Page 17 of Show Me How
Of course, the moment I got back to my cabin with my armfuls of junk food and set up the phone . . . I quickly realized there wasn’t any reason for me to have it in the first place. Besides my parents, I don’t have any other numbers memorized, and I wasn’t about to call either of them.
It’s that thought that’s kept me in this cabin longer than I was expecting.
For the first time in my entire life, I’m somewhere I shouldn’t be. I’m in a place completely different from where I’ve spent my last twenty-six years, and I don’t think I want to leave yet. Not without at least learning a bit about this tiny town first.
My accommodations could be better, though. There’s hardly any hot water in the pipes, and considering I don’t know how to start a fire in the fireplace, it’s been cold at night. At least it’s clean enough. And quiet.
I force myself out of bed and across the freezing floor to the bathroom. The yellow light burns my eyes when I flick it on and strip out of the black hoodie I haven’t kicked aside yet. Even after grabbing my spare clothes from the car my first morning here, I opted out of wearing my cinched top and kept the hoodie on instead. Paired with my tight-legged leather pants and stained sneakers, I know that I was walking through the gas station looking like some wannabe biker chick or something along those lines.
It was that or nothing, though. I’ve even run out of clean underwear, which has thrown a bit of a wrench into my whole sticking-around plan. From what I’ve seen, there isn’t anywhere to do any shopping around here other than the second-hand shop Shade mentioned, but I certainly won’t be getting any underwear from there.
My skin itches at the thought of going there at all, but I’m truly out of options here unless I want to continue wearing my dirty clothes every day. The townspeople will send me packing because of my stench.
Decided, I turn the shower on and wait the five minutes for the water to heat up before scrubbing myself with cheap body wash. My hair feels dry and underconditioned when I step out and wrap it up on the top of my head. I’ve never in my life used complimentary shampoo and conditioner before, and I’m already unimpressed.
Half an hour later, I’m standing naked in front of the bed, my clothes laid out neatly over the duvet. My hair is dry and almost crunchy as I pull it behind my shoulders and dart my eyes to the black hoodie and sweat shorts near the pillow.
I sigh, reaching for the proper clothes. The pants are tight around the waist, but I wiggle into them anyway and then slip the top over my head. The cinched material at the stomach is uncomfortable, but I ignore it while slipping my feet into the wedding heels once again. Yesterday, it was so cold out that I worried it would snow already, and from my view out the window, it looks like it’s the same temperature.
With my keys and phone in hand, I slip out of the cabin and to the gravel drive where my car is parked. The wind is bitter this morning as I slide into my car and start the drive into town.
To get anywhere in Oak Point takes all of two minutes, but to get there from the campground is about triple that. I park in front of the thrift shop and take a deep, reassuring breath before stepping out on the curb.
Twice Treasured is what’s written on the sign and drawn across the front window of the shop. It’s a cute name.
I pull the door open, and a bell twinkles from above it. At first glance, I get overwhelmed. There’s a stale smell and terrible lighting that exposes the rows of white tubs full of clothes and toys. Without labels pointing me where to go, I just stand inside the shop, my hands held at my middle.
A loud bang from the left has me shifting. Another sound follows, like something’s fallen off a shelf.
“Oh! Welcome! Is there anything I can help you with?”
I search for the woman who’s spoken but can’t see her. “Hi. I’m not sure, actually.”
“Give me one second! I’m just—” she grunts. “Sorry, we just got a few boxes of things in from a couple over in Calgary, and it’s been a long time since these many things have been dropped at the door.”
“No rush,” I call back, moving out of the doorway.
There are a few bookshelves beneath the large window, and I browse over the titles, not recognizing any of them. Most of theshelves are children’s books, and neither of my parents was big on reading. I’ve always navigated more to romance. Even in my early teen years when I had to sneak them home in my backpack.
“Okay, I’m free. I’m so sorry about that,” the woman rambles, drawing my attention away from the shelves.
I try to hide my surprise when I come face to face with her for the first time. She’s not what I was expecting in the slightest. The complete opposite, actually.
“I’m Lacey. I don’t think we’ve met before, have we? Are you here for a drop-off?”
I jerk myself out of my thoughts. “Uh, no, I’m not. I’m Millie. I’ve been staying at the campground for the past couple of nights.”
Lacey can’t be much older than me. Her brown hair is chopped into a bob with bangs to match, and they actually fit her face perfectly. There’s a genuine, welcoming smile on her face as she stares at me, her hands rubbing over her denim-clad thighs, leaving dust behind.
“How are you liking it? Have you had a chance to check out the lake? It’s mountain water, so I wouldn’t recommend swimming in it this time of year, but if you’re into ice baths, you might enjoy it!”
“It was more of an unintentional trip, so I haven’t had much of a chance to see it. That’s kind of why I’m here, actually.”
Her eyes glow with intrigue. “Really? Well, I’m here to help with whatever you need.”
“I need some clothes. And maybe some recommendations on where I could go to find some more intimate items,” I say, fighting past my immediate embarrassment.
“Sure. What are you looking for exactly? We have a pretty big selection.” She presses her lips together, dropping a look at my shoes. “I don’t think we have anything like those here, though.”
