Shopping is a real enjoyment for a woman. I say it despite I live among the hills, and I don't have too much opportunity for doing shopping. I don't really wish to go to a big plaza every day, but when I could go to the closest store, I really enjoy to look around. Tom's store in not a big one, but this is the closest one, and the selection of the goods is very wide. His shop serves the needs of the surrounding farms and the tourists, so Tom sells everything from socks to orange juice to sprays. I have to look around in this nice crowd of things, I am a woman after all.
Tom's daughter is not here now, she has classes at the university, so Tom is now alone. He doesn't complain, because he is a real mountain man, who speaks rarely, and it is not winter yet, so only the nearby farmers and the few tourists are visiting his store. He can handle the customers alone. I choose a bottle of ready-made cocoa drink. Since Ian doesn't keep cows, we rarely drink milk, and this drink is a real delicacy to me. When did I drink cocoa last time? A month ago. Or six weeks. Maybe seven? I don't know. I don't even care. If I could drink cocoa every days, it wouldn't be so tasty.
Fortunately there is no customer before me, so I pay my drink, and immediately open the bottle. Tom smiles at me, as I take a big sip from the bottle, not caring with the change.
"I heard Tyler is married." He says. Just by the way.
He is a real mountain men. From his intonation I can't really decide whether he is curious, or angry. He really wanted his daughter to marry Tyler. He was trying with smooth methods, although neither Tyler nor his daughter was interested. But he is a nice man after all, so I answer him nicely.
"Two days ago."
"And when can we see the young wife?"
"I don't know, she had appendicitis, and needed a surgery after the wedding."
"Special wedding night."
"Very special."
I don't want to tell him, that young wife herself is very strange and ill, so he probably won't meet her. It would be better for everyone.
"Maybe we can get to know her at the autumn festival."
I can't answer. I hardly believe that any member of our family would want to go to the festival, so probably Jazz also won't be there. She would have to deal with the mountain people's strict judgment, so Tyler won't allow her to go there. She is too weak now, anyway.
"Hopefully by then she will be strong enough again to attend." Andrew is stepping to us. "Jazz woke up. Would you be so kind and replace Tyler in the hospital?"
I nod. What else should I do before Tom? But the rage is boiling in me. It bursts out in the car, I start to yell with Andrew.
"Why should I replace Tyler in the hospital? He is an adult, Jazz is also an adult, so she could bear a day without entertainment."
"She had nervous breakdown, and she needs to be with someone to prevent drastic things."
"What I've experienced from her so far is a strong girl, and I don't think she would think about being suicide."
"She wanted to escape from the hospital, while Tyler was getting water to her. It took six people to catch her, and force her to lie back to the bed."
"Did she regret it so much that she got married?" You can't miss a little mockery of my voice. Running away from a safe place with a fresh wound, her reaction is bit odd. Not a bit.
"No, Tyler says she's terrified to death that her parents would find her."
"Doesn't she overreacting things? I don't think, that her parents would be so cruel, as she told it to Tyler."
"I have also seen worse child abuse, but I think her abuse was mentally, not physically. It is the harder to bear. And she was seeking for help. Do you mind if we provide shelter for her?"
"No, I don't." I sigh. This is the outcome of the voting two days ago.
"You don't have to be with her for long, just this day. At night Dame will replace you. Tyler asked me to get her out of the hospital as soon as we can. He is also deadly tired, he has spent two nights and a whole day beside her. You would act like a bodyguard from her parents too."
Bodyguard. Great. One of the most preferred works. I always hated it, but I have to accept. Our family works like this. When I would be in danger, the others would also help me. So, I don't have anything to complain.
"And remember for our agreement!"
He doesn't have to warn me. Nor will I gossip in my own well-conceived interest. When we arrive to the deadly tired and deadly terrified couple, they seem to be neither tired, nor frightened. They are looking like very adults, and lively: immersing in a deep kiss. That kiss only lasts for a short time.
…
Long time.
…
Are they glued together?!
I would turn to Andrew, but that guy has already run away from the situation, leaving me to deal with the newlywed fake couple. I'm clearing my throat. The couple is falling apart. Their eyes are still full with the haze of kissing, but their minds are suddenly clears up, and my existence remind them, that they are not a common couple. This thought makes their faces become beet red. Entertaining. Well not a big entertainment, but enough to getting material to nagging them later.
"Your marriage a fake one, but seems to be very real to me." I smirk at them.
Both of them look like boiled lobsters, so I should stop before they would get cerebral accidents. Although they are at the best place to get one.
"Did you recognize Tyler, when you woke up?" I ask Jazz. She is just staring at me, and doesn't answer. Maybe Tyler bit her tongue?
"No. Not immediately." Tyler answers, and since his mouth is not full with blood, Jazz's tongue would be in the proper place.
"No wonder. Have you seen a mirror today?"
Tyler caress his cheeks, and the slickness of the movement surprise him. His stubble is rather be called beard.
"Go home!" I laugh at him. "Take a bath, shave your face, and your young wife won't mistake you to yeti."
"But..." the both begin to protest in unison.
"I stay with Jazz today."
Judging by the look on his face, this doesn't quite reassure Tyler.
"Don't worry! I don't eat teenager girls. I suppose Jazz also wants to take a shower, and if you insist that you are only married on paper, then perhaps it is better for a woman to help her."
This definitely convinces Tyler to leave it to me to take care of Jazz. Poor man! I pity him. He just had to undress his ill wife two days ago, but he reacted so much to her nudity, that almost couldn't stay on his feet. I could imagine the sounds, that would have come from their room on their wedding night, if Jazz would have appendicitis.
Tyler seems to have thought of that too, because he wants to get out of the room quickly, but his posture isn't very straight. Poor man. I wait for him to run to a safe distance, the I turn to Jazz.
"I think you want to take a shower already." I smile at her.
She nods, and let me help her to her feet. I wonder how weakened she is, even though she has only lay in bed for two days. I have to support her because all her body trembles with exertion. By the time we get to the bathroom, she's pretty much pulling herself together.
"Thanks for your help, I manage from now on." She says and forces a smile.
"Sorry, but I don't want you to collapse to the floor. So I stay and help you." I reach out my hands to unbutton her pajama top, but she suddenly grabs the clothes at the buttoning, and looks like a beaten kitty.
" Go out" She says vehemently.
I have to make myself to remember that kitties has claws, and they could do a lot of harm, which is not comparing to their size. I have to be careful, and kind. Damn! I was always on the wild side. The fine taming goes better for Heather! Why did I have to go shopping? But I have to deal with this problem. Jazz is just a frightened animal, a foal who desires reassurance. Although foals can kick pretty big too, so I shouldn't scare Jazz.
"Hey, don't worry, I am a woman, too!"
She still looks like who is waiting for to be raped is the next moment. I speak further.
"Jazz! Would I see something under your pajamas that would surprise me?"
Jazz shrugs. Her posture is still in defensive position. Suddenly the recognition strikes me.
Tyler married a little girl.
Damn.