Page 49 of Love Finds Home

“You can do this. There isn’t anyone here. No one’s after you. It’s just a prank,” I whisper to myself on the walk up to the stairs, looking around to make sure the boogie man isn’t going to jump out at me.

I take the first step and can already tell there are more ‘presents’ left on the porch. Tonight’s offerings are fresh petals. I’ve started paying one of the kids in the complex to come sweep the thing every day. I don’t even know if there’re flowers every day, but he texted me about four hours ago that he’d already been by, so these have been left in the last few hours. Again, no note, just petals. There’s a box leaning next to the door, but I didn’t order anything, so I just leave it there. Maybe it was delivered to the wrong place, and the mailman will come back tomorrow and pick it up.

I unlock the door and go inside. Everything seems to be normal, but it’s been two weeks since I’ve been here and I can smell the beginnings of a rotten smell coming from the fridge. Gross. I turn away from the kitchen and go towards my bedroom. I take a shower and change my clothes and sit on the side of the bed. It’s quiet, and every noise makes me jump. I can’t stay here.

The shop is a little over four blocks away. Less than a five-minute drive. How long could that take to walk, really? I can leave my car here and turn a light on so Ginny gets off my back and walk. I load up a backpack with some of the essentials I’ve missed and go out the back door, locking up behind me.

I’m two blocks away from the shop when I get that feeling. You know the one. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up and the goosebumps raise on your arms and you feel like you have eyes boring into your back? Yeah, that’s the one. Somebody’s watching me, but who? I look around and don’t see anyone. Nobody sitting in an empty car or hanging out on a porch. It’s late and this town goes to bed pretty early. Except the diner. I don’t know how Mable does it, but the woman never sleeps. She’s up before dawn and still going strong at midnight most nights. I’ll ask her what her secret is next time I see her.

Yes, I’m using Mable and her insomnia to distract me. I pick up my pace, practically sprinting the last block, and run up the back stairs as quickly as I can. When I’m inside, I don’t turn on any lights. You never know. Someone out there might be waiting for that. I lean against the door and slide down until I’m on my ass and bring my knees up, wrapping my arms around them and putting my head down.

I don’t know why this is happening again, but I can’t help the feeling that all of this is repeating the life of a younger me. Creepy ‘gifts’ that get more extreme? Been there. Feeling like I’m being watched? Been there, too.

I call Jorge. He’ll be awake. It’s still early in the Cove.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, answering on the first ring.

“Nothing,” I answer, and know I’ve fucked up as soon as I say it.

“Fuck off with that bullshit lie. What’s wrong?”

“The flowers are here.”

“Explain.”

“They’ve been leaving them on my porch at home.”

“And where are you?”

“At the studio.

Could this really be Stefon? It wasn’t that serious, J.”

“I don’t see how. I saw him all night.”

“What? Where?”

“He was out at the club. I kept my distance, but he was there all night.”

“Then who could be doing this? Who, outside of you and my family, even knows I’m here?”

“I don’t know, Elle. Have you installed the porch cameras yet?”

“No. I just quit going home.”

“Baby girl, what am I going to do with you?”

“Love me?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

“Always. Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m always fine. You know that.”

“No. I know that you say you’re fine and you act like you’re fine when other people are around. I also know that you’re full of shit.”

“You know, it’s a real pain in my ass that you know me so well.”

“What can I say? It’s a gift.”

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