Seraphina #2
"Enough that I'm beginning to think people are overreacting."
Frank looked at Gerald. Gerald looked at Frank. Neither of them looked convinced. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed at my eyes.
"You know, I almost feel bad for Dr. Hayes."
Gerald's painted eyebrows somehow managed to look sceptical.
"Almost?"
"Well..."
I shrugged.
"She did tell Joey not to victimize herself."
Frank winced.
"Poor choice of words."
"Very I suppose if my therapist had said that to me..."
I paused.
"I might've reacted similarly."
Both gnomes stared at me.
"...Without the murder."
Another pause.
"Probably."
Gerald sighed.
"You really need to stop adding the word 'probably' to the end of sentences."
"It keeps people guessing."
"It keeps people concerned."
"Same thing."
My lips curved as I closed the laptop halfway. The room was suddenly quiet. Only the rain tapping gently against the windows remained.
It's strange...
Readers always ask where characters come from.
As though one morning they simply climb into your head and announce themselves.
Hello, I'm emotionally unstable. Please ruin my life for three hundred pages.
If only it were that easy. Characters don't arrive fully formed, they grow and then they surprise you.
Sometimes they refuse to do what you've planned. Other times...
They do exactly what you secretly hoped they would. Joey had never been one for listening. Then again...
Neither was I.
A low rumble drifted through the open window, not thunder but an engine. Heavy, maybe a diesel. I frowned.
"Are we expecting visitors?"
Gerald hopped onto the windowsill.
"I don't think so."
Another rumble, closer now. I pushed back my chair and wandered toward the front window, pulling the curtain aside with one finger. A delivery truck crawled up the gravel road before slowing outside the cottage next door.
Next door?
My eyebrows lifted.
"Oh..."
The detective had ordered something. Yes, I got curious after seeing lights last night. So, I just went and peeked this morning. No, it’s not stalking but yes, he is my neighbour, nothing to see here.
Or it could be someone. Knowing my luck... It was probably a wife, though I haven’t seen a ring...
Frank appeared beside me.
"What is it?"
I couldn't stop smiling.
"I think..."
I reached for my cardigan already halfway to the front door.
"...our neighbour's about to become much more interesting."
The front door hadn't even finished swinging shut behind me before Gerald cleared his throat.
"We're running."
"We're walking quickly."
"You're practically jogging."
"I have little legs."
"You have perfectly average-sized legs."
"I have enthusiastic legs."
Frank sighed.
"That's not a thing."
"It is now."
The gravel crunched beneath my shoes as I hurried down the garden path, pretending mostly to myself that I was simply a concerned neighbour welcoming someone to the area. Perfectly normal. People did that all the time, didn't they? Probably. I hoped so.
The delivery truck sat outside the cottage next door, its engine still rumbling softly while one of the delivery men climbed down from the cab carrying a clipboard.
It’s not furniture or boxes. Too much and too little space in the back. My curiosity stretched a little further.
"What do you think he ordered?"
Gerald looked at the truck.
"A body."
I blinked.
"Gerald."
"What?"
"You can't accuse the detective of ordering bodies."
"I wasn't accusing."
"You literally just said body."
"I was guessing."
Frank rubbed his tiny ceramic forehead.
"I miss when our biggest concern was watering roses."
The rear doors of the truck swung open.
I leaned forward. Just a little. The delivery driver disappeared inside. There was the sound of metal shifting. A latch.
A bark.
I froze.
"No..."
Another bark, louder this time. My entire face lit up.
"No way."
The driver's voice drifted out from inside.
"Easy there, big fella."
Big? Oh... Oh, this was getting better. A broad, fluffy head appeared first, dark ears, bright, intelligent eyes, a wagging tail. Then an enormous German Shepherd bounded gracefully down the ramp before landing on the gravel with enough elegance to make it look effortless.
I gasped.
"Oh, my goodness..."
The words escaped before I could stop them.
"Look at him."
Gerald didn't even bother pretending to care.
"It's a dog."
"It's not just a dog."
"It is literally the definition of a dog."
"He's magnificent."
The shepherd stood proudly beside the truck, ears pricked forward as he scanned his surroundings with quiet confidence. Alert, protective and beautiful, his nose twitched and his head turned. Straight toward me.
"Oh..."
I whispered.
"He saw me."
Gerald sighed.
"Of course he did."
The dog's tail gave a cautious wag. Just once, then twice. I placed a hand dramatically against my chest.
"I think..."
My voice dropped to an emotional whisper.
"...he loves me."
"You've made eye contact."
"Love has to begin somewhere."
"It usually begins after introductions."
Before Gerald could continue his lecture, another figure stepped around the front of the truck.
Detective Elias Reed. Dark jeans, black boots, grey T-shirt beneath an open jacket. One hand resting lightly on top of the dog's head. The dog immediately looked back at him. Disciplined, waiting, listening.
Well...
That was attractive.
No. Stop that. I wasn't looking at the detective.
I was looking at
"...the dog?"
Gerald made a noise that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
"You looked at him first."
"I absolutely did not."
"You absolutely did."
"The dog."
"Him."
"The dog."
"Him."
Frank cleared his throat.
"You know we can see your eyes, right?"
Traitors. Complete traitors. Elias crouched beside the shepherd, scratching behind one ear. The dog's entire posture softened. I couldn't help but smile.
"You know, he picked a good one."
Gerald glanced at me.
"The dog?"
"The man."
"Interesting."
I immediately pointed toward the German Shepherd.
"I meant the dog."
"Liar."
"Allegedly."
The shepherd suddenly pulled gently against his lead. One determined step, then another. Straight toward me.
"Oh..."
I whispered.
"No. Don't do this to me."
The dog's tail wagged harder. I looked around, just to make sure no one else was nearby. Nope. Definitely me. I pointed at myself.
"...Me?"
The shepherd answered by attempting another hopeful step. I melted, absolutely melted.
"Oh, sweetheart..."
Elias looked from the dog... To me, then back to the dog a tiny crease formed between his brows.
"Huh..."
He muttered quietly.
"That's new.”
For one wonderfully awkward second nobody moved and nobody spoke. The dog looked like he'd already decided we were best friends. I offered a small smile, but a small wave escaped before my brain had the chance to approve it.
"Hi."
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. A grown woman, published author and hi was the best I could manage. The detective gave a small nod in return. I felt my cheeks warm. Nope. Absolutely not, retreat. Retreat immediately.
I lifted my hand again in another quick, hopelessly awkward wave before turning on my heel.
"I- I’ll."
Words, Seraphina use them. I shake my head and try again.
"I'll let you get settled." I said far too quietly.
“Max, come back.”
Max. So that’s the dog’s name. How sweet, so smooth and elegant the very picture of composure. I hurried back across the garden path, doing my absolute best not to look like I was fleeing the scene of a crime. Behind me, Gerald let out the most dramatic sigh I'd ever heard.
"Oh, she's running."
"I am not."
"You're absolutely running."
"I'm walking..."
I picked up my pace.
"...with enthusiasm."
"Chicken."
"I am not a chicken."
"You've spoken to the man for exactly one word."
"I spoke two."
"'Hi' isn't a conversation."
"It absolutely counts."
"It absolutely doesn't."
Frank shook his head.
"I've seen pigeons with more confidence."
"Rude."
"You abandoned the dog."
"I did not abandon the dog. It isn’t even my dog."
"You abandoned yourself before you even reached the dog."
"I panicked."
"We noticed."
I reached the front porch, slipped inside, and quietly closed the door behind me. Then very carefully I peeked through the curtain. The detective was still standing beside the truck and the shepherd was still looking toward my cottage as if wondering where I'd gone.
I smiled wistfully.
"He likes me."
Gerald groaned.
"The dog does."
"That's what I meant."
"Liar."
I let the curtain fall. Tomorrow, I decided. Tomorrow, I'd introduce myself properly.
Probably.
Maybe.