Page 74 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Thewords stunned her. Stopping, she turned and looked at Elijah. She wanted to saysomething, but no words came out. Her throat felt tight with emotion, and shehad to turn away before he could see the glisten in her eyes.
Thegentle pressure slung over her shoulders caused her to turn her head and lookup to the boy who was now hugging her against his side.
"Well,now the wait is over, you're a part of the family now, and frankly, it's abouttime."
Sanalaughed at that. "I'm pretty sure Zach said the same thing."
Pullingaway from her, Elijah pulled open the pharmacy door and held it open for herwith a smile.
"Ijust need to get my medicine from the pharmacist, and I'll be ready to headover to the theater," she told him.
Slappinghis hands together, Elijah rubbed them together and gave her a broad grin."I literally cannot wait to see what it looks like inside."
Lastnight as everyone pitched in to help straighten up the dining room, wash thedishes, and wrap up any remaining food the men deigned to leave, Zach hadpaused everyone with an announcement. Pulling a pair of keys from his key ring,he theatrically dropped the keys into Sana's hand before announcing that one ofher wedding gifts was the old theater. She had been so happy and wrapped intoher own thoughts about the beautiful old theater she almost missed the look ofpure delight on Elijah's face as he filed through the door behind his mother.Thankfully his father, Darrius, did not miss it.
"Sana,would it be too much to ask for you to take Elijah with you when you go look atthat old theater? This boy wants to go inside so bad, but he's too shy toask," he said, pointing back at his eager, yet blushing son.
Sanahad turned to Elijah to see him practically bouncing with pent-up excitement."I love old abandoned places," he rushed to confess. "And I knowit hasn't been boarded up that long, but for me it still counts, and I reallywant to see it."
Beforeshe could reply, Zach answered for her. "Actually, that would be perfect.I don’t think the building has any dilapidated parts inside, but I would feelbetter if she goes with one of us when she goes to look," he said, puttingan appreciative hand on Elijah’s shoulder. "I, unfortunately, will be outin Gaulding with Beranek all damn week, so I can't make it."
Now,as she looked at the excited, towering teen, she couldn't help but give him anindulgent smirk. "Zach said it looks like the last day it was inoperation. There’s still some old candy boxes behind the glass and a bunch ofstuff in the offices as if time just stopped," she said with a littleflare of dramatics in her voice.
Itwas enough to make Elijah's eyes roll in pleasure. "Dear God, what are wewaiting for?! Go get your stuff," he pointed in demand to the pharmacycounter at the other end of the store.
Laughing,Sana did what she was told and walked to the counter.
Justlike last time, the quiet, pale man named Wilson was working behind thecounter. When she approached, she could see the flash of immediate recognitionin his eyes as well as something that almost resembled—fear, maybe? No, thatdidn't seem right. But whatever it was, it was shuttered immediately, replacedwith a practiced blandness he wore on his face like last time.
"Hi,my doctor called in a slight change of my medicine, did you receive it? My nameis Sana Bhatt."
Withoutlooking into his computer, Wilson answered. "Yes, Ms. Bhatt, it's almostready."
"Hopefully,this one won't make me so drowsy," she said with a small forced laugh."I'm going to take it immediately." For some reason, she feltcompelled to try and attempt at small talk with the man though she couldn'tbegin to fathom why.
Wilsonsaid nothing as he turned his back to her and walked the few short feet towardsthe back, presumably to finish her medication. Why was he so odd to her? Shehad seen him talk normally to other people before without odd tension in theair threatening to smother them to death. It made no sense. From what she couldtell, the man seemed to be her age or maybe a bit older. His oddly colorlesshair and dreary countenance made it impossible to guess accurately at his age.Twisting her mouth to the side in thought, Sana leaned a hip onto the counterand watched as Elijah walked up and down one of the aisles. The boy was so tallhe made the already old-fashioned short aisles look like dollhouse miniatures.Sana smirked, her thoughts moving past the odd pharmacist, and turned to thetall boy.
Thoughhe and her brother used to be thick as thieves when they were kids, she foundit surprising that they were so different now. Immature was just not a strongenough word to describe the current hell-state of Kamal. She had facetimed hermother a few nights ago and listened to her tired, simmering anger as sherelayed the latest girl-related antics of her son. It had taken everythinginside of Sana not to let a passive-aggressive comment slip from her lips,something Zach had congratulated her for later despite his suppressed laughterduring the call. Just what did her parents expect when they treated the boylike a sovereign prince? Did they truly think coddling him until middle schooland then putting down a hard wall of academic requirements suddenly was goingto work? Sana felt the growing smile tug at the corners of her lips as shethought of the karma they were reaping now. God, did she want to send a pictureof Elijah to her mom and a four-paragraph text singing the boy's achievements.How he was already taking early online college courses or how he went out ofhis way to help his parents and family with any and everything. Or even how hiseyes flashed dangerously when he stepped in the way of Samons and her that dayat the solar farm. Well, she wouldn’t share that one, she thought, her facesoftening as she watched him come over to her carrying a pair of flashlights.
"Hey,do you think we should get these?" he held up the blue and greenflashlights and a pack of batteries. "It may be dark in the theater, andthough my eyesight is pretty good in the dark, I think it may be safer to justbring some added protection."
Yeah,she could just bet those kind, honey-gold eyes of his could easily see throughthe dark.
"Zachsaid the power is still on, but let's just get them just in case there aresections with missing bulbs or something," she said, taking the items fromhis hand to put them on the counter behind her.
Sana'sheart nearly jumped as she turned to find Wilson standing there holding thewhite paper bag in his hand. How long had he been standing there?
"Yourmedicine is ready," he said, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Slidingher items on the counter towards him, Sana paused as she remembered what elseshe needed but felt the creeping rise of a blush as she realized Elijah wouldhear her request.
Asif sensing her predicament, Elijah spoke up. "I'll wait for yououtside."
Noddinggratefully, she waited until she heard the bells to the wood-framed glass doorof the pharmacy jingle before turning back to Wilson with a nervous but brightsmile. For a second, his purposely bland mask faltered into confusion at hersudden change.
"CanI get a pregnancy test? Actually, make it three," she asked, her heartpounding with gleeful excitement.
Wilsonseemed to freeze. "Preg-pregnancy test?" he stuttered.
