Page 39 of Mountain Grump
It’s empty.
I move my gaze to the store’s front door.
I wonder…
As if summoned with magic, my lilac-haired Mountain Fairy emerges through the sliding glass doors.
There’s a bag hooked over her elbow, flapping in the wind. And in her arms, she’s carrying… something.
I can’t tell what it is, but the way she’s slightly leaned back tells me it’s heavy.
I feel my fingers flex.
If she hurts herself…
I take in the rest of her. And I swallow.
Her body is wrapped in red fabric.
The top of her dress is hidden behind the large bag of whatever she’s carrying, but her pale arms are bare.
The skirt dances around her feet, and I instantly worry she’ll trip over it, since, unlike the other dresses I’ve seen her in, this one goes to the ground.
But Tilda doesn’t trip.
She disappears around the passenger side of her truck, out of my view.
I can see the far door open. Then close. And I expect her to circle around to her driver’s door, but instead she walks back the way she came. Back into the store.
Curious what she’s up to, but knowing it’s none of my business, I get into my truck.
I turn on the engine, and I put the shifter into drive, but I don’t take my foot off the brake.
I wait.
And I watch.
It only takes half a minute before the doors open again.
And I shake my head.
Because Tilda has reemerged, only instead of a heavy bag, this time she’s carrying a bright blue kiddie pool.
It’s practically as tall as she is. And it’s going to act like a fucking sail in this wind.
On cue, the hard plastic pool catches a gust, and the bottom flies up and away from Tilda.
I take my foot off the brake.
Tilda staggers.
This will be my third time meeting Miss Tilda Wright, and I don’t want it to be my third time watching her fall.
Especially on pavement.
I drive to the exit.
Keeping an eye across the road as I wait for the sparse traffic to pass, I watch Tilda turn, putting her back to me, as she tries to blade her way through the wind.
