“I finished Ms. Rebecca.” “My gosh, that was so fast.” I take the book out of the small hands of little Patricia. Today she’s in pigtails, a little crocked from her constant play. “How many books have you read this week?” “Two.” She shows with her small fingers and smiles wide. “You want another?” “My momma said I could take one more.” I look up at the smiling woman standing back a few steps. She’s teaching her to be independent and the small 7-year-old is thriving. At least with the trusty young librarian. “How about something scary?” I look at the mom before handing her the book we had already discussed while the child had been in class. “Is it too scary?” The girl pulls her hands back and turns to her mother. “Is just a little bit.” I place the book on the counter and wait for her to make the decision. “Or there’s a not scary one I think you’d like.” I watch amused as her forehead creases, she’s thinking hard and the smile as she takes the copy of Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Gh
“Come on, Buddy.” The second I push open the door she throttles in checking every nook and cranny of the place, one would think she hasn’t been at the house in weeks. “We’ll have dinner and watch a movie, right girl.” She plops herself on her small nook and watches me as I discard my bag on the small table and start peeling off clothes. “Thank you for helping with that awful man, it must be something in the air. Everyone is so angry all the time.” Ever since Buddy started living with me it's been a one-way conversation. She looks attentively whenever I talk to her and sometimes I think she understands but maybe is that I’m just used to her sensitive personality. The sound of music coming from the big house makes me smile, even through the hard time Daniel and Connie were able to stay together. They laugh, joke, and remember together. The old couple welcomed me from day one with open arms and I can’t repay them enough. “What do you think girl, a rom-com or should we continue watchi
The elements must have declared the day of my birth as something worthy of celebration, after continuous days of gray clouds and gusty winds the sun shone above and the sky was a pretty blue. The girls had covered the backyard table with pretty plates and fancy napkins. The menu was mostly finger food and tiny pastries. And dog treats. The music was minimal and the laughter was abundant. “Blue looks so good on you,” said Clara as I pretended to try on the blouse I had just taken out of the gift bag. “Thank you, Clara, I love it,” I said as I leaned closer to hug the pretty old woman, her flowery scent always accompanying her, and her short curly bob. “Open mine.” The next one was a beauty set followed by the most leather beautiful jacket. Pressing it to my nose the smell told me everything I needed to know, this was genuine and also second-hand. Also brought back memories of leather and earthy scents, strong hands, and haunting eyes. “I bought this thinking I would wear it,
Word of her return had come in quickly. The buzzing of gossip followed me everywhere and even though people no longer mentioned her name when I was around I knew by the look in their eyes who they were talking to.She had arrived hours ago, and most likely was in bed by now. Staring at the darkened house told me everything I needed to know. Her father's second heart attack had finally drawn her home. But she didn’t seek sanctuary at my house, no she’d chosen her old home. Funny, it was mine but that was semantics. Ours was a set-to-fail relationship, she was too tame and I was too wild, for a second she almost got me to settle, to care but the more I cared and the more I wanted to get away. I didn’t blame her for running away from me and adding to it the constant calls from Cynthia. The arrangement had been her idea but it had stayed with me days later, and when she said no. That got me thinking, a pretty wife and land because she was pretty, too pretty and innocent.Had she stayed i
Word of her return had come in quickly. The buzzing of gossip followed me everywhere and even though people no longer mentioned her name when I was around I knew by the look in their eyes who they were talking to. She had arrived hours ago, and most likely was in bed by now. Staring at the darkened house told me everything I needed to know. Her father's second heart attack had finally drawn her home. But she didn’t seek sanctuary at my house, no she’d chosen her old home. Funny, it was mine but that was semantics. Ours was a set-to-fail relationship, she was too tame and I was too wild, for a second she almost got me to settle, to care but the more I cared and the more I wanted to get away. I didn’t blame her for running away from me and adding to it the constant calls from Cynthia. The arrangement had been her idea but it had stayed with me days later, and when she said no. That got me thinking, a pretty wife and land because she was pretty, too pretty and innocent. Had she staye
After letting Buddy out for the second time I leave her locked inside my room while I prepare breakfast for Cameron. He barely says a word as I move about the kitchen. His eyes are full of curiosity, but he occupies himself with the black cup of coffee as I finish the eggs and toast. “Where’s your shadow?”“Upstairs.”“Don’t worry about me, let her out.”“She gets too riled up in new spaces, once you’re gone I will let her explore.” Once the steamy plate of eggs touches the table he pulls in and thanks me. We might not have been able to get along before but now we can at least civil towards each other. He praised my food and I smiled, we talked a little about nothing at all and then continue eating in silence. “McKinnon came by.” Until he said that. I froze, my fork in mid-air, his expression serious. “He almost walked into your bedroom.” An awkward silence followed until we both heard a loud bark coming from upstairs. “Buddy.” He nodded. “That would have stopped anyone.”I had b
It was like a sixth sense, I felt it. Being watched. My window outlook the side of the house, towards the back road, and in the darkness all was visible were the silhouettes of the trees. The set snow shone under the moonlight. The red fiery dot was what gave him away. It could have been anyone but my gut told me it was him. Leaning onto the big oak that once had a tire swing hanging from his big branches. I watched him for a few minutes, trying to guess what he wanted but it was obvious. The cold immediately made me regret stepping outside. “Sit,” I told Buddy before closing the door behind me. The porch was nude, aside from the two old rocking chairs on the left. I waited until he apparated from the shadows, flicking the cigarette to the side and watching its light disappear on the cold ground. He was dressed in a warm winter coat and leather gloves. “Wife.” He said, his voice thick. “Husband.” He kept walking forward until there was any space between us. I felt his gaze taki
What a couple of years can change or that’s what I thought as I watched the scenery in front of me. We were no longer heading towards the house I almost called home for six months, instead, we just passed it and continued north. Behind the tall trees, a big two-story structure could be seen from the distance. Apparently, he bought the old Rice place and with that united the land from what it seemed. Which meant that he had been very busy while I had been gone. The big house had pillars on the front, a big circular driveway, and a huge lawn, all was covered in snow but still, I could see that once summer came it would be covered with flowers and shrubs. The massive house became larger and larger as we came closer, he stopped a few feet from the entrance, and without a single word, he got out and proceeded to call someone. Soon two people appeared from the darkness, my suitcase was already sitting on the wet ground when I hopped out. Grabbing Buddy by her collar I stood frozen watchin