Chapter 30
Screeching tires sounded before the engine hitched up as the town car sped after her.
Esmie grabbed her cap with one hand, praying it wouldn’t fly off her head.
She raced down the street, hearing the vehicle gaining on her.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know the area well enough to find a hiding place.
Going back inside the apartment building wasn’t an option as Chad could just follow her, but also, she didn’t have Leo’s access code to get back inside.
She was essentially trapped in the streets of downtown Andloor without a clue where to go.
Her mind raced, trying to remember the path Samson took her toward The Bodega.
If she could get there, then she had plenty of options on where to hide.
Chancing it, she cut across the street in front of her pursuer.
The town car slammed on the brakes to avoid her.
Her lungs expanded to accommodate the exertion.
In this moment, she silently thanked Samson for his insight on training her and for her powers.
In this part of town, not many people were out and about walking, so she was able to take off at full speed, her tenis pounding on the pavement.
The empty streets also allowed Chad, or whomever was driving, to avoid traffic and zoom along next to her.
The window was still down, and Chad shouted at her to give up and come with him.
He said other things the wind tore away from her ears, which she was fine with.
She tuned him out so she could concentrate on where she could go.
While keeping her eyes forward, Esmie searched for any recognizable signs indicating she was headed in the right direction.
The trees, spaced apart, appeared the same as behind her.
That’s when she noticed the store across the street where Samson had bought her the scarf currently flowing in the breeze behind her.
She slowed, allowing her pursuer to whiz by, then she cut behind it in the direction of the store, running at full speed again.
Curses followed by skidding tires announced Chad saw her and turned around in hot pursuit.
Esmie’s eyes darted around trying to find any place to hide.
At this rate, she feared The Bodega would be too far.
In her rush, her scarf loosened fluttering off her neck.
Esmie turned, releasing the hand she had on her ballcap, and reached for the scarf, snagging it before it flew away.
This slowed her pace while she balled up the scarf and stuffed it in her jacket pocket.
“Don’t make this any harder on yourself.
Come quietly and I won’t have to hurt you.
Much.” Chad yelled from the back passenger side window.
Esmie cut down an alley to evade Chad, but the car slammed to a stop, reversed, and charged down the alley after her.
In the mayhem, she forgot to hold her ballcap, and when she sped up, the cap flew off her head, spiraling in the wind.
Esmie banked a left at the next street, praying for Elohim to guide her.
Her prayers were answered, when she reached the next intersection which was busy with shoppers.
She hooked a right, remembering this area and the path to The Bodega.
Hopefully she could get lost in the crowd, although with the dense amount of bodies, she had to slow down to avoid bumping into people.
“Excuse me. Excuse me,” she mumbled as she skirted around businesspeople, parents, and shoppers alike all jumbled together like ants.
Traffic also picked up and the town car darted in and out of the congestion to keep up but as Elohim would have it, Chad got stuck behind a truck at a red light.
Esmie took this chance to duck across the street in the direction of The Bodega.
As she approached, an orange leaf flitted by her face and danced in front of a large glass-paned window next to The Bodega.
Fabrics International was blazoned in blue neon lights over it.
In a snap decision, Esmie changed course to enter the fabric shop next to The Bodega, the blare of a horn chasing her inside.
She glanced back but could only see the truck slowly starting at the green light.
A bell tinkled when she entered. The shop was warm and smelled of cotton and spices.
She crouched behind a tall display of different colored fabrics, on the other side of the large pane window, giving her the perfect view of the street while also keeping her hidden.
Esmie panted, gulping for air to slow her panicked heartbeat.
A black vehicle circled the intersection then stopped outside of The Bodega and the fabric shop.
Chad jumped out to horns blaring and people yelling.
He sent off a few curses and hand gestures before running into The Bodega.
Esmie sighed, relieved she made the right last-minute decision to enter here instead.
The Bodega is where she saw Chad last and she knew he would guess she would go there, not knowing downtown as well as he did.
“Can I help you, miss?” Esmie jumped at the deep, watery voice. She turned to find an elderly woman, hunched over with age, smiling at her. Her hand flew to her face, then realized the sunglasses were still firmly in place.
“Erm-yeah. I was looking for a hat if you have any.” Esmie straightened from her hunched position behind the display, darting her eyes and fingering fabrics. What she wanted to do was kick herself. Of course there wouldn’t be a hat in a fabric store.
The woman’s eyebrows rose. “You mean a completed one?” Esmie nodded. The woman chuckled, the sound rolling around in her throat like she had done it thousands of times before and enjoyed it. “No, we only have fabrics here as you can see. I can make you one.”
“How long would that take? I can wait,” Esmie said hurriedly.
“Oh, to draw up the pattern, pull the fabrics, take the measurements, and sow it up, it’d probably take around a week.” The woman released a cackle at Esmie’s crest fallen face. “If you were looking for something faster, I’d go to The Bodega next door.”
“I’d rather not.”
At this the woman peered up into Esmie’s face.
An understanding seemed to brighten her eyes.
Her lined features furrowed together, then relaxed when she winked at Esmie.
The woman peered out the window. Esmie followed her gaze.
Chad stood outside, turning in a circle on the sidewalk and yelling into a cell phone.
Esmie bit her lip. A warm, wrinkled hand grasped hers.
“Come on. I’ll show you around since you have time.” The woman’s stooped figure tugged Esmie along as she swayed between the tall, wooden shelves filled with fabrics. “I’m surprised you came in here. Most people pass me by now.”
“The colors of the fabrics caught my eye.” Esmie ran her fingers through the soft swaths once the woman released her hand. She slowed, enjoying the feel and beauty of the colors. “It’s magnificent in here. Why would people not stop by?”
“I guess because they want something instant, like The Bodega offers. They also are offended by the scent in here.” The woman continued to lead Esmie into a back room, behind the store front space.
Shelves lined the wall to her left, with binders stating ‘Accounting’ or ‘Orders’ on them.
A desk took up the rest of the area beneath the shelves, sporting a laptop, typewriter, and manual calculator.
Strewn in different places were scissors, needles, and threads.
An ancient sewing machine, with a pedal took up the wall to Esmie’s left.
She couldn’t help but to caress the worn metal in awe.
“I didn’t know they still made these,” she murmured.
“They don’t, along with everything else on my desk,” the woman stated, sitting in a chair against the opposite wall that abutted to a small table.
Esmie stared at the items on the desk. The woman was correct.
Even the laptop was considered old tech as everyone converted to tablets.
The old woman patted the other side of the table.
“My name is Dolores. Why don’t you sit and have lunch with me? ”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.” Esmie put her hands up.
“Nonsense. I don’t get much time with people anymore.
Please entertain an old lady, would you?
” Dolores gestured again to the seat. Esmie didn’t want to offend her, and the kind woman was doing her a solid by hiding her back here from Chad, so she sat.
The wooden chair groaned in protest, most likely because no one had sat in it for a long time.
Dolores opened the containers on the table.
Spiced notes sang across Esmie’s nose, making her mouth water.
A vibrant orange dish of some type of meat in a sauce, white basmati rice, spiced mixed veggies, and naan bread greeted her.
With each open container, Esmie inhaled the delicious scents.
Her stomach growled in response. Dolores chuckled again.
“It sounds like you came at exactly the right time. Why don’t you take off your sunglasses so you can see what you’re eating.” Dolores pulled out plates and began spooning the food onto them.
In her hunger and haste, Esmie pulled off the sunglasses without a second thought, appreciative of the hospitality shown by the older woman. She felt safe and at home here and let her guard down.
“My, what is that on your face?” Dolores exclaimed.