Page 5 of Searching for Sadie
When she was done, she checked the diminished number in her bank account and set off down to the little market. She could get what she needed for twenty dollars right? She could live onsome eggs and turkey sandwiches... tuna if she had too. She just needed to make the last of her money stretch. Maybe she needed to find a job. Somewhere around here had to be hiring, right?
She opened the door to a bustling little shop. She lived in the big city because of her love of music, but something about Mystic Falls felt right. This is the type of community she thrived in. She loved the feeling that everyone knew who you were, and everyone would take care of each other. In a big city she was surrounded by people but had never felt so lonely in her entire life.
As she walked around the little market filling up her basket with eggs, bread, and other staples, she saw a familiar face when she turned the corner.
It was her neighbor. She recognized him from their interaction yesterday and from the brief little glimpse she stole from her window last night as he came home from not killing someone with a giant bag.
"Lucas," called an older woman with long gray hair in a French braid down her back and dangly feather earrings.
"Hey ma," he said back fondly as the woman pulled him into a hug.
"How's the work on the house coming?"
He nodded as he stole a bag of chips from the check out. "Good. It's pretty intense. A lot more goes into the electrical in this one than a normal build, but I'm enjoying it."
"That is going on your tab, young man," she said with a voice filled with stern playfulness and warmth.
"Of course it is."
"Is dad around?"
"No, your father went to Glendale to play golf with Gus. I think Conner was going to meet them there, so he jumped at the chance."
"Okay, well I'm going to get back to the house. I just stopped in to pick a few things at the hardware store. Tell dad I can help with the stand at the festival next weekend."
He bent down and kissed the woman on her cheek before turning to head out. But before that, he stopped and looked at something. A small smile crinkled his eyes, and he waved.
Who was he waving at? She turned to look behind her but didn't see anyone. In the time it took to do that he had taken a few steps closer to her.
Oh my god, he was waving at her, and now he was coming over totalkto her.
Why was she feeling so nervous? She didn't really think he had a dead body in the bag. No, this was a different kind of nervousness.
"Hi neighbor," he said with a friendly hand outstretched.
"Hi," she said back quietly as she reached out and took his hand.
"Are you getting settled in?"
She just nodded up at him blankly, no words coming out.
"Good, well, I'm going to get going, but I look forward to seeing you around."
She just nodded again.
"Right. Bye Sadie. See you later," he said before turning to leave.
Why did the sound of his name on her lips sound like music?
In a daze she made her way up to the cash register. The older woman who had been checking him out started to scan her items.
"Did you find everything you need?"
"I did."
As she paid and put her food in the bags she'd brought, the woman gave her a warm smile that was almost as warm as her Aunt Rosie. "Come back and see us again."
"I will thank you."
