Page 52 of Show Me How
Shelly reaches for my elbow. She tries to hide it, but I can see the curiosity in her stare. I don’t blame her.
“Just consider it taken care of, doll. You’re free to stay as long as you want. I’ve already shifted a few bookings around, so there’s no point in arguing.”
“Shelly . . .”
“All I ask in return is that you don’t give up on finding what you’re looking for. I have a feeling you’ve run far enough. Stay and search now.”
My throat grows sticky. I have a hard time getting my words up.
“Is it that obvious?”
“No, it’s not obvious. You just remind me of the woman I was when I first got here.”
“You’re not from Oak Point?”
Her smile is faint. “No. But I’ve been here for the last twenty-five years.”
“You’ve liked it here that much?” I ask, darting my eyes to where the other woman here has started our way.
Shelly notices the woman and asks me, “Do you like iced tea?”
“I do.”
“How about you get one from the cooler over there and wait for me to finish up here. I’d love to have a bit more time to chat with you.”
My heart swells with gratitude. “Yeah, so would I.”
The cooler is only a few steps away. I reach it with ease as the woman steps up to the counter and sets her red sweatshirt down.
After the eventful day I’ve had, I wasn’t expecting to come in here with the plan of sitting down with Shelly. Shade let me run out of the studio like a total wuss after kissing the daylights out of me, and the first place I came was here. I don’t know what the draw was, but I couldn’t go back to the cabin without figuring out what I’m going to do with my whole lack-of-funds problem.
Shelly wasn’t here before I left this morning, and I’m starting to think that she did that on purpose. If this was her plan all along . . . I don’t know how I’ll digest that. The kindness that she’s offering me right now is hard for me to understand.
I’m unsure I’ll ever feel this taken care of again once I leave.
“Have a great evening. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to come in. The office closes at nine, but my number is on the door for any emergencies,” Shelly explains to the woman.
“Thank you! I’m sure I’ll be just fine.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I open the cooler door and grab a bottle of iced tea. The brand on it isn’t familiar to me.
Carrying it back to Shelly, I ask, “Do you make this stuff?”
“I do! Well, with the help of my husband. He does all of the packaging. I just make the iced tea.”
“You make quite the pair.”
“Thank you. He puts up with quite a lot from me, but I like to think I put up with even more from him.” The wink she sends me is adorable. “Anyway, come with me and we’ll chat some more.”
I follow her outside and to the camping chairs on the front porch. She takes a seat on the one with the stool, and I sit beside her. It’s silent out here besides the chirp of the bugs in the grass and an engine of what I think is a quad in the trees.
“The lid is a twist off. Ladies shouldn’t have to struggle to open a bottle,” she tells me, eyeing the iced tea I’m holding.
I give it a twist, and it comes off easily. “You’re a miracle worker.”
“I try. Women have to stick together. Especially in this world.”
