Page 14 of These Rough Waters

“We’ve got a school. It’s only small since there aren’t many kids here, you should enroll her there.”

“There’s a school!?” I blurt, surprised. I hadn’t seen one.

“Sure there is, but it is really small with only two teachers but it’s registered.”

Harper gasps, “Can I momma!?”

“I mean,” I swallow, “um, yes?”

Harper squeals excitedly, bouncing in her chair while Ruthie chuckles.

“Definitely sticking around now,” Ruthie comments.

I smile a little and dip my head, agreeing.

After we eat and pay the bill, Ruthie shows me the school, it was closed since it was evening time now, but she promised to take me down in the morning to start the enrollment. It was a clear evening, cold but calm, so we had decided to walk from the lodge to the diner for dinner.

“Listen, sweetness,” Ruthie says, “I don’t know what’s brought you here and that’s not my business, but I don’t think you should go back.”

Harper is skipping ahead of us, in sight but far enough away that Ruthie’s quiet words won’t reach her little ears.

“Going back isn’t an option,” I admit honestly, “I just can’t.” I glance to the older woman but she’s looking at the fading bruises on the side of my face.

“No, sweetness, you can’t.”

A comfortable silence settles and we’re close to being back at the lodge when Ruthie slows her steps. Harper runs off through the gates of the lodge up ahead, heading round the building rather than through, likely to the chickens out back.

“Since you’re sticking around, we should probably find you somewhere to stay, hm?”

“I can’t rent, Ruthie,” I cringe, “Not with all the paperwork.”

“I get it,” She nods, “There’s a vacant cabin in my name down close to the docks, it belonged to someone very special who left it to me after they passed. It was my best friend’s daughter’s house.”

“I couldn’t, Ruthie!”

“It’s been empty for five years, Maya,” She sighs, “I know she would have wanted it to be used and lived in.”

“What about the daughter?”

Ruthie looks away quickly before bringing her eyes back to me, “I have the keys, it’s furnished but could probably use a good clean.”

“Ruthie…”

“You need a place to settle,” she says, “It’s perfect.”

I capture my bottom lip between my teeth, “How much is the rent?” I ask and when Ruthie gasps, ready to fight me I interrupt, “No! How much is the rent? I will not live for free.”

“Well how ‘bout we go see it tomorrow morning and if you like it, we can discuss that after?”

I narrow my eyes at her, trying to figure out just how she would fight me on it tomorrow, but I guess I could agree now, “Okay, yes.”

She smiles triumphantly, her dark eyes twinkling, “Well good, let’s head inside ‘kay? We can discuss this more in the morning.”

Eight

She was haunting me.

Maya.

---