Page 2 of Embers of You
Trish: See you then!
She sends me the address to the salon, and I double down on my effort to find a place to rent.
“I guess we’re moving to Washington,” I tell Bennet. He snuggles his head against my leg as though he’s giving me reassurance.
The next morning, I wake up to Bennet whining next to my face from where he sits on the floor. The sun’s shining through the cheap curtains, and I know we should get back on the road. I must’ve fallen asleep while looking at places to rent last night. I emailed a few potential properties, but since I start my new job tomorrow, I don’t have time to wait around to hear back.
After taking Bennet out to do his business, I feed him breakfast and pack up the few belongings we have. We get loaded up into the car, and just like that we’re back on the road, heading toward our new beginning. I just hope it’s a good one.
Another five hundred miles driven,and I’m exhausted. The sign that indicates we’re now in Amity is the only thing that keeps me going to the tiny motel and dragging myself into the front office to request a room. The receptionist looks at Bennet skeptically as she hands me the room key.
“He won’t do any damage, I promise,” I tell her, but the look she gives me in return indicates that she doesn’t believe me.
I’m too tired to try and defend my dog anymore, so I take the key and head to the room; falling face first onto the bed as soon as the door is closed.
Despite being completely exhausted I’m assaulted by nightmares. The flashes of what I saw. The reason I left L.A. robs my peaceful night sleep.
My best friend. My best. Fucking. Friend. And…ugh.I see them together. My mom is there. She knows and I can never seem to forget.
I wake with a jolt, and it’s still dark out. Bennet is lying next to me, his head on my chest looking at me like he knows everything that was just running through my mind. Maybe he does know since he was there, and he witnessed it all right along with me.
I pet his head, hoping to soothe both of us. It works and before I know it, I’ve drifted off to dreamless sleep.
The next morning, I drive over to the grooming salon taking in the charm that comes with such a small town, knowing I need to find a more permanent place to live. My goal after work is to look at the two properties for rent that emailed me back. They both said immediate move in, and even though it will take up almost all my savings for the deposit, I can’t keep sleeping in motels.
I didn’t ask Trish about bringing Bennet to work with me, but I hope she won’t mind. This is just another reason we need our own place as soon as possible. I have my bag of supplies slung over my shoulder as I walk inside. The salon looks like a cute little house, separate rooms, art on the walls that are painted in a variety of calming colors.
Once inside, I’m immediately greeted, but not by a person.
“Hi.”I look over to see a white Cockatoo who’s currently perched on top of a large cage.
“Um…hi.” I don’t want to be rude and not respond…to a bird.
Oh God, I’m already losing it.
“That’s Jerry Lee.” A voice that is definitely human comes out from the back, and I assume it’s Trish. I’d guess she’s probably in her fifties, with her light brown hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She’s wearing a faded T-shirt and jeans. “I’m Trish.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Sutton.” We shake hands, and she looks down at Bennet.
“What a beautiful Newfie,” she beams, and I sigh with relief.
“Thank you, his name is Bennet.”
“Cute. Come on, I’ll show you where your station is.”
Since it’s my first day, I’m not very busy, so I answer the phone to book some appointments, and take a couple walk-in nail trims and baths before Trish says I’m good to go for the day.
I put away all my equipment in the special vanity that was already set up at my workstation. I like the space, and it turns out it’s a converted house so both Trish and I have our own grooming rooms. The bathing area is centered between our two rooms and provides just enough privacy so I can listen to music while I work.
My old salon was a large, well-known place in L.A. where a lot of people, including some celebrities, came to get their dogs groomed. It was crowded, loud, and full of drama. Unfortunately, that seems to be what happens when you stick abunch of women together in a confined space for a long period of time.
What made it worse is that at one time I also lived with some of those women. I made good money, but it wasn’t enough to comfortably afford a decent place on my own, which resulted in me renting a room in a four-bedroom house with three other groomers.
Talk about drama.
Which is why I ended up moving back in with my parents to save up. Until that was ruined.
This new pace of life is refreshing to say the least.
