?”
“You know, I really am.” We make our way to a table set up with chairs and have a seat. “Everything seems, I don’t know, slower here? The pressure I felt is the city is gone. Don’t get me wrong, there are certain parts of living in Diamond Cove I miss but not as bad as I thought I would.”
“I know what you mean. I lived down in Briar Mountain for school, and it was like a different planet. I didn’t know anyone until I met Abigail, and she didn’t judge me based on my family, or make snide comments, or talk about me behind my back like they did here. It was different.”
“That’s what it is. The expectations here are different. I kind of love it.”
“I’m glad. We love that you’re here. What are you working on?” she excitedly asks.
“Last week was a small sculpture that I was commissioned to make in the shape of a dove for an anniversary gift for someone in Rock Hill. This week I’ve been working on canvas for a new show we’re putting on at the studio in Diamond Cove. I’ll have to go back for a few days leading up to the opening in a few weeks, and if I’m honest, I’m dreading it.”
“In a few weeks, huh?” Trish smiles, a glint in her eye.
“Yeah. What’s going on in a few weeks?”
“We’re getting married.”
“You decided on a date?” I ask, just as excited as she is.
“We did.”
It turns out the weekend she wants to get married on the beach in the Cove is the same weekend the show opens at the studio. It works out almost perfectly. She wants to have the ceremony on Saturday, and the show opens on Thursday with the party on Friday.
“How would you feel about getting all dressed up and fancy and coming to the gallery party on that Friday?”
“Really?”
“Yes, really! I’d love to have you all there to see what I do. And you never know what celebrity or sports baller you might rub shoulders with.”
“Oh, that would be awesome! But only if you’re sure!”
“I’m positive. I’ll have Mom meet with our personal shopper and pull some things for everyone to wear, including the kids. And we can all get dinner together before.”
“Like a rehearsal dinner?” She scrunches up her nose. She doesn’t want much in the way of the traditional wedding things.
“Is there a rehearsal?”
“No.”
“Then this is just fancy dinner in fancy clothes in the big, fancy city, silly.”
Trish laughs before standing up. “Oh, I have to go tell Davis. And Harper. She’ll love it!”
I watch as she walks away from the table, looking over and catching the eye of Ranger. He’s staring at me like he’s trying to see into my soul. I’m trying to see into his when my phone rings. Looking at the screen and seeing it’s Jorge, I answer quickly.
“Hey, J. What’s up?”
“Are you alone? Why’s it so loud there?”
“I’m at a cookout. What’s wrong?”
“I need to talk to you. Can you find somewhere private?”
“Yeah, hang on.” I walk around the side of the house, away from everyone. “Talk to me.”
“I need to know that you’re okay,” he starts.
“I’m fine. What’s going on?”
“They left a note.”
“Who left a note?”
“Whoever’s leaving the dead flowers.”
“What does the note say?” I ask, my stomach tightening with fear.
“First, you need to know that I’ve called the cops already.”
“Why? Why do you need to call the cops, Jorge?”
“They threatened your life, Elle.”
“How? You aren’t making any sense.”
“The note said they knew where you were and they’re coming for you.”
My body goes cold. Who would do this to me? What have I done to anyone to get this treatment?
“I don’t understand,” I finally whisper.
“I don’t either, baby girl, but I need to know that you’re safe. Is there security at your apartment? Can you ask one of your guys that know how to do that? I need you to be in Fort Knox. You are gold, baby girl, understand?”
I roll my eyes, even through the fear. “Don’t you think you’re going a little overboard? I mean, someone new shows up in town and everyone knows.”
“I don’t think you’re taking this seriously enough, Elenore. Don’t make me call that man you’re falling for and tell him what’s going on.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play stupid. It’s not a good look on you. I don’t understand why you aren’t taking this seriously. You’ve been down this road before, you know—”
“We aren’t talking about that,” I cut him off. “We are never talking about that. This is not that.”
“It’s close enough that you need to be careful. I don’t think you’re dealing with a run of the mill, overzealous fan, Elle. They didn’t sign the card. They know where the cameras are and leave the dead flowers where they won’t be caught. I adjust the cameras and they move the flowers’ location.”
“Wait. Exactly how many times have they left them?” I ask.
“It’s been every day.”
“For how long?” I ask, my voice raising.
“For a week now,” he admits.
“And you thought I only needed to hear about it now? Now that they’ve left a note?”
“It was just flowers.”
“Until it’s not just flowers.”
“The cops are looking into it, okay?”
“Keep the studio safe, Jorge. That’s my baby, and I need to know you can keep her safe.”
“I’ll keep her safe, Elle. Promise.”
“And you’ll call me next time. Every time. And when the cops get back with you.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up the phone and lean against the side of the house, taking in a few deep breaths. Pushing everything to the back of my mind, I take the few steps to the backyard again. Where I’m met with more than one pair of worried eyes. I plaster the smile on my face and walk to the table where I left my drink. I can feel their eyes boring into my back. After taking a gulp, I turn to everyone.
“Sorry about that. Crazy chaos at the studio back in the Cove.”
“Everything alright?” Lottie asks quietly as she comes to stand beside me.
“Yeah, fine. Nothing to worry about. We have it all under control. Jorge’s on it.”
“And what am I supposed to tell your brother when he grills me about this conversation later tonight?”
“Tell him to fuck off?” I ask, getting a chuckle out of her. “Tell him everything’s fine. The last thing I need is my oversized giant of a little brother trying to play superhero.”
“Like that would stop him.” She arches a brow at me.
We laugh and continue with our night. Joker and Ranger are more quiet than usual, which is scary since they don’t usually talk much, and watching me closely. I don’t know what they expect to see, but I’m not giving anything away.
At the end of the night, we get in Ginny’s car and head home. I’m tired and my brain won’t shut up. Once we’ve parked and I get out of the car, I feel a shiver up my spine. Looking across the street at my door, I already know there’s something there I don’t want to see.
“You’ll be okay tonight?” Ginny asks, referring to earlier for the first time all night.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just going to go to sleep. Have an early morning tomorrow.”
“I hear you.” She yawns. “I’ll make sure you get home.”
“It’s right across the street, Gin.”
“And I’ll watch until you get inside.”
“Yeah, okay, thanks.”
I roll my shoulders back and walk across the street, turning once I’m at the steps to my porch to wave at Ginny.
“I’m here!”
She waves back and unlocks her door, disappearing behind it. In the quiet of the night, I can almost hear her lock engaging. I wait a few minutes, looking around at every shadow while digging out my keys. When I see the front light turn off at Ginny’s, I fast track it to my Jeep and slide behind the wheel.
I head to the studio. It’s my sanctuary, my safe place. It’s armed. And I hope they—whoever they are—haven’t found it yet.