Page 20 of Keeping Her Safe

Again, the receipt came, and she gave the older woman a nice-sized tip. The hairdresser argued about the money but eventually accepted it. Another hug, and Zephyr was out the door. Zachary led her to the car, but she protested. “I need a cord for my computer. And headphones.”

Zachary scanned the stores and saw one that the end of the row. “Get in. We’ll drive. I’ll run in and get them. You’d buy everything in the store if I let you go in.”

Pulling into a spot close to the store, he added, “Stay in here. If you see anything, run towards the store.”

“Okay. Can I have my USB drive back?” she asked.

He dug in his pocket and handed it to her, then was out of the car and into the store. Zephyr watched him as he went. While he was gone, she slid the USB drive into her bra. Then she filled her wallet, which didn’t take any time.

True to his word, he was out of the store quicker than she would have thought possible. He handed her the bag, and she looked inside. Two cords and a large pair of headphones. “Thanks, Zachary. Now I can work anywhere.”

“Just not in the closet anymore. Why were you in the closet last night?” He started the car.

“Because you’re a light sleeper. I didn’t want to wake you,” she admitted.

“You were in another room with the door closed. I’m not that light of a sleeper.”

“I guess I was just being stupid.” She looked out the window.

The town started to fall away, and the countryside opened up in the twilight. Now the differences between Florida and Minnesota were stark; there were no leaves on the trees, and the grass was turning brown in the lawns. Zephyr was used to it being humid and warm, but this was cold and dry. She could feel the harshness of the landscape. Every plant was dying before her eyes. Some would come back one day, but some were gone forever.

Black field after black field met her eyes. Watching each one disappear into the distance, she wanted to ask Zachary to stop so she could get out, but he was mad now, and she didn’t want to make him even madder. So, she dreamed she could get out and walk and touch, maybe smell it. From her comfortable seat, she knew it would smell different.

“Zephyr, you are not stupid. Don’t call yourself that. You were in there because you are the most considerate person I know. You sat in a closet in your own home to work, just so you wouldn’t wake me. But for this trip, no more closets, okay?” His voice was softer as he asked.

“Okay,” she said as she watched the colors fall away while the sun dipped over the horizon.

Could it have possibly been only been yesterday that she had watched him watch the sunset? So much had happened since then; so many miles had been traveled. But the sun was setting for them again, with all its glorious color.

She fought the urge to lean over to him and say, “Hell of a day it’s been.” But his mind was elsewhere now. He had been silent for a while. What was he thinking? Was he mad that he was here with her? Was he upset that he had to protect her? Did he still hate her after all these years? Would it be possible that one day, he wouldn’t hate her and that they could be friends?

The car was in complete darkness now, with the only light coming from the dash. The blue light made Zephyr feel lonely, and his silence wasn’t helping.

Breaking the silence, he said, “You shouldn’t tip so much, Zephyr.”

“It’s my money. I can use it like I want to,” she reminded him.

“I know it’s your money, but you can’t just throw it around. It isn’t going to last if you keep it up.” He did not look at her.

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you know how many books I’ve sold?”

“No, but I do know you have pre-sold a lot for the next one coming. If that’s just the presale, you’ve sold a lot. But that’s not the point. People will take advantage of you,” Zachary insisted.

“I make over two dollars a book, every book. First running, I get more. I get more money for an advance on a book than you make in a year, maybe even two. I have the money, and I like to share it. It makes me feel good to give it away. I don’t need it all,” she said confidently.

“Then give it to a charity. You don’t know how these people will spend it. What if they just blow it on booze and drugs?” he asked.

“I guess they’ll spend it on whatever. I don’t give it and say it must be spent this way or that.”

“Why do you really do it, Zephyr?”

“I do it because when I was a kid, I remember Mom coming home from work all excited. Someone had tipped her one hundred dollars, and she was so excited. We didn’t have money floating around ever. She walked in the door and said, 'Zeph, we are going out on the town. Tonight, we are queens of this city. Steak for all.’ In my mind, these women are going home tonight, excited at their good fortune. And it really cost me nothing,” she said into the darkness between them.

“Is that why you don’t want anyone to call you, Zeph? Because your mom did?” he asked.

“When she was happy, she called me that. Usually, she called me Zephyr. She wasn’t happy all that often,” she admitted.

“Life had dealt her a difficult hand,” he agreed.

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