Page 29 of Logan

“Nice to meet you. I’m Vivian Sa…uh…Preacher.” Seeing the questioning look in Betty’s eyes, she blushed. “I’m a newlywed and still forget to use my married name.”

“Well, congratulations,” Betty said, her smile wide. “I think I saw your husband in here the other day. Big guy…dark hair…handsome as they come?”

“That’s him,” she agreed, taking out the cash that Logan had given her for incidentals. He had warned her about using her credit card and given her a wad of cash to use in town.

“You’re renting that place over on Ester Creek Lane, aren’t you?” Seeing her eyes widen, Betty laughed again, saying, “Honey, Ester’s not that big.”

“I guess not.”

“You only got one set of neighbors out there. That family where the wife covers her head? I mean no disrespect to their culture, but I’ve never gotten her name. She doesn’t come in here by herself, and the times her husband comes with her, they’re not too talkative.” Shrugging, she continued, “But they don’t cause any trouble and seem to be nice people.”

“I met her yesterday,” Vivian said. “I’m a bit lonely up there, so I’ll keep trying to get to know her.”

“It's not a bad idea, especially before winter sets in. Sometimes you need your neighbors around here when the weather is harsh.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Betty that she wouldn’t be here in the winter, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. Saying goodbye, she took her purchases out to the car, her mind already planning on spending some time outside. And she loved the idea of grilling for Logan.

Once home, Vivian hurried inside to show Sakari the bounty. “I didn’t know what you’d like, so I got dry food, canned food, and treats. I also got a litter box and litter. Plus a scoop.” Digging into the bag, she laughed. “Oh, and a mouse toy.”

Once Sakari was well-fed and had found another spot in the sun to sleep in, Vivian went outside. She dragged the old grill over the gravel drive until it was a safe distance from the house, not trusting her fire-building skills. She poured charcoal into the grill's drum, but her attempts to light it were in vain. Match after match extinguished before the charcoal ever managed to light. Frustrated, she turned when she heard a vehicle on the gravel, seeing Farrah and a man drive up in a car.

Plastering a big grin on her face, she jogged over, waving as she went. “Hey, Farrah!” Seeing the expression of fear on Farrah’s face as her eyes cut over to the man, she hoped she was not making a mistake.

Stopping a few feet from them, she looked at him and smiled. “I’m Vivian. Vivian Preacher. Can I ask for a favor?”

The air immediately electrified as his face registered blatant irritation, but she rushed ahead. “My husband is at work and will be home in a bit. I wanted to grill some steaks but have no idea how to get the charcoal lit. My matches keep burning out before it lights.”

The man opened his mouth, but before he could speak, another car drove into the driveway, parking behind them. Two other men and a woman alighted from the second vehicle. The woman, dressed like Farrah, with modern clothes and a beautiful hijab covering her hair, cast a narrow-eyed gaze toward her. The two men, one much darker in skin color than the other, smiled widely at her.

“Hello,” the taller, darker man greeted, his white teeth gleaming against his skin. Walking closer, he asked, “And who do we have here?”

“I’m Vivian…from next door.”

“I’m Malik,” the smaller man said, his eyes not leaving her face.

Suddenly feeling like one of her specimens under a microscope, she forced her smile not to waver. “I was hoping to get some help starting a fire with the charcoal in my grill. My husband will be home soon, and I wanted to grill steaks for him.”

The taller man stepped up, introducing himself. “Rashad.” He glanced behind her to the grill and said, “I’ll help you.”

“Oh, thank you. That would be so nice.” Emboldened, she moved toward Farrah and thrust her hand out to the man she stood beside. “Are you Farrah’s husband? It’s nice to meet you.”

“Yes,” he responded, ignoring her outstretched hand.

She caught Farrah’s blush as she started to turn away, but she twisted back as though just having a thought. “You know, I have tons of food. We’d love to have you join us for a cookout…out here.”

She caught Farrah’s eyes flare in interest while the other woman’s eyes went cold and hard. Rashad and Malik grinned in response, though Akram did not change his expression.

Pushing forward, she said, “I have steaks and potatoes.” Farrah said nothing, so she added, “It’d be so nice to meet some people around here.”

“I have no time,” barked the unnamed woman as she moved toward the house.

“Well, we have to eat,” Malik said, not looking back at the others.

“Right,” Rashad agreed, his smile firmly in place.

“We will be happy to join you,” Akram finally spoke, his eyes unreadable. “My wife and Nafisa will prepare some food as well.”

At this, Nafisa whirled around, her glare now focused on Akram. “I have things to do?—”

---